The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1905-03-17
Ilic Two Smiles
lorIglnal.l


forbiddlHs countenance. The corncrs
OF his nIorth were drawn down, and
vixen he smiled they refused to be
drawn uIi. The consequence was a
tningling of smile In the eye and .
crusty look about the mouth that wa.
10y no means pleasing. Harding pos
scsscd very good mind. He was orig
NAL ana entertaining. but tbs, esq
clally among young people, counted 70
nothing. When he pcrpetrated witt
cism accompanied by what in anothe
would have been droIl expression the
result was a combination OF smile ana
acerbity that was very unpleasant.
One girl only seemed to he able 10
chat with Harding without laughing
ut him, Rebecca Payne. But Miss
Payne was the daughter of a poor cler-
gyman aud merely tolerated In society
well. because she had neither wealth
nor that faculty of assumed graclo.s-
ness TO the members OF her set which
in society people is often accompanied
by ungaciousness 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 back
set for her. When 1t was noticed that
the only attendant she could rely upon
was Harding her fate, socially consid-
cred, 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
Rod one of the aristocratic churches of
the place where he had been born and
reared needed minister. The pillars
had heard of young man, Mr.. Cum.
mings, who was electrifylng the elect in
another city and sent him an invitation
to preach. The reverend gentleman ap.
peared one Sunday morning In the PM.
pit, and the moment certain membt
OF the congregation looked at him they
whispered to one another, How like
owen Harding and yet how unlike
him!"
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 hu.
morous Illustration he smiled. That
smile capt every woman present
and there was not girl unbespoken
who did not resolve that II Mr. Cum.
mings We're called and accepted the
call 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 intermln.
gled with query and counter query
from those who had known Harding US
to whether he and Cummings could
possibly be one person. Then it was
learned that the clergyman's name was
Harding Cummings, the latter name
having been taken to fulfill the provi-
sions of fortune. This settled It that
Cummings was none other than owen
Harding, who had been the laughing.
stock of his acquaintances 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, where did she get that style?"
SO 1t 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 dead set. for him.
1t must not be supposed that Mr.. Cum
mings' eloquence or his heavenly smile
would have alone led these young ladies
to covet him for 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 ut his unfortunate ex-
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
cd that it was to be hoped he had his
old smile at home, where he might put
it on after some of these fattering re-
| minders.
Mr.. Harding Cummings had been
pastor Of the church year, and the
battle of the beauties for his posses
sion was at its hottest when the bri-
gade was panic stricken by the an
nouncement that he had gone away to
be married. His bride lived in n far
distant land-her father having gone
out as n misslonary-and therefore no
invitations TO the wedding would be Is
sued, only announcement cards. When
several months later the groom brought
his wife home there was consterna-
ton on the features OF some OF the old
er bellies us they recognized Rebecca
Payne. And well they might tremble,
for Mrs. Cummings became at once
prominent woman in society and set
the stamp Of her disapproval on every
/ pf