The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-10-19
AN ACT OF KINDNESS.
1t Showed Three Girls the Beauties of a
Christian Life.


rosy, breathless girls sank into the seat
as the car moved on. After they had
arranged their hair and ribbons and
dress with which the boisterous wind
had taken most daring liberties, they
commenced to talk again. They talked
very fast and, sometimes all at once, in
voices that were not always quite as
subdued as is becoming in street-car.
AT times it sounded as though small
flock Of magpies had taken possession
of that end Of the car, as they chartered
and laughed apparently unconscious
of the presence Of any other passengers
The car gradually filled up, and al
though their tongues were so busy,
their eyes were free to scan every new
conner. The handsomely dressed ladies
were inspected with critical eyes; then
the three heads were drawn close to-
gether and the three voices were min
gled in loudly whispered comments.
The stylishly gotten-up young men
also received rather more attention
than they deserved, and they were dis
cussed with frequent giggles and
nudges. At the crossing of a fashiona-
bic street the car stopped, and young
girl, about the same age as the three,
entered She was richly, though
plainly dressed, and in spite of the
tempestuous wind. not fold of her
neat toilet appeared to be displaced.
She was so sweet, so modest, so I'M
assuming, and yet so evidently aristo-
cratic, that many admiring eyes
followed her as she took her seat
''There's Gertrude Eastman" said
Maud Haven, one of the trio.
"How awfully proud and stuck-up she
isl said Clara Denton. shell hardly
speak to common folks" with curl of
the lip and toss of the head. 81 reckon
I'D be proud, too replied May Travis,
looking admiringly at the trim, little
figure, ''if my father was as rich as
hers is and lived in fine house" II
don't care if she is rich" said Clara,
who envied Gertrude her luxurious life;
"she needn't snub other folks just be-
cause they are poor. 1t isn't money
always that makes people worthy of
notice. this as though she thought it
was What lovely dress she has
on said Maud. "Oh, dear, wish
could afford to have such nice clothes,
and have them made so beautifully"
and Maud cast her eyes over her home
made dress which, Notwithstanding
much fancy trimming, lacked the ar
tistic elegance of Gertrude's palmer
made gown,
All this time the subject of their re-
marks sat quietly looking out of the
window. unconscious of the interest
she was creating in the minds of the
three girls in the corner of the car, and
of the envy that filled their hearts
How the wind did blow! 1t seemed to
rise higher and blow more fercely
every moment. Angry gusts swept
around corners and even the strongest
man was Obliged to brace himself as he
met it at a sudden turn. Again the car
stopped. and an old woman, bent and
feeble, entered The wind had handled
her very roughly, Her shawl was
twisted her thin gray hair was scat
tered loosely over her pale forehead,
and her bonnet was all awrv.
She trembled as she stood for
a moment casting her eye down
the length of the already filled
seats; then a clear young voice at her
side said, please take my seat, and a
steady hand was reached out to guide
her, "Thank you, my dear replied
the old lady, looking up into Gertrude
fresh young face as she sank into the
seat. "That wind most tuckered me
out.
She drew long breath as she leaned
back in the seat, but in SO doing
she touched her head lightly against
the window, which set her bonnet more
crooked than ever She reached mp hen
thin white hands to set il straight
but in her hclplcssneSs only made bad
matter worse; and as the three thought
less girls in the corner watched her, {
smile passed over their faces and sup
pressed litter was heard in tina
direction. 1t was not audible to the ole
lady. who was a little deaf, but Ger
trudc heard it, and she loo6lcd coldly
toward them for an instant, with tn,
expression that Clara Denton though
50 proud aud stuck mp" Then, turn
ing to the old lady, who was still strug
Cling vainiy with the refractory bon
net. she said, with sweet smile tina
was neither cold nor proud; Won
YOU let me fix it for you?" "Oh, thanl
YOU dcary," replied the old lady. look
ing up at her in grateful surprise, -
wish you would"
Then, to the amazement of the tri
in the corner, the aristocratic Gertrud
Eastman stopped and united the worl
ribbons. Strengthened the bonnet, SET
ting it firmly on her head, and tie,
them again with her own daintil
gloved hands. Then she gently smoote
back the ruffled gray hair, and with tn
warm color mantling her cheeks, sh
smiled on the wrinllled old face. as sh
reached up to take hold Of the stra
again. "Thank you so much. deary,
said the old lady in a voice that reache
to the farther end of the ear; that d
feel powerful sight better. Do yo
know you put me in mind of my littl
granddaughter who died only a fey
weeks ago? She was just such dear
sweet girl as you are, and she wa
mighty careful to have her old grand
mother fixed all right; but she's gon
now, and have to do the best can fo