The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-05-27
GALES, gkettbes, 5nstOotes, 1T.
BELLE ALDEN'S TRAVELLING BAG,

A train bound for St. Louis bad lust
left the depot of Belleloutaine, when a
gentleman entered tie smok ing-car and
laid his hand upon the shoulder Of bis
travelling companion-a tall, handsome
man of thirty, who sat musingly blowing
rings Of smoke into the air.
Marcy" said the new ccmer, "if you
want 10 see at once the sweetest and sad
est sight you ever beheld, 90 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, baby, has died. The mother and
the other children are inconsolable.'
81 can understand" interrupted the
smoker, ''the 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 dried the
mothers tears and wiped the chIdren's
noses. Shes divinity! She only needs
few feathers on her shoulder blades to
make a fuilhedged angel Of her. If l
was not married man, I'd never leave
her till Id made Mrs. Angelica Townsend
out of her"
''Thafs a speech which 1 shall faith
fully report to Mrs. Agnes Townsend"
said the gentleman addressed as Marcy,
rising. II shall go back and feast my
eyes on this beautiful Sister of ChariIy.'
and" he added, taking his travelling satch~
el 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
leisnre!y through the long train-rushing
blindly and calmly TO his fate. For, as
he entered the last Car but one, he became
witness and an actor in a scene that In
fiuenced bis whole future life
The poor, grief>stricken German, of
whom his companion, DR.. Townsend, had
spoken, with the dead infant in her arms,
sat silently weeping over the little dead face.
Tie three sturdy children grouped in
childish sorrow about their little dead
brother, was indeed touching spectacle
But standing beside them was the divini-
ty of DR.. Townsend's admiration, and she
who was most certainly to "share ends
with the unhappy Richard.
She was tall, slender girl Of eighteen,
with magnificent eyes and hair. AS he
entered the car she was speaking, her
| lovely face flushed, and the small rosy
mouth disclosing a beautiful set of teeth,
turned bewitchingly toward the tall stran-
ger at the door.
'Ladies and gentlemen" said the
sweet voice, ''lhis poor woman, friendless,
speaking no English, with four little chill
dren, was expecting to find work in st.
Louis TO support them. If everything
had gone well with her, it would have
been hard but with her little dead baby
and sorrowing heart, she is certainly a
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 baby. And" she added, with a
bewitching smile, ''if any gentleman will
lend me hat, will go 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 readi-
! ly forthcoming dollars her generous, grace
| ful 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 jeweled fingers, he
bethought him of his donation, and siop-
ping to the seat the beauty had just occu-
pied, 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 received, when a