The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-01-10
Belle Asden's TrnyeRline.Bar.

Were no chI.u oetn away
.-.--..=
Belle Asden's TrnyeRling.Bag.
A train bound fer st. Louis had Just left
the depot of Bellefontaine, when gentle.
man entered the smoking car and laid his
hand upon the shoulder of his travelling
companion-a tall, handsome man of thirty
who sat musingly blowing rings of smoke
Into the air.
Marcy" said the new conner. elf YOU
want to see at once the sweetest and saddest
sight you ever beheld, go 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 inconsolablc."
81 can understand" interrupted the
smoker. "the sadness Of such n scene. but
where is the sweetness YOU spoke Of"
Pm coming to that. The whole party
have been taken in charge of by young
lady. Such beauty! She's dried the
mothers tears. and wiped the chiliren's
noses. She's divinity She only needs q
few feathers on her shoulder-blades to make
fu!l-fledged angel of her. II | was not a
married man, I'd never leave her till I'D
made Mrs. Angelica Townsend out Of her."
"That'sa speech which l shall faithfully
report TO Mrs. Agnes Townsend" said the
gentleman addressed as Marcy, rising. ~
Shall 60 back and feast my eyes on this
beautiful Sister OF Charity and" he added,
taking his travelling satcheI and shawl from
the rack, "as we stop at the next station,
which is due in ten minutes, may as well
take my traps through with me, and join
you on the platform"
Thus saying, Richard Marcy threw his
shawl over his shoulder, and sauntered
leisurely through the long tral-rushiug
hIlnI1V rplf mi RI fat J,o
entered the last car but one he became 4
witness and an actor IN 4 scene that intlu-
cnced his whole future life.
"oor, grief.Stricken German, of whom
Tner ~. Doctor Townsend, had
his companio.. y" infant in her arms,
spoken, with the au', the little dead
sat silently weeping oyel
face.
The three study children, grouped in
childish sorrow about their little dead
brother. was indeed touching spectacle.
But, standig beside them, was the di-
vinity Of Doctor Towuscnd's admiration,
and she who was most certainly to "share
the ends" of the unhappy Richard.
She was a tall, slender girl OF eighteen,
with magnificent eyes and hair. AS he en-
tered the car she was speaking, her lovely
face flushed, and the small, rosy mouth,
disclosing beautiful set of teeth, turned
the. door.
"Ladies and gentlemen" spoke the sweet
voice, "this poor woman, friendlcSS and
nennilcss, speaking no English, with four
little children, was expecting to lind work
in st. Louis to support them. If everything
had gone well with her it would have been
hard for her; but with her little dead baby
and sorrowful heart she is certainly de-
serving object of charity; and / propose
that such as feel willing contribute their
mite toward Il little purse for her immediate
wants and the burial of her poor baby.
And" she added, with bewitchiny smile,
"t any gentleman will lend me hat will
20 round and take up a collection
In an instant the gallant Richard pulled
his travelling cap from his blonde curls and
offered it to the Angel of Mercy, who ac-
cepted it with smile, this time all his own,
and commenced gathering the feadllE
forthcoming dollars her generous, graceful
appeal brought from the purses OF all III
the car.
Richard watched the slender figure in
gray gathering the money, and looking ut
the plaid cap in the white, jewelled fingers.
he bethought him of his own donation, and
stepping to the seat the beauty had just oc-
cupied, he laid his satchel and shawl upon
family ofits kind, belonging to the angelin
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 received, when a second smile
and warmy-worded thanks for his liberal
contribution were dealt him from the beau
titul mouth.
Dick was in the midst of an elaborate
reply, when the cars stopped. He fingered
yet another moment, seized his satchel and
shawl, with his eyes still on the face Of his
charmer, and then, even as the cars were
again in motion, he bethought himself o.
the doctor. and hurriedly left the Car anG
joined his friend on the platform.
"Well,' calculated that worthy, 81 be.
gan t. believe you'd concluded to go and
bury the dead baby, and make the protect
ing beauty Mrs. Angelica Marcy. Isn't she
stunnerI"
"Townsend," returned his friend, ''don't
use slang in speaking of the noble creature
He looked after the train just disappear.
ing in the distance. 81 wish to heaven
he continued, "Pd remained aboard. How
stupid | was to leave it. | might have
learned her name and residence. And
now"
"Now, in all probability" broke in the
doctor, "you'll never meet her in this vale
of tears. But you'll know her in heaven,
if you behave yourself well enough to gel
there, by her wings she'll have the biggest
Of any of them, seeing they've commenced
to sprout on EARTH
And thus raliylng MS Thoroughly captl
waited friend, the two made their way to thu
house of All acquaintance, with whom they
were to remain that night, and 60 on the
next day to their destinatiOn-St. Louis.
After the first salutation our hero went
to his room TO remove some of the evidence:
of his long ride from New York. He had
removed his coat, vest. and collar; he haC
splashed, and soaped, and washed, till his
damp curls hung close to his shapely head
when he made startling discovery.
Flushed aud breathless, he burst into the
next room upon his friend.
"Townsend," cried he, "what upon
earth do you suppose! Eve got the wrong
bag. Pye changed baggage with the Ange
of Mercy. Look at that slipper-see that
thimble-contemplat that glove"
"It's evident you've got the lady's
satchel. And what was there in yours"
"Don't bring up that dreadful idea"
said Dick. "Cigars and hair-brush, o
pack of cards and a comb, pocket-fask and
tooth.brush-everythin disreputable. II
am judged by that bag, Pm a lost man. y
"And this took for clean shirt" and
Dick held up frilled and fiuted sack, such
as do duty for more extensive night. dresses
with ladies when travelling. "Pd like to
see Angelica when she opens my satchel."
And Dick fell to musing, with the Slip
per perched on two fingers and the friled
white sack spread out tenderly upon his
knees.
In an upper apartment Of a handsome
mansion in st. Louis, on the evening OF the
dav our heroine first made the readers at
ouaintance, beautiful Belle Alden, the pet