The Republican journal., 1870-12-15
BELL ALDENs TRAVELLING BAG.

BELL ALDENs TRAVELLING BAG.
A train bound for St. Louis had lust left
the depot Of Bcllefontane when a gentleman
entered the smoking car, and laid his hand
upon The shoulder of his travelling compan-
iona tall. handsome man of thirty, who
sat musingly blowing rags of smoke into
the air.
s'NIarcy,0 said the new conner, ''if YOU
want to see at once the sweetest and saddest
sight you ever beheid, 90 into the last car
but one on the train. There's an emigrant
German woman, with four little children.
and during the afternoon the youngest, a
baby, has died. The mother and the other
children are uneonsolable."
Il can understand,n interrupted the smok-
or, '.thc sadness of such scene, but where
is the sweetness you spoke OF ?"
''Im coming to that. The whole party
have been taken in charge by young lady
Such beauty. She's dried the mothers
tears, and wiped the childrcns noses. She's
q divinity She only needs a few feathers
on her shoulder blades to make full fledged
angel Of hcr. If [ was not married man,
I'd never leave her till I'd made Mrs. An
gelica Townsend out Of her.
''That's a speech which l shall faithfully
report to Mrs. Agnes Townsend" said the
gentleman addressed as Marcy, rising. Il
shall go back and feast my eyes on this beau
tiful Sister of Charity; and" he added, tax
ing his travelling satchel and shawl from the
rack, cas- we stop at the next station, which
is due in ten minutes, may as we'll take my
traps through with me and join you on the
platform.n y
Thus saying, Richard Marcy threw his
shawl over his shoulder, and sauntered leis-
urely through the long tran-rushing blind
lv and calmly to his fate. For, as he entered
the last car but one he became witness and
an actor in q scene that influenced his whole
future life
The poor, grief-stricken German OF whom
bis companion, Doctor Townsend had spoken,
with the dead infant in her arms, sat silently
weeping over the little dead face.
The three sturdy children. grouped i'll child
ish sorrow about their little dead brother,
was indeed a touching spectacle. But, stand
ING beside them. was the divinity Of Doctor
Townscnd's admiration, and she who was
most certainly to ''share the endsn of the I'M
happy Richard.
She was tall, slender girl of eighteen,
with magnificent eyes and hair. As he en-
tered the car, she was speaking, her lovely
lace flushed, and the small, rosy mouth dis
closing . beautiful set of teeth, turned be-
witchingly up toward the tall stranger at the
door
"Ladios and gentlemen" spoke the sweet
voice, "this poor woman, frcndless and pen
nlcss, speaking 40 English, with four little
children, was expecting TO find work in st.
Louis to support them, II everything had
gone well with her il would have been hard
for her; but with her little dead baby and
her sorrowful heart she is certainly a deserv
ing object of charity; and | propose that
such as feel willing contribute their mite to-
ward q little purse for her immediate wants
and the burial Of her poor baby. And She
added, with 4 bewtching smile, IF any gen
tleman will lend me q hat l will 90 round
and take up the collection"
In an instant the gallant Richard pulled his
travelling cap from his blonde curs and Of
fered it to the Angel of Mercy, who accepted
it with q SMILE this time all his own, and
commenced gathering the readily forthcom-
ing dollars her generous, graceful appeal
brought from the purses of all in the car.
Richard watched the slender figure in gray
gathering the money; and, looking at the
plaid cap in the white, ewelled fingers he
bethought him of his own donation and step
ping to the scat the beauty had Just occupied
he laid his satchel and shawl upon a family of
its kind, belonging to the angel in gray, and
took from his pocket ten dollar bill, which
he placed in the little hand that returned him
his cap. Further damage the poor fellow re-
ceived, when q second smile and warmly
wor,led thanks for his liberal contribution
were dealt him from the beautiful mouth.
Dick was in The midst Of an elaborate re-
ply, when the ears stopped. He fingered yet
another moment, seized his satchel and shawl
with his eyes still on the face Of his charmcr,
and then, even as the cars were again in mo-
ton, he bcthouoht himself of the doctor, and
hurricdly left the car and Joined his friend on
the platform.
"Well," calculated that worthy, ~ began
to believe you'd concluded to go and bury
the dead baby, and make the protecting
beauty Mrs. Angelica Marcy Isn't she u
Sttlnncr"'
"Townsend,' returned his friend, s'don't
use slang in speaking OF that noble creature"
He looked after the train Just disappearing in
the distance. Il wish to heaven he contin-
ued, 'I'd remained aboard How stupid /
WAS to leave it. might have learned her
name and residence. And now
Nov, in all probability" broke in the
doctor, you'll never meet III this vale of
tears. But you'll know her in heaven, if you
behave yourself well enough to get there, by
her wings she'll have the biggest of any of
| 'cm. seeing they've commenced to sprout on
earth
And thus rallying his thoroughly captivat-
ed friend, the two made their way to the
house Of an acquaintance, with whom they
were to remain the night, and 90 on the next
dav to their destinalion-St. Louis.
After the first salutation, our hero went to
his room to remove some of the evidences of
his long ride from New York. He had re-
moved his coat, vest and collar; he had
splashed and soapcd and washed, till his
face glowed and his damp curls clung close
to his shapely head, when he made a start
ling discovery.
Flushed and breathlcss he burst into the
next room, upon his friend,
Townsend" cried he, "what upon earth
do you suppose? I've got the wrong bag.
rvc changed baggage with the Angel Of
Mercy. Look at that slipper. See that
thimble. Contemplate that glove"
''lt's evident you've got the lady's satchel.
And what was there in yours ?"
Don't bring up that dreadfu ldea,' said
Dick. "Cigars and hair brush, q pack of
cards and Il comb, pocllct-tlask and tooth
brush-cvcrything dsrcputable If ! am