The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1871-08-10
Belle Alden's Traveling-Bag.

man entered the smoking car anu lalu nio
hand upon the shoulder Of his travelling
companion-a tail, handsome man OF thirty,
who sat musingly blowing rings OF smoke
into the air. =
"Marcy," said the new conner, "lf you
want to see at once the sNe te t ant
saddest sight you eyer beheld, 60 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 inconsolable."
Il can understand" interrupted the smo;.
kcr, 'the sadness Of such scene, but where
is the the sweetness you spoke Off"
""Im coming to that. The whole party
have been taken in charge by young lady.
Such beauty! She has dried the mothers
tears and wiped the children's noses. She's
divinity. She only needs a few feathers
on her shoulder blades to make full-Aedged
angel Of her. If was not married man
I'd never leave her till / made Mrs. Angeh-
ca T wnsend o 1t Of her." .. s~
THAT'S speech which I shall faithfully
report to Mrs. Agues Townsend" said the
gentleman addressed as Marcy, rising. .. " I
Shall go back and feast my eyes. on this
beautiful Sister of Charity, and" lie added,
taking his travelling satchel and shawl from
the rack, as We stop at the next
station which is due in ten minutes, l
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 leis-
urey through the long train-rushing blind
ly and calmly to his fate. For as he enter
cd the last car but one he became. "a witness
and an actor in scene that influenced his
w:o,e future life. -
The poor, gliel.stricken German, of whom
his co npanion, Dr. Townsend, had spoken,
with the dead infant in her arms, sat silent
lywcc oing over the little dead face.
The three sturdy children, grouped in
childish sorrow about their little dead broth
CT, was indeed touching spectacle. But
Standing beside tben was the divinity of
DR.. Townscnd's admiration, and she who
was most certainly to ';shape 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, dis
closing beautiful set of teeth, turned be-
witchingly towards the tall stranger at the.
door. -" - :,
''Ladics and gentlemen" spoke the sweet
voice, this poor woman, friendlcss, renni-
less, speaking no English, with four little
children, was expecting to find work in St.
Louis to support them. IF everything had
gone well with her it would not have been
hard for her; bat with her little dead baby
and sorrowful heart she is certainly deserv-
ing object of charity; and 1 propose that
such as feel willing contribute their mite
toward little purse for her immediate
wants and the burial of her poor baby
And" she added, with bewitching smile,
''if any gentleman will lend me hat I will
go round and take up 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 is with smile, this time all his own,
and commenced gathering the readily forth
coming 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 jcweled fingers,
he bcthought him of his own donation, and
stepping to the seat the beauty had just oc-
cupicd he laid his satchel and shawl upon
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 received when a second smile
and warmly-worded thanks for his liberal
contribution were dealt him from the beau
tiful mouth.
Dick was in the midst of an elaborate re-
ply when the cars stopped. He fingered
yet another moment, seized his satchel and
shawl, with his eyes still on the face of his
and then, even as the cars we're
again in motion, he bethought himself of
the doctor, and hurriedly left the car and
joined his friend on the platform.
"Well," calculated that worthy, II began
to believe you'd concluded to go and bury
the dead baby, and make the protecting
beauty Mrs. Angelica Marcy. Isn't she
stunncr?"
Townsend" returned his friend, "don't
use slang in speaking of the noble creature"
He looked after the train just disappearing
in the distance. II wish to heaven" he
continued, "I'd remain ed aboard. How
stupid l was to leave it. l might have
learned her name and residence. And
now
"Now, in all probability" broke in the
doctor, 'you will never meet in this vale OF
tears. But you will know her in heaven if
you behave yourself we'll enough to gcttherc
by her wings; she will have the biggest of
any Of them, seeing they have commenced
to sprout on earth"
And thus rallying his thoroughly capti-
vatcd friend, the two made their way to the
house Of an 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 evidences of
his long ride from New York He had re.