Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-07-13
AN ANGEL uN.tWAREs.
A Pathetic Little Tale Of Three WomeI
and Two Babies.

anu AWO bhDless
II was on a Sixth avenue surface car,
and when she got on at Twenty-eighth
street there were but five passengers
two women, each with baby, and the
spectator.
One of the women sat in the far cor
ner, while the other sat on the opposite
side.
The spectator is not, as a rule, "giv-
en-" to babies, but that baby was one Of
that irresistible sort that laughs and
makes fun of you, gurgling out all sorts
of disjointed criticisms of your personal
appearance and general makeup that
would be simply unbearable could you
but understand it.
How such a delightful baby could
ever have selected such mother was
inexplicable.
AS you looked at her hard and I'M
womanly face-which not even her
baby's smile could soften-you involun-
tarily pitied the child that some day
must turn to her for sympathy and help.
These observations We're just complet-
ed when the car stopped, and she step
pei on.
She was plainly dressed in a gown of
dark brown, made of some rich corded
material, edged with fur. Her coloring
was of that warm, rich tint that one
finds in the women of the south, with
golden brown hair and eyes, Altogether
she was most good to look at
But about her was that intangible,
Elusive something, thai indescribable
air--in spite, or perhaps because, of her
otherwise modest demeanor-that pro-
claimed her the woman of pleasure
She seated herself across the car, and
Immediately that baby, attracted by
something-who can say what?-some
latent goodness in that face perhaps,
which her innocent wisdom, untainted
as yet by the wisdom of this world, rec
ognized-prepared to make conquest
of the newcomer,
She moved her little plump hand and
cooed and laughed, Who could resist
her?
Her face became suffused; her eyes
cleaned with happiness, She was no
longer merely u pretty coquette. She
was beautiful, womanly woman.
Leaning forward, she kissed the little
hand tremulously
Finally, yielding to an irresistible
impulse, she crossed over and sat beside
the mother, who might have been
carven image for any sign of life she
gave.
"Would-would you let me hold that |
dear baby just minute?''
For the first time that wooden face !
became expressive, Those light blue
eyes actually glinted and sparkled.
In thin voice that gave vent to all
the malice Of narrow nature, she
jeered:
"You! Why, 1 wouldn't let you
touch herp'
The poor face changed
The beautiful, happy flush deepened
to cruel red. From an expression of
angelic tenderness it took ON one that
was i'll itself an imprecation.
For the baby's pure sake she smoth-
cred it at the door of her lips.
AT that moment the Car stopped, and
she hurried to the door.
She was not SO quick, however, but
that the other mother caught her hand,
her plain, kind, motherly face all alight
with divine impulse of generosity.
II get off here, she said. won't
you carry my baby little way? My
arms are very tired. "
AS they stepped together from the
platform of the car the spectator, over
come with reverence for the beautiful
charity of that act, felt that he dimly
understood what it was to entertain an
angel unawaresl l'-New York Recorder.