The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1871-08-24
BELLE ALDEN'S TRAVELING-DAG

A train bound for St. Louis hat
Just left the depot of Belletontaine
when a gentleman entered tho
smoking car and laid his HAND
upon the shoulder of his travelling.
,companion-a tall, handsome man
of thirty, who sat musingly blow
ing rings of smoke into the air.
"Marcy," said the now conner,
<'if you want to see at once the
sweetest and saddest sight you ever
behcld, 60 into the last car but one
on the train. There's all cmigrant
German woman, with four little
children, and during the afternoon
tho youngest-a baby-has died.
The mother and the other children
are. inconsulable." ~
Il can understand" interrupted
tho smoker, "the sadness of such a
scene, bnt where is the sweetnes S.
you spoke oi?'
"Tm coming to that. The whole
party have been taken in charge of
by 4 young lady. Such beauty !!
Shes dried the mothers tears, and
wiped the children's noses. She's
divinity! She only needs few
feathers on her shoulder-blades to
make full-hedged angel of her.
Ii I was not a married man, I'd
never laave her till Id made Mrs.
Angelica Townsend out OF her."
''That's a speech I shall faithful
ly report to Mrs. Agnes Town
send,' said the gentleman address
cd as Marcy, rising. = 81 shall 60
hack and feast my eyes on this
beautiful Sister of Charity; and"
he added, taking his travelling
satchel and shawl from the rack,
''as We stop ut the next station,
which is due in ten minutes, may
as we'll take my traps through with
Inc, and join you on the platform.
Thus saying, Richard Marcy
threw his shawl over his shoulder,
and sauntercd lcisurely through the
long train-ruslling blindly and
calmly to his fate. For, as he en-
tered the last car but one he be-
came n witness and an actor in a
scene that Influenced his whole fu-
ture life.
The poor, gricfstricken German,
of whom his companion, DR.. Town-
send, had spoken, with the dead in-
FAINT in her arms sat silently weep
ing over the little dead face.
The three sturdy children, group
ed in childish sorrow about their
little dead brother, was indeed a
touching spectacle. But, standing
beside them, was the divinity of
Dr. Townsend's admiration, and
she who was most certainly to
.sshare the ends of the unhappy
Richard.
She was a tall, slender girl of
eighteen, with magnificent eyes and
hair. AS hc entered the car she
was speaking, her lovely face flush
ed, aud the small, rosy mouth, dis
cl ,sing beautiful set of teeth,
turned bcwitchingly towards the
tall stranger at the door.
"Ladies aud gentlemen" spoke
tie sweet voice, "this poor woman,
triendlcss, penniless, speaking no
English, with four little children,
was expecting to find work in St.
Louis, to support them. II every
thing had gone well with her, it
would have been hard for her; but
with her little dead baby and sor-
rowful heart she is certainly u de-
serving object of charity; and I
propose that such as feel willing,
contribute their mite toward a lit
tie purse for her immediate wants
and the burial of her poor baby.
And" she added, with bewitch-
ing smile, eff any gentleman will
lend me a hat I will 60 round and
take up collection"
In an instant the gallant Richard
pulled his travelling cap from bis
blonde curls ahd offered it to the
Angel of Mercy, who accepted it
with a smile, this time all his own,
and. commenced gathering the
readily forthcoming dollars for he,
generous, graceful appeal brought
from the purses Of all in the car.
Richard watched the slender
figure in gray gathering the money
and looking ut the plaid cap in the
white jeweled fingers, he De
thought him of his own donation
and stepping to the seat the beauty
had just occupied, he laid hi
satchel and shawl upon a family O
its kind, belonging to the angel il
gray, and took from his pocket ;
ten dollar bill, which he placed il
the little hand that returned hlr
his cap. Further damage the poe
follow received, when a secon