The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-09-23

now" she went on, slipping into the
seat opposite him, Il shall expect You
to say you're glad To see me" And as
she smiled at him across the table she
made upher mind that for that evening
she would be- as entertaining as she
knew how.
Before the meal was over Helen
Arnold had made an interesting dis
covery, namely, that her father could
be entertaining as well as herself.
Moreover, there was certain agree
able novelty about being tete-a-teur
with ones own father al dinner. Helen
could hardly remember when she had
enjoyed an hour so much. When they
arose from the table Mr.. Arnold glanced
irresolutely az his daughter. IF you
are not too tired, Helen he said, Il
wonder If couldn't have some music"
'.InIeed you may" answered Helen,
trying to speal, lightly, though the un-
conscious appeal in his voice had
touched her ineNplicablY. She went at
once to the piano and almost instinct
lively began 10 play the simple melodies
which harmonized best with the gath
eriug twilight, the hush of the room
and her own softened thoughts. And
her father, sitting IN the deepening
shadows, now and then put his hand 10
his eyes as If To wash away an I'M
hidden tear.
When the long evening was over and
Helen went 10 her fathers side to bid
him good night. he put his arms about
her and held her fast. This has been
like old times, Helen" he said. Il had
expected such lonely evening and this
was such pleasant surprise. shall
think Cf il very often when I'm here
alone. Thank you, my dear. Good
night
Helen kissed him in silence. not trust
ing herself To make reply But a. She
went upstairs, struggling to keep back
the tears. she whispered softly: My
poor, lonely father, III try after this
10 Toe better daughter"
You want To spend the summer at
home said Mrs. Arnold the next af-
ternOon. She sat in her room at the
Seaside house, and looked at her oldest
daughter with a gaze in which conster-
nation and bcwildermeut were blend
| ed Helen, you must be crazy. Con
! slider your health
Helen gazed at the reelection OF her
! blooming face in the mirror opposite
and smiled "A little. 1t hardly seemed
necessary 10 answer that argument.
| stay in the city all summer, chimcd
in Grace. Why, Helen, nobody does
/ that"
Papa does" answered Helen,
| quietly.
You couldn't stand it, Helen, &c said
Laura the youngest daughter, positive
". .'You'd die of loneliness"
But papa stays there without any of
us persisted Helen.
Grace flushed Indignantly. How
absurd you are. Helen. OF course papa
! does He always has. Its very differ
ent with a man"
| But lIclen's mind was made up. Tn
moved by remonstrances or ridiculc.
| she packed her trunks and went back
| to the city. not, it must be admitted.
| without a pang at leaving the cool at
! tractiveness OF CliffSide. When her IA
ther came home that evening he found
her in her pretty tea-gown, with her
hair dressed in the most becoming way,
! waiting to receive him. 1t was some
time before he could be made to under
stand the change in her plans, hut
when he at last comprehendcd her ex-
PLANTATION he grew quite pale.
Give mp your summers pleasure,
IIclen?" he said. Indeed. I'm not sell
fish enough 10 allow anything of the
kind. lou must 90 back tomorrow.
|
durate. Not that the way of self-de-
NAL was unexpectedly easy. She had
many days of loneliness many gloomy
hours; every letter she received from
! Cliffside made the course she had
marked out for herself seem more dift-
cult and unattractIvc. Bat the new re-
! lation between her father and herself.
his grateful tenderness. the change in
his face and step, his altered bearing,
surely these We're enough To recon-
penSe for far greater sacrifice. And,
moreover, during the enforced quiet of
these long months Helen Was making
certain surprising discoveries. Among
the many ''nobodies" who had not left
the city for the summer Helen was
finding people of intelligence and cul-
ture, charming people, people whose
names she had hitherto barely found
time to remember half a dozen times
throughout the busy year As She now
felt the inspiration of these earnest
lives, Helen wondered not little at her
previous blindness
1t was perhaps through the influence
of these new friends that she found so
many new and unexpected opportuni-
ties of helpfulneSs. Her narrow life
seemed To have broadcned ont, her
sympathies had widened. One brave
act of self-denial had opened her eyes
to the distresScs of all the suffering
world and had brought her into touch
with all the loving, sacrificing helpers
| of humanity.
When Mrs. Arnold came home in
September she scanned her oldest
daughter with some anxiety. 'Do You
think Helen is well?" che asked of
Grace. Doesn't she seem changed?"
Il think she looks we'll" Grace an
swered. doubtfully, but she certainly
seems different in some way"
Helen, Overhearing this conversation,
smiled litGle, for who appreciates the
difference" so fully as one who. hav-
ing been blind, now sees, or the soul
which has wandered long in the fogs of
selfishness but comes at last into loves
clear sunlight. For her lonely sum
mer, with its crosses and its sacrifices,
with its inspirations and its blessings,
Helen Arnold from her heart thanked
God.-Hattie Lummis, in Congregations
alist
Lost Article Bureau.
An absent-minded young woman. who
left a package in an elevated railroad
car few days ago, went to the lost
article bureau in the hope of recovering
her property. says the New York Times.
| She was much surprised at the extent
and variety of the things that lie there
awaiting Identification. Each article
or each package bears a tag telling
where and when it was found. This
accumulation of lost articles increases
1.,-c f.afr of