Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-02-10
SELECTED STORY
BELL ALDEN'S TRAVELLING BAG,

A train bound for st. Louis had Just LEFT
the depot of Bellefontaine, when gentle
man entered the smoking car, and laid bis
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, ''if you
want to see at once the sweetest and saddes
sight you ever beheld, 60 into the last Cal
but one on the train. There's an emigrant
German woman, with four little children,
and during the afternoon the youngest, q
baby, has died. The mother and the Other
children are inconsolable."
Il can understand" interrupted the
smoker, "the sadness of such scene. but
where is the sweetness you spoke of p
Il come to that This whole party have
been taken in charge by young lady. Such
beauty She's dried the mothers tears,
and wiped the children's noses. She's a
divinity She only needs few feathers or
her shoulderblades to make a full fedged
angel of her, If was not married man
I'd never leave her till I'd made Mrs An.
gelica Townsend out Of her."
"That's speech which shall faithfully
report to Mrs. Agnes Townsend" said the
gentleman addressed as Marcy, rising. II
shall go back and feast my eyes on this beau
tiful Sister Of Charity and," he added, tax
ing his travelling satchel and shawl from the
rack, "as we stop the next station which
is due in ten minutes, | may as well take
my traps through with NE and join you on
the platform.
Thus saying Richard Marcy threw his
shawl over his shoulder. and sauntered
leisurcly through the long train-rushing
blindly and calmly to his fate. For, as he
entered the last car but one he became a
witness and an actor in scene that infu.
enced 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 their dead brother,
was indeed, touching spectacle. But,
standing beside them, was the divinity Of
DR.. Townsend's admiration, and she who
wes most certainly to "share the ends"
of the unhappy Richard.
She was tall, slender girl of eighteen,
with magnificent eyes and hair AS be en-
tered the car, she was speaking, her lovely
face flushed, and the small, rosy mouth dis
closed a beautiful set of teeth, turned be-
w;tching towards the tall stranger at the
door.
"Ladies and gentlemen" spoke the sweet
voice, this poor woman, friendless and
penniless, speaking 10 English, with four
little children, was expecting to work in
St. Louis to support them. If everything
had gone well with her it would have been
hard with her but with her little dead ba-
by and her sorrowful heart she is certainly
a deserving object of charity +; and l pro-
pose that such as feel willing, contribute
their mite toward little purse for her i'm.
mediate wants and the burial of her poor
baby. And,'' she added, with a bewitching
smile, ''if any gentleman will lend me hat
l will 60 round and take UP a collection. J"
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 readily forth
coming dollars her generous, graceful ap.
peal brought from the purses Of all in the
car.
Richard watched the slender figure in
gray, gathering the money and, looking
at the laid cap in the white, jeweled fingers,
he bethcught him Of his ewn donation, and
stepping to the seat the beauty had just oc
cupied he laid his satchel and shawl upon a
family of his kind, belonging to the angel in
gray, and took fre;n his pokcet ten dollar
bill, which he placed in the little hand thai
returned him his cap. Further damage tn.
poor fellow received, when second smile
and warml y.worded thanks for his liberia
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, selling his satchel ant
shawl with his eyes still on the face of hi
charmer, and then, even as the cars wer
again in motion, he bethought himself of tn
Doctor. and hurriedly left the car and join
ed his friend on the platform.
"Well," calculated that worthy, II be
gan to believe you'd concluded to go an
bury the dead baby, and make the protect
ing beauty Mrs. Angelica Marcy. Ism
she sumner 2"
Townsend" returned his friend, ''dop
use slang in speaking OF the noble creature.
He looked after the train just disappearin
in the distance. II wish to Heaven" b
continued, ''I'd remained aboard. Ho'
stupid was to leave it. 1 might have learr
ed her name and residence. And now
''NoE, in all probability, broke in tb
Doctor, s'you'll never meet her in this val