The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-06-05
BELL ALDEN'S TRAVELLING BAG.

A train bound for st. Louis had JUS
left the depot of Bellefountain wher
gentleman entered the smoking
car and laid his hand upon the shoul
der of his travelling companion
tall handsome man Of thirty, who
sat musingly blowing rings of smoke
into the air.
"Mercy," said the new conner, "i
you want to see at once the sweetes,
and saddest sight you ever heheld
90 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.
baby, has died. The mother and
other children are lnconsolable."
81 can understand" interrupted
the smoker, "the sadness of the scene,
but where is the sweetness you
spoke Off"
'I'm coming to that. The whole
party have been taking in charge by
a 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 on her shoulder, blades to
make a full fiedged angel Of her. II
| was not a married man, I'd never
leave her till I'd make Mrs. Angelica
Townsend out of her.
'That's a speech which | shall
faithfully report to Mrs. Agnes Town.
send,' said the gentleman addressed
as Marcy, rising. 4 shall go back
and feast my eyes on this beautiful
Sister of Charity, and,' he 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 leisurely 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 a scene that influenc
ed his whole futnre life.
The poor, grief-stricken German
of whom his companion, Doctor
Townsend, had spoken, with th'
dead infant in her arms, sat silently
weeping over the little dead face.
The three sturdy children, group
ed in childish sorrow about theil
little dead brother, was indeed {
touching spectacle. But standing
beside them, was the divinity o
Doctor Townsend's admiration, anG
she who, was most certainly to 'shar.
the ends of the unhappy Richard.
She was tall, slender girl o
eighteen, magnificent eyes and hair
AS he entered the car she was speak
ing, her lovely face flushed, and th'
small, rosy mouth, disclosing beau
tiful set of teeth, turned bewitchingl.
towards the tall stranger at th'
door.
Ladies and gentleman spoke ul
the sweet voice, this poor woman
friendless, speaking no English, will
four children, expected to fnt
work in st. Louis to support them
If everything had gone well with he
it would have been hard for her; bu
with her little dead baby and he
sorrowful heart she is certainly
deserving object of charity; and
propose that such as feel willing
contribute their mite toward littl
purse for her Immediate wants an,
the burial of her poor baby. sAnd,
she added, with bewitching smile
IF any gentleman will lend nae ha
I will go round and take up collec
tion.'
In an instant the gallant Richart
pulled his travelling cap from hi
blonde curls and offered it to tn
angel of mercy, who accepted
with smile, this time all his own
and commenced gathering the read
ly forth. coming dollars, her generous
graceful appeal brought from tn
purses of all in the car.
Richard watched the slende
figure in gray gathering the money
and, looking at the plaid cap in th
white jewelled fingers, he bethougf
him of his own donation, and stel
ping to the seat the beauty had jul
occupied he laid his satchel an
shawl upon a family of its kind, b
longing to the angel in gray, an
took from his pocket ten dollar bill
which he placed in the little han
that returned him his cap. Furth'
damage the poor fellow receives
when a second smile and war
words of thanks for his liberal CO
tribution were dealt him from Il
beautiful mouth.
| Dick was in the midst of an elabo
ate reply, when the cars stoppe
He fingered yet another momer
seized his satchel and shawl Wi
his eyes still on the face of b
charmer, and then, even as the Ca
were again in motion, he bethoug
himself of the doctor, and hurried
left the car and joined his friend
the platform.
sWell,' calculated that worthy,
began to believe you'd concluded
GO and bury the dead baby, al
make the protecting beauty MI
Marcy. Isn't she a etunner?'
Townsend returned his frien
don't use slang in speaking of Il
noble creature He looked after t
train just disappearing in the d
tance. Il wish to heaven he CO
tinued, sd remained aboard. He
stupid 1 was to leave it. 1 mig
have learned her name and residenG
And now
'Now, in all probability broke
the doctor, you'll never meet her
this vale of tears. But you'll kno
her in heaven, if you behave yours
we'll enough to get there, by b
wings; for she'll have the biggt
of any of them, seeing they've COL
menced to sprout on earth.'
And thus rallying his thorough
captivated friend, the two ma
their way to the house of an acquai
ance, with whom they were to i
main that night, and go on the ne
day to their destination-St. Loui
After the first salutation, our he
| went to his room to remove some
the evidences of his long ride fr,