The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1884-01-23

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ottice window, and sprang lightly to the
floor, took in the situation at aglance.
"Can you save the plate~ said Dora,
clasping her handsconvulsively.
But her words were unnecessary.
With an ease and quickness that seemed
magical, the newcomer had dragged the
heavy table against the cabinet, and,
with the further aid of n chair, raised
himself to the monkeys perch. With
a cry of delight Dora saw the monkey
slip to the floor leaving the plate un-
harmed in Romeo's hands.
At this juncture the door opened soft
ly, and Miss Matilda peeped in timidly.
Romeo with his legs dangling from the
top Of the cabinet, was the first object
her eyes lighted upon.
"Dora, what is the meaning of this2
Why is this-person intruding herep
"It means, Aunt Matilda, that we
have to thank this gentleman for saving
papa's plate from the monkeys clutches.
You may well imagine the scene that
would have ensued if it had been broken.
Please don't waste any time in exclama-
tions, but take off your gloves and help
me to put the room in order before papa
comes. Fortunately for you, he is un-
accountably delayed"
Miss Matilda, completely frightened
into submission, flew to assist in putting
the room to rights, and. with the aid of
Dora and Romeo, order was soon
restored. The torn letters and papers
were hastily collected to be re-copied, the
monkeys were dispatched to the attic,
Romeo reluctantly retired, and when Mr..
Leonard at length returned, he found
Dora sitting quietly as he had left her,
with her book, at the window. A ner-
vousness of manner and a pair of dim
pied cheeks unusually flushed escaped
the notice of the man whose mind was
full of the details of a new case which hs
had been discussing.
"Dora, do you not think we had better
include the young man next door among
our guests for Wednesday EVENING""
Miss Matilda asked of her neice. "Bob
can call there the day before, and your
father will think the acquaintance has
sprung up entirely through him."
owe certainly owe civility, aunt,
and think your suggestion very good
one," Dora answered, quietly, though her
heart beat high with pleasant antici-
pations.
Antonio Sardi, which proved to be
Romeo's proper name, lost no time in
writing an acceptance of Miss Leonard's
kind invitation for Wednesday. Dora,
reading his polite note at the breakfast
table, left the envelope lying unheeded
near her fathers plate.
Later while the two ladies were dis
cussing the important question of flowers
for the auspicious evening, Mr.. Leonard
entered the room with a torn envelope
in his hand.
"What induced Bob to strike up a
friendship with the young scamp next
door2 He might have been better EN-.
ployed during his short holiday" he
began.
"Oh, papa, he's not a scamp He
Dora stopped suddenly.
"Then what right has he to make use
of that seall Look Is it not the fac
simile of your grandfather's. This fel
low had some foolish idea of appearing
we'll connected, but has unfortunately
stolen a seal that is very familiar to us
l will inquire into this and speak to Bob
one cannot be too cautious with these
foreigners
The old gentlemans investigation con
cerning the seal threw the Leonard fam
| lily into the greatest excitement. Or
questioning young Sar1i he told a clear,
| succinct story of his past life and parent
age. His father, an Italian of noble fam,
lily, had married an English lady, whom
he deserted shortly after the birth OF
their only child They heard of hi:
death in Russia afterward, and few
years later his mother died also, leaving
him-Antonio-alone in the world. Il
! was his mothers crest that he had USED
upon the note addressed to Miss Leonard
it was strange that it should so resemble
the seal of the Leonard family.
"Did your mother ever speak Of friend:
in England?n
Rarely; the subject seemed TO her {
most painful one, and l never broacheC
! it,
''What was her namel" Mr.. Leonard
asked, his voice trembling with emotion
Gertrude Ramsay
''Why did not all this dawn upon me
before2 Boy, if your story is true, YOU
are the son of our beloved little Gertrude
who left us long ago, and whose loss
have never ceased to mourn. Come with
me; the others should rejoice with us IL
the return of the wanderer.n
Every doubt of Antonio's identity wa:
soon removed, and the foreign cousin
was treated as an honored guest among
his new-found friends, to whom he en-
deared himself through many charming
traits of character,
We have to thank Bob for a most
agreeable addition to our family party,
said Mr.. Leonard, gazing on the GROUP
assembled about the fire one evening.
"Thank rather Bob and the monkeys,
papa, said Dora, silly.
Monkeys! What 90 you mean9"
The story of the rescued plate was
obliged to be told then and there; but
Mr.. Leonard found it impossible to be
! onerrr oftar oil fbot had bonnanaA opf