Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-12-13

Dora strayed one afternoon into the
office. but instead of having her usual
post prandial chat with her father,
she was asked to guard the premises
during his necessary absence for an
hour. The place was quite deserted
and she might take book and make
herself comfortable, without fear of
interruption, till her fathers return.
The room where Dora was 10 keep
her vigil was, for a lawyers Office,
very attractive; there were numerous
books. an easy chair or two, some
flourishing plants, and across one side
of the room a cabinet of curiosities of
considerable value, which it had been
the delight Of Mr.. Leonard's heart to
collect and arrange. The gem Of the
collection was a cracked porcelain
plate Of the time Of Louis XI. OF
France, declared by connoisseurs to
be Of very great value. Mr.. Leonard
had been offered almost fabulous sums
for the plate, but, proud of his posses
sion, he had refused to part with 1t,
and il lay in its velvet case on the top
of the cabinet, an ornament 10 the
room and the admiration of all visi-
tors. Dora had not been ten minutes
alone before Aunt Matilda, her eyes
big with excitement, put her head IN
at the door.
Dora, there is a man with the
monkeys declaring that he will not be
kept waiting a moment longer. |
have promised to drive in the park
with Mrs. Graham, and there is no
one to look after Bobs pets but you. |
would not send them away; so / told
the man to bring them up here,
They have chains about their necks,
and
But, Aunt Matilda, papa will be
furious at seeing the monkeys his
office especially lie declared that
Bob should not send them TO the house
at all. j."
"We must not disappoint the poor
boy, Dora. Kate viii return from the
milliner's in half an hour, and | will
leave word that she is to take the ami
mails to her room then so your father
need know nothing about 1t. They
certainly will do no harm alone in so
short time.
man very red in the face making hIs
way without ceremony into the room.
He set large basket on the floor, eX
claiming;
There, you chattcring garmints,
it's glad enough am to be rid of you
The attention those beasts attracted
all along the streets, mum, was
enough to make an honest man
Two pairs of bright eyes peeped
from under the basket cover, as if
begging for freedom, and the next
moment two fine full.grown Singa-
pore monkeys were capering aboutth the /
room as much as their combining
chains would permit.
Chain hem to the fender and /
they Will be sure to be out of mis-
chief, said Aunt Matilda, watching
to see the command obeyed ana then
following the porter down into the
street
Dora lett alone with her unexpec- /
ted guests, tried to strike up an ac-
lualntance with them, but they seem
ed dull and unresponsive They /
,rouched down side by side on the rug |
and fell into a kind of doze, so Dora /
of all anxiety as to their con
duct, returned to her nook in the win
low.
There was a thin curl of smoke /.
coming through the vine ON the bal /
,ony and she could hear the Iustling
Of the leaves of a book. 1t was pleas
ant to know that Romeo was 50 near, |
and it was also pleasant TO have him
aware of her presence. Could not
Bob, when he came home be prevail /
ed upon to extend a friendly hand TO
TINS dark eyed stranger But his hol- /
Iday was SO short, and he had so many
old friends to look up, that she was
afraid he would only make game of !
her fancy for Romeo,
Dora's reverie was suddenly inter
rupted by a gathering of the fire
irons; the smaller monkey released
by the other, was carefully inSpec
ting the gittering poker and tongs, !
while the elder monkey, without eff
fort, unlasteued his own chain and left
it lying on the floor. He gave Dora a
knowing LOOK ana Sldfleu on Il TOUR OF
investigation about the room, the girl
following to rescue whatever
Of value which might come in his
way.
lie at length spied, half hidden on
the disused CRATE, the kettle of the
spiritlamp, which served to brew
Mr., Leouard's tea, still partly full of
water which had not yet cooled The
thirsty monkey plunged his head into
the little kettle, which proved, alas
so tight tit that itutterly refused to
come off Blindfolded and frighten-
ed, the monkey darted about the room
shaking and twisting his head till the
water flew i'm all directions. This
was a signal for a wild frolic for both
monkeys, which Dora tried in vain to
quiet While reSculng the ink-stand
from the clutches of one, the other
tore in shreds rs many as he could
seize of the valuable law papers scat
tered ON the table. The elder monkey
having finally freed himself from the
kettle, flung II with a crash into the
court and then sprang to the top of
the cabinet, where the Louis III. plate