Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1871-05-18
JOHN S. BENDER, Editor and Publisher.
Misfsllaufpus.
BELLE ALDEN'S TRAVELLING
BAG.

BAG.
A train bound for St. Louis had Just
left the depot of BeIlefontaine, when n
gentleman entered the smoking car and
laid his hand upon the shoulder Of Lis
travelling compauion-a tall, handsome
man of thirty. who sat musingly blowing
rings Of smoke into the air.
Marcy" said the new conner. "if you
want to see at once the sweetest and sad
dest sight you ever behrld, 60 into the
last car but one on the train. There's an
emigrant German woman with four chill
dren. and during the afternoon the young
est, a baby, has died. The mother and
! the other children are inconsolab.e.
81 can understand" interrupted the
smoker, "the sadness of such scene. but
where is the sweetness vou spoke OFF,
I'm coming TO that The whole party
have been taken In charge by a young
lady. Such beauty. She dried The
mothers tears AMI wiped The cbildren's
noses. She's divinity! She only needs
! a few feathers on her shoulder blades to
make full hedgsd angel Of her If was
not married nan. I'd never leave her
ill I'd made Mrs. Angelica Townsend of
her."
"That's a speech which shall faithfully
report 10 Mrs. Agnes Townsend" said
the gentleman addressed as Marcy. rising
IL shall go back aud feast my ewes on
this beautiful Sister of Charity, and" he
added, taking his travelling satchel and
| shawl from the rack, ''as we stop at the
next station. which is due In ten minutes.
may az well take nv traps through with
fne. aud Join you on the platform"
| Thus saying, Richard Marcy threw his
shawl over his shoulder. and sauntercd leis
urely through the long train-rushing
blindlv, calmly TO his fate. For as he en-
tered the last car but one. he became a
witness and an acto! In a scene that inf1u-
cnced his whole future life
The poor, grief stricken German. Of
whom his 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 In
childish sorrow about tEeir little dead
brother, was indeed touching spectacle.
RJt standing beside them was the divinity
of DIR. Townseud's admiration, and she
who was the most certainly 10 ''share
ends" with the unhappy Richard.
She was a tall, slender girl of eighteen.
| with magnificent eyes and HAIR. As ne
entered the car she was speaking. her
lovely face flushed. d the small rosy
mouth disclosing beautiful set Of teeth.
turned bewiichingly toward the tall
stranger at the door.
Ladies' AMI gentlemen said the sweet
voice, this poor woman, friendless,
| speaking no English, with four liitl"
children, was expecting tn find work in
ST. Louis to support them. Ifeverything
I n Ill n. "a
been hard; but with her liltle dead baby
and sOrrowing heart. she Is certainly
| deserving object of charity. and propose
that such as feel willing will contribute
their mite toward little purse for her
immediate wants and the burial of her
poor paby. And" she added, with n be-
wi,ching smile ''if any gentleman will
lend me hat ! viii go round and take
up q collection
In an instant The gallant Richard pull
ed his travelling cap fiom his blonde
curls and offered j, 10 the angel Of mercy,
who accepted ii with a smile. this time
all his own. and commenced gathering
The readily forthcoming dollars her gen
crous. graceful appeal brought from the
purses of all in the car.
Richard watched the slender figure in
gray gather the money, and. looking at
the plaid cap In white. jewelled fingers.
| he bethought him of his donation. and
stepping 10 the seat the beauty hld just
occupied. he iai,l his satchcl and shawl
upon a family of it's kind. belonging To
the angel in grav, and took from his
pocket ten dollar hill. which he re-
placed in the little hand that returned
him his cap. Further damage the poor
fellow received. when a smile and warm
ly worded thanks for his contribution
were deal, from the beautiful mouth.
Dick was in The midst Of an elaborate
reply. when the cars stopped. He lingrr
ed yet another moment. seized his saichel
and shawl, with his eyes on the lace Of
his charmei. and then. even rs the cars
were again in motion. he bethnught him
self of The DOCTOR and hurriedly left the
door and joined his friends on the plat
form.
We'll" calculated the worthy doctor.
Il began 10 believe YOU had concluded tn
60 and bury the dead baby, and make the
protecting beauty Mrs. Angelica Marcy.
Isn't she a sumner ??
Townsend" rel urned his friend, ''t!o
not use slang in speaking of the noble
creature : tie looked after the train just
disappearing In the distance. al wish to
Heaven" he continued, I'D remained
aboard. How stupid 1 was fo leave it.
might have learned her name and resi-
dence And now tft
Now. in all probability" broke in the
doctor, ''you'il never meet her In this vale
fof tears But you'll know her in Heayen,
If YOU behave yourself well enongh tc get
there. bv her wings; she'll hsve the hig-
gest of them all. seeing they Fave com
mcncr6 10 sprout on earth"
And thus rallying his thoroughly caoti-
vsted friend. the two made their way IN
the house of an acquaintance, with whom
they were 10 remain that night, and 90
mex, day TO their destination-St. Louis.
After the first salutation our hero went
To his room to remove some ri the evi-
dences Of bis long ride from New York.
He had removed his coat. vest and collar;
he had splashed and soaped and washed
till his damp curls clung close 70 his
; shspely head, when he made a startling
discovery.
Flushed and breafhless. he burst into
the next room. upon his friend.
Townsend" cried he, what upon
; earth do you suppose? I've got the
wrong bag: I've Charged baggage with
l the angel of mercv. Look at the slipper
See that thimble. Contemplate thai
glove ?"
Its evident you have got the lady,
satchel. And what was there In yonrs.
r Don't bring up that dreadful idea,
said Dick. "Cigars and hair brush. ,
pack os cards. pocket flask and tooti
brush-evervthing disreputable. If an
!. Judged by that bag. ! am a lost man."
And this i took for . clean Shirt" ant
Dick held up frilled and fluted sack
', such as do duty for extensive nigh
dresses with ladies' when travelling. "I't
like to see Angelica when she opens my
satchel"
And Dick fell to musing. with the slip
per perched on two fingers. and the frill
cd white lace spread out tenderly on hi
' knees.
In the upper apartment Of handsom'
mar sion in 81. Louis, ~on the evening n
the day our heroine first maze the read
!, ers acquaintance, beautiful Belle Alden
!. the petted and only daughter Of the hous
: sat contemplating the various articles he
confid eptial maid was dlsposing upon tn,