The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-08-10
Bell Alden's Travelling Bag.

0Ua1 A14On . 44GSO4414S5 -01SS5i
A Train bound for st. Louis had
just left the depot of Bellefontaine,
when gentleman entered the smek-
ing car and laid his hand upon the
shoulder of his travelling companion,
tall, handsome man of thirty, who
sat musingfy blowing rings of smoke
into the air.
Marcy said the new conner, " il
you want TO see at once the sweetest
and saddest sight you ever beheld, 60
into the last car but one on the train.
There's an emigrant German woman
with four children, and during the af-
ternoon the youngest, a baby died
The mother and the other children
are inconsolable."
"I can understand" interrupted
the smoker, " the sadness of such q
scene, but where is the sweetness you
spoke of 2" F.. i
"I am coming to that. The whole
party have been taken in charge by a
young lady. Such beautyi She
dried the mothers tears and wiped
the children's noses. She's a divinity
She only needs few feathers on her
shoulder blades to make a full-dedged
angel of her. If was not married
man / would never lsaye her till I had
made Mrs. Angelica Townsend of
her."
That's a speech which, I shall
faithfully report to Mrs. Agnes Town
send" said the gentleman addressed
as Marcy, rising =, :. IN go back and md
of Charity" ," and, he added, taking
his travelling satchel and shawl from
the rack, g as we stop at the next sta
tion, which is due in ten minutes, I
may as well take my. traps with me
and join you on the platform" i.
!. So saying, Richard Marcy threw his
shawl over his shoulder and saunter-
ed leisurely away 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 scene that Influenced his
whole future life = -. -,
The poor, grief-strieken German, of
whom his companion, DIR, Townsend,
had spoken with the dead infant in
her arms, sat silently weeping over
the little dead face. ~ m.
The three sturdy children grouped
in childish sorrow about their little
dead brother was Undecided, touch
ing spectacle. But standing beside
them was the divinity of Dr.. Town
sends admiration. and she who was
most certainly to !" share ends with
the unhappy Richard. 5' .i6s.i ~
She was a tall, slender girl of eigh-
teen, with magnificent eyes and hair
AS he entered the car she was speak
ing, her lovely face flushed, and the
small rosy mouth disclosing beauti-
full set of teeth, turned bewitchingly
toward the tail stranger atthe door.
"Ladies and gentlemen" said the
sweet voice, this poor woman.
friendless, 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 little dead baby and sorrow
object of charity and I propose that
their mite toward little purse for her
Immediate wants and the burial of her
poor baby. And, she added, witE a
bewitching smile, i" if any gentleman
will lend mea 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 an
gel of mercy, who accepted it with
smile, this time all his own, and COM.
menced gathering the readily forth
coming dollars her generous, graceful
appeal brought from the purses of all
in the car. 5 .aoIi 9ie5o zE435
Richard watched the slender figure
in gray gather the money, and, look
ing at the placid cap in white, jeweled
fingers, he bethought him of his do
nation, and stepping to the seat the
beauty had just occupied, he laid his
satchel and shawl upon a; family of its
kind, belonging to the angel in gray,
and took from his pocket a ten dollar
bill, which he placed in the little hand
that returned him his icap.o Further
damage the poor fellow received,
when q smile and warmly worded
thanks for his contribution were dealt
from the beautiful mouth.
Dick was in the midst of an elabo-
rate reply, when the cars stopped
He fingered yet another moment,
seized his satchel and shawl, with his
eyes on the face of his charmer, and
he bethought himself of the doctor,
and hurriedly left the car and Joined
his friend on the platform.
+ WE'LL" CALCULATED the worthy, "I1
began to believe you'd concluded to
go and bury the dead baby, and make
the protecting beauty Mrs. Angelica
Marcy. Isn't she a sumner. q
Townsend" returned his friend,
" don't use slang in speaking of the
noble creature" He looked after the
train just disappearing in the distance.
g IsWish to heaven he continued,
g I'd remained aboard. How stupid
I was to leave it. I might have learn
ed her name and residence. And
g Now, in all probability" broke in
the doctor, "you1l never meet her in
this vale of tears. But you'll know
her in heaven, if you behave yourself
well enough to get there, by her
wings; she'll have the biggest of
them all, seeing they've, commenced
to sprout on earth." ..st. 5sas.s.iefi.
+ And thus rallying his thoroughly
captivated friend, the two made. their
way'to the house of an acquaintance,
with whom they were to. remain that
night, and go the next day on their
destination-St. Louis sr af'f Il. So
After the first salutations 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 had splashed
and soaped and washed, until his
damp curls hung close to his shapely
head, when he MADEIRA startling dis
covery. finished and breathless, he
rushed into the next room upon his
friend. 5.... ..--..- ~.
"Townsend," cried he, "what up
on earth do you suppose ? I've got 1
the wrong bag Pye changed baggage
with the angel of mercy! Look at
the slipper! see that thimble; contem-.
plate that glover
ssIt's evident you've got the lady's
And what was there in
yours 2" h 5s9i.Ia - .I8.ss aiaesf. ..
..Don,t bring up that dreadful idea,"
said Dick. !" Cigars and hair brush,
a pack,of cards, pocket flask and a
tooth brush-everything disreputable.,