Evening journal., 1905-05-01
Hic Two Smiles
longIpall.

lOrDluulhS GOanLendnce The corners
Of his mouth, were drawn down. and
when he smiled they refused to be
drawn up The consequence was a
mingling Of a. smile in the eye and a
crusty look about the mouth that was
by no. means pleasing, Harding pos
sessed a very good mind. He was orig
inal and entertaining. but this, espe-
cially among young people, counted for
nothing. When be perpetrated a With
Cism accompanied by what in another
would have been-a droll expression the
result was a combination of smile and
acerblty that was very unpleasant.
One girl only seemed to be able to
chat with Harding without laughing
at him, Rebeeea Payne. But Miss
Payne was the daughter Of a poor cler-
gyman and merely tolerated in society
well, because she had neither wealth
nor that faculty of assumed gracious
ness to the members Of her set which
in society people is often accompanied
by ungraclOusness to those without
their set. She was, however, intellec-
tual, and some of the more apprecia-
tive members took her up But none of
the socially prominent young men paid
her any attention, and this was a back
set for her. When it was noticed that
the only attendant she could rely upon
was Harding her fate, socially consld-
ered was sealed.
Harding's occupancy of the social po-
sition to which he was entitled was
confined to one winter. The next soci-
ETY. saw him no more He disappeared
for five years. At the end Of that pc
riod one of the arlstocratic churches Of
the place where he had been born and
reared needed a minister. The pillars"
had heard Of a young man. a Mr.. Cum
mings, who was electrifying the elect in
another city and sent him an invitation
to preach The reverend gentleman ap-
peared one Sunday morning in the pull
pit, and the moment certain members
Of the congregation looked at him they
whispered to one another "How like
owen Harding and yet how unlike
himlp
Mr.. Cummings after announcing his
text closed the Bible and without a
scrap Of memoranda delivered the fin
est sermon that had ever been heard In
that church. Once when using a hu-
morous illustration he smiled. That
smile captivated every woman present,
and there was not a girl unbespoken
who did not resolve that If Mr.. Cum
mings were called and accepted the
cali she would set her cap for him, for
it was known that he was both unmar-
ried and rich.
When the congregation left the church
there was hum Of praises intermin-
gled with query and counter query
from those who had known Harding as
to whether he and Cummings could
possibly be one person. Then it was
learned that the clergymans name was
Harding Cummings. the latter name
having heen taken to fulfill the provi-
sions Of a fortune. This settled it that
Cummings was none other than owen
Harding, who had been the laughing
stock Of his acouaintauces for a dia-
bolic smile that had since become Sc
raphic. A thousand tongues were set
babbling not at the young minister's
eloquence, but at the transformation Of
his facial expression As people once
asked concerning a newly risen literary
star, HFWhere did she get that style7'
SO It was asked concerning the Rev.
Harding Cummings. where did he get
that smile?'
Mr.. Cummings became the pastor of
the church, and fifty young ladies in
and out of the congregation, all social
| ~ prominent, made a dead set for him.
1t must not he supposed that Mr.. Cum
mings' eloQuence or his heavenly smile
would have alone led these young ladies
TO c0vet him for a husband. 1t was
the eloquence and the smile supported
by his great wealth. The minister
showed no preference for any Of them,
which made the race all .the more eX-
citing. Young women who five years
before had made no attempt to conceal
their laughter at his unfortunate ex-
preston when he made droll re
mark did not now scruple to remind
him Of their enjoyment of what they
called his sparkling wit. The clergy
man smiled pleasantly on them, al.
though one Of his best friends remark
ed that it was to be hoped he had his
old smile at home. where he might put
it on after some Of these fiatterng re
minders.
Mr. Harding-Cummings had beer
pastor Of the church q year, and the
battle Of the beauties for his posses
sion was at fits hottest when the bri
gade was panic stricken by the an
nouncement that he had gone away tC
be married. His bride lived in a far
distant land-her father having gone
out as a missionary-and therefore nC
invitations TO the wedding would be is
sued only announcement cards. Wher
several months later the groom brought
his wife home there was consterna
ton on the features OF some of the old
er bellies as they recognized Rebeccs
Payne. And well they might tremble
for Mrs. Cummings became at once ;
prominent woman in society and Sc
the stamp Of her disapprpval on every
one Of them who had laughed at hel
) husbands misfortune
How in the name Of conscience,
asked one OF several gentleihen smok
ing after a dinner party, did Hardin.
get rid Of that diabolic expression Ii
once worei"
Il can enllghten you," said q promi
nent surgeon. Il carved it out Of him.
AT the moment the reverend gentle
man referred TO entered the room an,