The Portland daily press., 1900-06-26

ture.
The family was given permission to
sit her once In three months, but they
/ uid not avail themselves Of the opportu-
nifty, and Lena, when the brief vacation
came, seemed unwilling to 20 home.
Neat clothes were sent her by her moth
er and plenty Of pocket money, and with
that II appeared that she felt her full
duty done. At the end OF two years,
however, Mrs. Scarf, moved by some be-
lated maternal tenderness or by curiosi-
", made a journey Of 200 miles to see
her daughter, and she returned with a.
somewhat puzzled look upon her face.
Lena was growing rapidly, she said, and
could read and write and do carving In
wood, besides sewing and dancing and
housework. The Scarffs opened their
eyes, but were more or less incredupus
Besides. 1t didn't matter; the child was
aisagreeable to them. They disliked even
to think Of her.
Five years went by, and one day, In
company with an attendant from the
school, Lena made her appearance at
her home. 1t was In the early evening,
when the family had Just finished dinner
and were sitting in the parlor among
their musical instruments.
"She was so anxious to give you sur
prise" said the attendant, that could
not deny her."
The ScarfTs were feeling distinctly be-
wildered. There stood before them
tall, graceful girl with a face OF indie
scribablc refinement and appealing pa
thos. Her purple eyes shone with ten
der light; her abundant golden brown hair
was coiled upon her head in smooth
braids; her complexion had an exquisite
delicacy. She was perfectly at ease. In
deed, though II seemed impossible, 1t was
actually a fact that she seemed to be
surveying her family with a critical eye,
and her manner as she greeted them was
anything but cringing. And, while they
would not have used that word, yet In
reality cringing attitude was what the
Scarffs would have expected of this I'M
fortunate.
Joseph Scarf was moved to something
like shame for his long neglect.
81 hope you have come to stay, Lena"
he wrote on a sheet of paper. She
thanked him with a kiss on his cheek. so
charmingly given that the Scarffs started
in anazement. None of them could have
done anything so spontaneous.
II would like to have my old room. II
you please" she wrote.
"That little old room! You shall have
n larger one," her father replied. But
she insisted upon the old one and made
herself at home there. The family went
to bed that night with mingled feelings,
chief among which was that of the diff
Guilty of the situation. This beautiful
girl could not be hidden as the seemingly
half witted child had been. So far from
lntrudng upon the family. she kept rath-
er exclusively to her own room, which
she had fitted up with diyan, which she
made into a bed at night. and with the
bench and tools of her woodeutting craft
On the wall, with its fresh tint of cool
green. were hung the patterns she used
and many 4 specimen OF her clever handi-
craft. There had been cabinet makers in
the Scarf family, one of whom was IA
nous, and artists were not unknown ell
Their. Moreover, in this way, Joseph
Scarf was an artist too. So there was
ability to give true appreciation to this
work, and the Scarffs began to wonder
If they had not genius in their midst.
Later, when the news had gone abroad
that this original young wood carver had
come to town, those who had taken note
of her work at certain exhibitions began
to call. She asked to join society of
the arts and crafts. Stories of her beau
ty and spirituality and talent went out.
Artists of many sorts came to make her
acquaintance and to compliment her
upon the beauty of her work. A Bohe-
milan circle was open to her, and she be-
gan to delight in the friendship of dis
tinguished men and women. The little
hall room was often crowded to over
flowing.
The Scarffs began to talk much of their
sister and to make capital even OF the
difficulties under which she worked.
They entered into n plan suggested by
her father TO build a studio on the back
Of the house which could be entered from
the street and where she could entertain
in the evening when she pleased. And
they offered to add to the pleasure of
these evenings by furnishing music on
the piano or violin or flute.
In brief the Scarffs found the greatest
cause for pride which they had ever
known in the girl whom they had once
despised and treated with cruel neglect.
But it sometimes puzzled them and caus-
cd them honest chagrin TO discover that,
however courteous and kind this silent
sister OF theirs might be. it was not to
them, but TO others, that she gave
glances of undisguised affection. She
remained, so far as the Scarffs were con-
cerned. remote, alien-no satellite, but a
beautiful star, moving proudly in its own
orbit.-St. Paul Pioneer Press.
Some British Regiments.