The Jersey City news., 1905-03-25
Hie Two Smiles
Iorlgsnal.l

| of his mouth we're 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 very good mind. He was orig
inal and entertaining but this, espe-
cialiy ameng young people counted for
nothing. When he perpetrated a witt
cism accompanied By what in another
would have been q droll expression the
result was q combination Of smile and
acerblty that was very unpleasant.
One girl only seemed to be able to
chat with Harding without laughing
at him, Rebecca 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 assum gracious
ness to the members of her set which
in society people is often accompanied
by ungraciousaess t. 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 consid-
cred, was sealed.
Hardings occupancy Of the social po-
sition to which he was entitled was
aor4fst All ~ s.,s -tt4f Frsl< ,,avr+ 600;
ETY. saw him no more. He disappeared
for FIVE years. At the end of that pc
riod one of the aristocratic churches of
the place where he had been born and
reared needed minister. The pillars,
had heard of d 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
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 hui
morous illustration he smiled That
smile captiyated every woman present,
and there was not a girl unbespoken
who did not resolve that If Mr.. Cum
mings were called and accepted the
call she would set her cap for him, for
it was known that he was both unmar-
ried aud 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 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 aequaintances for a dia-
boiic smile that had since become Sc
raphic A thousand tongues were set
babbling not at the young minister's
s.o9u 9uenee' put q ene transformation OIL
nis iaclal expression. As people once
ASKED Concerning a newly risen literary
sear, ~ mere oaa she get tnat styie!7
SO it was asked concerning tie Rev.
Harding Cummings Where did he get
lllae silaile
~. cummings became the pastor of
tne schurch, ana ntty young ladies' In
ana OUT q sle congregation, all sociall
y prominent MADE dead set for him.
y must hg- ee supposed that Ars Cum
h-illss eio@AsesAees or ms heavenly smile
Wolia hiiSs alone led these young ladies'
70 eoVel I'm Tor a husband L was
Tue eioqaehee ana the smile supported
Dy hls great wealth. The minister
sh0ASed io preference for any OF them,
Whlch ni&ae the race all the luore ex-
cltlng. fouag women who I'VE years
DeIore had made no attempt 70 conceal
thelr iaushter at his unfortGnate ex-
preston WRen he made droli re-
nafk dla not now serupie 10 remind
MN OF thelr enjoyment Of What they
callea ms sparkling VII Ile clergy
man smiled Pleasantly On them al
tholgli one oT LIS BEST Irleass5 remark
Ell Ilat IL was TO be l3DCI he had his