The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-03-11
AHANp-MApE SMILE.
The Woman Whose Mission Was to Bone
at the Human Race.

She was about 40 years old, perhaps
not SO much. says the N. Y. Herald;
but her face had look of much and
cold experience in the world. look
not at all disguised by the handmade
smile she wore like a veil. She was
tall and well-dressed, but just a trif1e
over-dressed. She came into the
Boston express at Bridgeport and
steered straight for seat beside nice.
white-haired old lady, although there
were six or seven empty seats in the
car.
The old lady had little girl travel
ing with her, and the train hadn't left
the station before she of the smile had
fed the child with candy and asked the
old lady if the pretty little girl was her
daughter. No. Her granddaughter
How strange! Then she edged up a
little closer and turned on another
valve of talk. How old was the little
girlP Five years? How strange! She
herself had lost little girl of Just that
age-her only child. Children led to
home. Didn't the nice old lady love
home? And where was her homer
Oh, Sunbury. Mass. Oh. indeed; a
most beautiful place she had heard.
Yes, indeed, she did love home but
her own home had been broken up by
the death of her child. and how she
and her husband were travelling try
ing to do good to the human race.
Didn't the old lady like to do good!
Oh, yes, if one had the means; that's
very true. And the old lady had some
means with which she had tried to dc
what good she could? Admirable
Splendid That's what she of the smile
believed in.
About all the floodgates of talk were
wide open now. and the stream was
| flowing smoothly. She of the smile
didn't care for money for herself. Al
| they cared for was to do good will
| their money. 1t was SO charming tt
meet some one who held the same view
Now, one of the cherished plans fol
the benefit of the human race was thu
establishment of the old ladies' home
Was that beneficent projectP Yes in
deed. So glad to find the old lady ap
proved of it. We had got togethe
about enough money to begin work
Providence (walling her eyes) hat
opened way by which the rest coul'
be secured. The way was thus: Year
| ago 06E uuSUhuu udu COhC III
possession of a gold mine. Shares il
this mine he was now disposing of a
800 each. They would be wort
81, 600 each within a year. Then tn
happy possessors could do just so muc
more good for the human race.
The train had passed Mott Have
now, and she of the smile was exhibit
ing considerable nervousness an
haste. By the way she had one of tn
shares with her. Perhaps that nice ol
lady would like one to help along tn
fund of the home. With that she mad
q reach into her valise. The train ws
Just coming to a stop in the Gran
Central station. The nice old lad
got up. took her baggage and he
granddaughter in hand. and leane
over the still smiling benefactor of th
human race.
II have to thank you. madame" 81
said, for the most entertaining fte
noon have spent in some time. Bt
am not quite so green as look"
| The handmade smile dssappeare
then for the first time, and left a fa'
that looked ten years older, and som
what hard and cruel. And that w
the last the passengers who watcht
!, the little drama with intense intere
saw of the nice old lady or she of Il
smile.