The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-12-14
AN OPPORTUNITY.

DOld IcOHdIu ltuHtNl lcI pIcbly clDONS
on the window sill of her fathers office
and peered out over the forest of china
ney pots and irregular roofs which that
retired corner of London offered as pros
pect. She nodded to the little lame boy
in the fourth story across the court,
dropped handful of biscuit crumbs for
Vixon, Mrs. Tottenham's parrot on the
roof below, and was imperiling her life
to steal spray of scarlet Virginian
creeper dangling from a neighbours bal
cony, when a strange pair of eyes shining
through the same creeper startled her
into propriety.
The balcony had hitherto had for its
sole occupant white-haired professor in
a velvet skull-cap, who had shown no
desire for even nodding acquaintance
with Dora Who could this new
conner be2 His eyes were bcautiful-so
dark and expressive the hand that
held back the vine was deicately shaped
and white.
Dora took another peep, through the
curtain this time. He had advanced a
little and leaned against the balcony rail
ing, and, while appearing unconscious of
her presence, watched quietly for the re-
turn 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 accustomed to; and the girl,
looking at him, could only think of a
pictured Romeo whose face had once
haunted her dreams for many a night.
"Dora, dear, close the window; these
draughts are most dangerous at this sea-
son of the year." came in drowsy accents
from the head of the Leonard family, nod
ding over the copy of the Times.
papa, you never speak of Professor
Nude now. | hope you have not cut
the old gentleman's acquaintance"
"Mudic? He is no longer our neigh
Dor, he left No. 60 week ago"
Indeed. Has any one else taken his
rooms2"
With the keenest interest Dora waited
for her fathers reply.
''Some foreign-looking chap has taken
the lodgings; | saw him this morning at
O'clock, smoking on the balcony in the
most outlandish of dressing gowns, and
singing in "A fairly good tenor. | must
admit, some incomprehensible rigmarole.
| must see that the windows are more
carefully barred at night; there is no tell
ing what these swarthy vagabonds may
do?"
''Oh, papam
Dora was prepared to follow this ex-
clamation with IA lecture on the iniquity
of maligning ones neighbors; but see
ing that her father had dozed off into
Inconsistencies, 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 hailed with delight as season of
merry-making; but the remainder of the
year passed monotOnously enough. With
out knowing why, the girls interest for
the dark eyed foreigner in the adjoining
house had been keenly awakened, and
she longcd for an opportunity to tell him
of her sympathy for his loneliness in the
great city. But it could only be through
happy chance that they could know
each other, for she dared not make any
decided advances toward perfect
stranger, and she knew that her father
would not exert himself in the young
mans favor.
Years before a much beloved cousin OF
Dora's father, who had filed the place OF
younger sister in his heart, had been
beguiled into marriage with an Italian
nobleman, which had resulted disas-
trously and severed all connections with
her friends. Since then Mr. Leonard
had regarded with suspicion and dislike
fnra hntn Il
tice, and Dora knew well that she could
expect from him no pity or interest fol-
Romeo, as she privately called her un
known hero.
While at college Dora's brother Bob hao
become the happy recipient of pair OF
monkeys, the gift of a friend in India
An old college chum agreed at first tC
take care of the animals, but as time
wore on he grew heartily sick of hi
bargain and wrote to Bob that he mus
take the responsibility of his mischiev
Gus pets on his own hands.
Bob informed his family that the,
might expect any day the arrival of tn,
monkeys, but the old gentleman, Mr.
Leonard, replied promptly that On nj
account wOnld he allow the uncoutl
brutes about the place, destroying tn
furniture and ornaments which it hat
been the work of years to collect, besid
frightening the servants out of their wits
The thing was preposterousl If RobeT
would keep savage animals, he must pro
vide home for them elsewhere.
"The dear boy has his heart set o
these monkeys, and will be sorcly disal
pointed" said Aunt Matilda, feelingly
1t was weakness ON the part of tn
old lady to spoil and indulge Bob in tn
same degree that she lectured and co.
rected Dora; and she would willingl
have spent her last penny to make hi
beloved nephew happy.
Dora strayed one afternoon into tn
dice, but instead of having her usu
post-prandial chat with her father, 81
was asked to guard the premises durir
his necessary absence for an hour III
place was quite deserted, and she migl
,ike a book and make herself comfor
able without fear of interruption, q