Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-24
AN OPPORTUNITY.

over the forest Of chimney pots and IRREGULAR
roofs which that retired corner of London Of
ieied as prospect. She nodded to the little
iaihe boy In the fourth story across the court,
dropped handful of biscuit crumbs for yixon,
MISS iottenham's parrot, one floor below, and
was lmperillins her life to steal spray of scar
let sirglnian creeper dangling from neigh
Dor 8 balcony, when strange pair Of eyes shin
ing through that same creeper startled her into
prcpriety
The balcony had hitherto had for Its sole oc-
cura1t whitehared professor In a velvet
Skuil-cap. who had shown no desire for even a
nOdding acquaintance with Dora. Who could
this newcomer be- bis eyes were beautiful
SO dark and eXpresSlVe-and the hand that
held back the vine was delicately shaped and
white.
Dora took another peep through the curtain
this time. He had advanced little and leaned
against the balcony railing, and, while appear
ing UNCONSCIOUS of her presence watched
quietly for the return of the pretty apparitIon
seen at the window
His dark southern look was so different from
the rosy faces and blue eyes that Dora was ac-
cnstomet to: and the girl, looking at him,
could only think Of pictured Romeo whose
face had once haunted her dreams for many q
night
Dora. dear. close the window; these draughts
are most dangerous at this season of the
year" came in drowsy accents from the head Of
the Leonard family noddng over the COPY Of
the Times
Papa, You never speak Of Professor Nude
now; hope you have not cut the old gentle
mans acGuaintance?'
Nude! He is no longer our neirhbor. he
left No. 20 week ago"
Indeed! Has any one else taken his rooms?"
With the keeneSt interest Dora waited for her
fathers reply.
.Some foregn-looking chap has taken the
lodgings; saw him this morning at o'clock,
smoking on the balcony in the most Outandsf
OF dresslng-gowBs, and singing in a fairly good
tenor must admit. some incOmprehensibIe
flgmarOle. l must see that the windows are
more carefully barred at night; there is no tell
ing what these swarthy vagabonds may do?"
"Oh. Papa
Dora was prepared to follow this exclamation
with lecture on the iniquity Ofmaligning ones
nelghDOrs; but seeing that her father had dOZed
OIL INTO unconscousness. she was forced to re-
serve her remarks till another OCCASION
Living In remote part of London with her
father and maiden aunt both of the strictest
Ideas In the bringing up of young people, Dora's
existence had little novelty or excitement. The
return of her brother Bob from college was al
ways nailed with delight as a season OF merry
making; but the remainder Of the wear passed
monotonously enough. Without knowing why,
the girls interest for the dark-eyed foreigner In
the adjoining house had been keenly awakened,
and she longed for an opportunity to tell him of
ner sympathy for his loneliness In the great
city. But 1t could only be through a happy
chance that they could know each other. Tor
she dared not make any decided advances to-
wards perfect stranger, and she knew that
her father would not exert himself In the Young
mans behalf
Years before mrch-beoved cousin Of Dora's
father, who had filled the place of younger
sister in his heart. had been beguiled into a
marriage with an Italian nobleman, which had
resulted dIsastrously and severed all commune
cation with her friends. Since then Mr. Leonard
had regarded with suspicion and dislike every
foreigner that came under his notice and Dora
knew we'll that she could expect from him no
pity or interest Tor Romeo as she privately called
her unknown hero.
While at college Doras brother Bob had
become the happy recipient Of a pair ofmonkeys,
the gift of a friend in India. An old college
chun agreed at first to take care Of the animals.
but as time wore on he grew heartily sick of his
bargain and wrote to Bob that he must take the
responsibility of his mischieyousPets on his own
hands
Bob informed his family that they might
expect any day the arrival of the MONKEYS but
the old gentleman. Mr.. Leonard replied prompt
ly that on no account would he allow the
uncouth brutes about the place DESTROYING the
furniture and ornaments which it had been the
work OF years to collect besides frightening the
servants out OF their wits. The thin. was pre-
posterous, If Robert would keep savage anil
mails. lie must provide a home for them else
where.
The dear boy has his heart set on these mon
Keys anu VIII be SOrely disappointed" said Aunt
Matilda, feeiingly.
1t was weakness on the part of the old lady
to spoil and indulge Bob in the same degree that
she lectured and corrected Dora and she would
willingly have spent her last penny to make her
beloved nephew happy.
Dora strayed one afternoon into the office bnt
instead OF having her usual post-pranda chat
with her father. she was asked to guard the
premises during his necessary absence for an
hour Inc place was quite deserted, and she
might take a book and make herself cOp,forta-
ble without fear OF interruption till her fathers
return.
The room where Dora was to keep her vigil
was, for lawyers office, very attractive; there
were numerous books, an easy chair or two.
some fiOurishing plants, and across one side of
the room cabinet of curiOsities OF cOnsidera-
BILE value which it had been the delight of Mr..
LeOnards heart to collect and arrange The
gem OF the collection was a cracked porcelain
plate of the time of Louis XI. of France de-
clared by connoisseurs to be of very great value.
Mr. Leonard had been offered almost fabulous
sums for the plate. but. proud Of his possession,
he had refused to part with it. and it lay in it's
velvet case on the top of the cabinet. an Orna-
ment to the room andthe admiration of all yjsi-
tors. Dora had not been ten minutes alone before
aunt Matilda, her eyes big with excitement mt
her head in at the door.
Dora there is a man with the MONKEYS de-
claring he will not be kept waiting a moment
longer. have promished to drive in the park
with Mrs. Graham, and there is no one to look
after Bob's pets but you. l would not send
them away; SO told the man to bring them up
here. They have CLAIMS about their necks.
and"
But. Aunt Matilda. papa Will be furious at
seeing the mOnkeys-in his office especiallyI
He declared that Bob should not send them TO
the house at all"
1--WE must not dsappoint the poor boy. Dora.
Kate will return from the milliner's in half an
hour and will leave word that she is to take
the animals to her room then; SO your father
need know nothing about it. They certainly
VIII do no harm alone In so short time
Further discussion was ended by man very
red in the face making his way without cere-
mOny into the room. He set large basket on
the floor, exclaiming:
There you chattering varmints; It's glad
enough l am to be rid OF YOU! The attintIOn
those beasts attracted all along the streets.
mum, was enough to make an honest man
ashamed"
Two pairs Of bright eyes peeped from under
the basket cover, as If begging for freedom,
and the next moment two fine full grown Slnga-
pore monkeys were capering about the room as
much as their combining chains would permit
Chain them to the fender. and they will be
sure to be out OF mischief" said Aunt Matilda,
Nv atching to see this command Obeyed, and
then following the porter down into the street
Dora, left alone with her unexpected, guests.
Tried TO strike uD acnnaint,Dca with tborn.