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Belle Alden’s Traveling-Bag, A train bound for bt. Louis had iust left the depot at Bellefontaine when a gentla- man entered the smoking-car and laid his hand upon the shoulder of his traveling companion—a 0 tall handsome man of thir ty, who sat musingly blowing rings of pmoke into the air. "Marcy," said the new come,, “ if you want to see at once the sweetest and sad dest sightyou ever beheld, go 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.” “I can understand,” interrupted the smoker, 11 the sadness of such a scene, but where is the sweetness you spoke of?” “ I'm coming to that. The whole party have been taken in change by a young lady. Such a beauty! She’s dried the mother’s tears and wiped the children’s noses. She’s a divinity! She only needs a few feathers on her shoulder-blades to make a full fledged angel other. If I was not a married man, I’d never leave her till I’d made Mrs. Angelica Townsend out of her." “ That's a speech that I shall faithfully report to Mrs. Agues Townsend,” said the gentlemen addressed as Marcy, rising, “I shall go buck and feast my eyes on this beautiful Sister of Charity; unci,” he added taking his traveling-satchel and shawl from the rack, “as we .stop' at the next station, which is due ,in,ten|minutes, I may as well take my traps through .with me and join you on the platform.^ Thus saying Richard Marcy threwihis shawl over his shoulder, anu sauntered leisurely through the long train—rushing blindly and calmly to his fate. For, as he entered the last cur but one he became a witness and an actor in a scene that influ 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 little dead brother, was indeed a touching spectacle. But, standing beside them, was tne divin ity of Doctor Townsend’s admiration, and she who was most certainly to “ share the ends " of the unhappy Richard. She was a 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 bowitchingiy toward the tall stran ger at the door. "Ladies and gentlemen,” spoke the sweet voice, “ this poor woman, friendless, speaking no English, with four little chil dren, was expecting to find work in St. Louis to support them. If everything had gone well with her it would have been hard for her; but with her dead babv and her sorrowful heart she is cer tainly a deserving object of charity: and I propose that such as feel willing contri bute their mite toward a 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 a liat I will go round and take up a collection.” In an instant the gallant Richard pulled his traveling cap from his blonde curls and'offerod it to the Angel of Mercy, who accepted it with a 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 “Now, in all probability,” broke In the doctor, “you’ll nevc-r'meet her in this vale of tears. But you’ll know her in heaven, if you’ll behave yourself well enough to get there, by her wings; she’ll have the biggest of any of them, seeing they’ve commenced to sprout on earth.” And thus rallying his thoroughly capti vated friend, the two made their way to the house of an acquaintance, with whom they were to remain that night, and go on the next day to their destination—St. Louis. After the arst salutation, our hero went to his room to remove some of the evi dence of his long ride from New York. He had removed nis coat, vest, and collar; he had splashed and soaped and washed, till his damp curls hung close to his shape ly head, when he made a startling ais- covery Flushed and breathless he burst into the next room upon his friend “Townsend,” cried he, “what upon earth do you suppose? I’ve got the wrong bag. I’ve changed baggage with the An gel of Mercy. Look at that slipper. See that thimble. Contemplate that glove.”. "It’s evident you’ve got the lady’s satchel. And what was there in yours ?” “Don’t bring up that dreadful idea,” said Dick. “Cigrffs and a hair-brush, a pack of cards and a comb, pocket-flask and a tooth-brush—everything disreputa ble. If I am judged by that Dag, I’m a lost man.” “ And this I took for a clean shirt,” and Dick held up a frilled and fluted sack, such as do duty for more extensive night dresses with ladies when traveling. “ I’d like to see Angelica when she opens my satchel.” And Dick fell to musing with tec -lie- , r per perched on two fingers, and the rrii'.cd i ! white sack spread out tenderly on his knees. and she would sit and contemplate the picture her fancy wrought for her, little dreaming the interest she was allowing to grow in her bosom.for Jenny’s brother. In the fall, Belle arid her father went to New York, and the first day after her ar rival found her sitting with her old friend who, after the effusive greeting was past, sat down to empty her soul. « “I am so glad you are here this month,” Jenny said, “ because I’m to be married in October, and I have always been crazy to A large Older •FOB — have you for a bridesmaid, and Dick is to (jAfflre HICE BROS Eft CO. be Harry’s best man.” Belle blushed vi/Iitv*- iVlvlii *'■*»"' ** W» “ ButDick lias fallen hopelessly, madly No 89 & 91 Camp Streets New Orleans, June 2,1871. in love.” Belle turned pale. “ Yes, I was dreadfully provoked wheu he passed through St. Louis and never went near you. But he went wild over some lady he met on that fatal trip. , , “He will talk to me by the hour of his HlMliCtlirill? GOii it iOUft Angelica. Andwhenlhavespokenofyou Utiwwfwnuiuj vvi| ■*“1 he has been positively rude, and asked me to have done bothering s liim about my freckled school friends—you know your picture shows freckles; but bless me, you haven’t any now? And your picture don’t look any more like you than it does like me, not a bit.” “But tell me,” said Belle, “is your brother engaged to this lady ?’ “ Engaged! Why, dear heart, he don’t He just found some of /u know her name. , iund some of / / / / y her old clothes somewhere. He’s got her afieezu, ezn<i Afityi old slippers under a glass case; he’s got her gloves, stuffed, under another; he’s got her nightgown done up in lavender; he’s got her gold thimble hung on his watch- nhnin • T dn IipIIpva lie’s mi A hftir- chain; and I do believe lie’s got a hair brush and some hair-pins next to his heart! Oh, its folly to interfere! He’s beyond all hope I I did think the excite- laaSok’SfV weacLigwcuidwean him from He looked at my new yOU OUt ^-toonhact toil'- ^4.etytit& t/ic 'tenant* etec/ Wceteit&vonA- to Jfiu fiy you. yuttkviit tit. f&t. teev/ gray gathering the money; and looking at the plaid> cap in the white jewelled fingers lie bethought him of his own dona tion, and stepping to the seat the beauty had just occupied he laid his satchel and his snawl upon a family of its kind, be longing to the angel in gray, and took from his pocket a ten dollar bill, which lie placed in the little hand that returned him nis cap. Further damage the poor fellow received, when a second smile and warmly- worded thanks for his liberal contribution were dealt him from the beautiful mouth. Dick was in the midst of an elaborate reply when the cars stopped. He linger ed yet another moment, seized his satchel and shawl with his eves still on the face of his charmer, and then, even as the cars were again in motion, he bethought him self of The doctor, and hurriedly left the car and joined his friend on the platform. “ Well,” ejaculated that worthy, 1 be- S an to believe you’d concluded to go and urv the dead Daby and make the protect ing* beauty Mrs. Angelica Marcy. Isn t she a stunner?” „ , ^ . . ... "Townsend,” returned his friend, don t use slang in speaking of the noble crea ture." He looked after the train disap pearing in the distance. *• I wish to hea ven,” he continued, “ I’d remained aboard. How stupid I was to leave it. I might have learned her name and residence. And now—” In the upper apartment of a handsome mansion in St, Louis, on the evening of tlio day our heroine first made the read er’s acquaintance, beautiful Belle Alden," the petted and only daughter of thehouse, sat contemplating the various articles her confidential maid was disposing upon the table—articles from no less a recepta cle than Dick Marcy’s traveling-bag. The cards and cigar case lay side by side, and a highly scented party they were. “ What’s in the little silver flask. Rosa?” said the fair mistress. “ Brandy, m’am,” replied the maid. “ He can’t be very dissipated to travel with such a little bottle. That’s in case of sickness, I suppose,” returned Belle. “ It is my belief,” said Rosa, who was a shrewd girl, “that the gentleman was a mighty nice man, else you’d not so readily excuse the cards and the bottle.” 1 ‘ For sliame, Rosa. All gentlemen play euchre traveling, and even clergymen take a little brandy in case of sickness,” answered Belle. “And this man was a gentleman, and a liberal one, too, for he gave the poor emigrant woman ten dol lars. What’s that, Rosa?” For, at that moment, Rosa held between her fingers a letter. Whether it was wrong to read a stran ger’s letter vexed Belle for a moment, as her eyes glanced at the superscription and hand-wri ting. “ Why, of all things!” exclaimed the delighted girl, seizing the letter. “ Why, Rosa, this is Jenny Marcy’s writing and addressed to Richard Marcy, her only dar ling brother—who was in Europe wheu we two graduated at Madame Ritter’s in Brooklyn.” . , , Belle read rapidly till she had reached the middle of the letter, when she burst into a merry laugh. “ Hear this, Rosa,” she said, and she read from the letter. “ Above all things, Dick, dear, don’t fail while in St. Louis, to see my best friend and schoolmate, Belle Alden. I know vou will fall in love with her, for, besides being the best girl in the world, she’s a beautv and an heiress, and father’s choice above all others, for his son’s wife. He used to talk it over at home, and hope Belle would not marry before you came home from Europe. Sne is full as anxious to know vou, and wears your hair and mine in a locket father gave her last year. Give her lots of love, and beg of her to overlook your many imperfections for the sake of her old schoolfellow, Jenny.” “ Then this gentleman is of course, Miss Jenny’s brother,” said Rosa, “ and what will she say when she hears of your hav ing met in'this romantic way?” “ I don’t intend to tell her of it till I go to New York this fall,” said Belle. “ Per haps her brother will call.” But in this supposition Belle was wrong. The month passed, and she saw no more of the golden-headed Richard. And she carefully separated the yellow Jock in the little keepsake from the dark tress of Jenny’s and put it back into its place alone, while another loeket held the bitof Jenny’s. And somehow, Belle look Original Plain Charter Oak, FOB WOOD. 800 Climber 6. 60 “ 7. NEW CHARTER OAK, PLAIN, FOR WOOD. things as calmly as an oyster, and only said—it’s not kind of me to repeat it, though,” broke off Jenny. “ What was it he said?” inquired Belle, laughing now heartily. “Don’t fear for my feelings.” /AWhy, he said, ‘I’ll stand up with your friend Belle, and see you safely mar ried ; and then I’m off to winter in Paris. I’m done with love on my own account.’ * It’s positively awful.” And so Belle thought, as she looked at her old slipper and glove lying beneath a globe on either side the faithful Richard’s mantle. And,” said Belle, “ since he desires on ly to meet me on the morning of the wed ding, so it shall be. I will be introduced only as we are leaving the house, and he can do as he pleases about continuing the acquaintance afterward.” Belle was radiant with happiness when she returned -to her father, and delighted XVLjaj mad flhjfl.VtSW OCLiG* his fond heart by the change, for Belle JSMXeVlSWIl IV! had been ve^j’quiet of late. fob copper reservoirs. Jenny and Belle shopped and talked and visited together for the next few IKO Xmnlicr ISO. days, and when the eventful morning ar- AOW JSalmBer rived, and amid a bevy of beautiful girls, : 200 3LOOO Sfnmber 66. « 77. « 88. « 99. 600 200 40 lOO 30 70. SO. 90. WITH ENAMELED RESERVOIRS. Belle shone like a queen, the bride was eclipsed, and delightfully acknowledged it. “ O, Belle!” she said; “ I long to have old stoical Dick see you—. Hark! there’s his step eome into the next room now, Extension Charter Oa/c, and be introduced. Don’t wait until the 9 carriages come—it’s an hour yet.” And Belle, with a beating heart, swept through the door and stood even as Dick first saw her, only, in place of the gray traveling-dress, a magnificent white satin fell in rich folds about her, and upon her lovely white throat lay the turquois locket. that held Dick’s golden curl. Upon the beautiful head, crowned by its chestnut hair, a coronal of pearls added to the grace and beauty of an image that, shrined in Dick’s heart, was already an angel. Belle did not look up, but she felt the presence, as Richard Marcy came up and was introduced to little Jenny’sold school- v/jv,-// / mate. Then, as he held out his hand, she Jvfjit, tit&ufe vi&te. raised her eyes, and laid her tiny palm in his, she said: 50 Number 77. 30 “ 88. “ 99. 12 yotitAj RICE 'BROS. A CO. FOR COAI. "non. “ I think we had better rectify that mis- JL 3® take about the traveHng-bags, Mr. Mar- Sail® cy!” “Good heavens, Jenny,” said Dick Marcv, “Why didn’t you tell me that your friend Belle was my Angel of Mercy?” “ Because I didn’t know till last night, and then Belle made me promise not to tell. And besides yon didn’t want to meet the freckled school-girl till it was posi tively necessary,” returned Jenny mis chievously. It would be hard to say which of the four that made Jenny’s bridal party was the happiest that day. Dick did not go to Paris that winter. He found that St. Louis contained more attractions than any foreign city. But the next fall will see Dick and Belle on their wedding tour, and he vows he will have the two old romantic traveling-bags brushed up for the occasion. Doctor Townsend, who is to go along, says he knew the minute he saw the girl she WILL ALWAYS Do Tour CooMi ed verwerv often at the wee golden curl, knew the minute he saw the girl she and she never did so but the rest of the wou done day he Angelica Marcy. as he handsome head sprang up beside the lock; I felt it ln the air. QUICK AND EASY, CHEAP AND CL! A