The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-05-10

fastening her dainty bonnet, with its white
ribbons, and dropping blue bells, thinking |
if she could only fascinate Ben with her
sparkling eyes-itwould be so delightful to |
have his chief attention during his stay.
He thought she did look beautiful, as he
sat, before service looking on the olden fa-
oes-but there was fairer one :han hers |
he fancied, as he saw the sweet face of |
Alice May, with the half closed eyes and |
long, golden edged lashes, showing the
pale cheek. He carried in his bosom a |
curl like the one nesting so softly by her |
temple, and it was tallsman, keeping him |
from the enohantment of other eyes.
When the service was closed, Ben was |
thronged about by old familiar faces-they
had SO much TO say, so many things to
speak of, so much Joy to express at his safe |
return, tha: it well nigh bewildered him. |
coined by old friends, delightful to chat of
by-gone days. and it was indeed Sab
bath of joy to Ben Bolt.
Sweet Alice! All, how long and weary
the time had been 10 her. Sometimes her
heart died within her as she thought Of the
broad ocean; but when she looked 80 shy
ly al Ben that morn, and saw how hand
some he had grown. heart sickness came
over her, and the sunshine fell but dimly
on the grass at her feet. She knew she
had hidden away in the depths of her pure
heart, Q wild, earthly love, and strove to
put it from her, for would he think Of her
no,o? So it was no wonder she would not
slip her tender hand in her mothers and
steel quietly from the joyous throng.
It was Sabbath eve--one OF those balmy,
moonlight evenings of the young summer.
Mrs. May had gone to sick neighbor and
Alice sat by the window with the Bible
open, and slender white fingers pointing
the words falling so musically from her
lips
"And there shall be no night there; and
they need no candle. neither light of the
sun; for the Lord God giveth them light,
and they shall reign forever and ever"
She looked tremblingly upwards in the
moonlight, for close beside her knelt the
manly form Of Ben Bolt. There was told
sweet story of love and hope not the less
sweet for being the language OF every hu.
man heart, and the tiny hands Of Alice
were folded in his as she said, very low
and sweet
"If live, Ben, when Eve years moro have
past, and you return second time
She did not finish tit was never finished
| So they plighted their troth that calm,
holy Sabbath evening, and the buoyant
heart of Ben, in its gushing sunniness, pic
tured radiant hopes for the future. He
was young and so full of vitality-every
pulse of his heart was beating gladly, and
the coming i've years were more precious
to him than the past.
slf we both live, Ben. God will have us
in His holy keeping" she said in answer
to his parting words; but as he pressed her
convulsiyely to his beating heart. he re-
Piled
"God will be merciful to us who love so
dearly, Alice, darling"
She knew it, but she knew also that God
did not always answer sthe prayer falling
from the hopeful lips. Sweet adown the
future she looked tremblingly. and she saw
the fragile form and spiritual face, with the
white lilies braided in the soft brown hair,
her-eyes grew dim with tears, for she knew
not it it was bridal or q burial, for close
beside the altar was the graveyard.
They were not wanting who wondered
at Ben Bolts choice, and thought it strange
that he should take Alice May in prefer
ence to the fairest and wealthiest. Some
there were, who held their heads lofiily
] when they passed her, but her heart was
away on the blue waters, and she needed
j it not.
How she watched the days in their pass.
ing. She noted how the summer waned--
how the field of waving grain grew golden
in the sunlight-she heard the glad voice
of the reapers; and when the leaves were
falling the merry children went out nut.
gathering in the woods; then the noiseless
snow fell, and lay on the hillside as in the
olden days, until the genial spring-tide sun
melted il away, and the violets and hare
bells dotted the fields-so passed year
! She was growing fairer and more beau
tifnl-too brilliant Tor anything earthly
Once she knelt, at the altar in the little
church, and listened to the words uniting
her with the s.Savior" redeemed on earth.
but it was only an outward form. for her
heart had long been in the keeping of an.
gels. Again she watched the waning ol
the summer days, and when the soft winds
swep, over the silvery rye fields, she thought
Of the ocean afar, with it's broad waves
Again she watched the waning Of the sum-
mer days. and when the soft winds swept
over the silvery rye fields. she thought O
the ocean aiar, with its broad waves. All
through the winter days she grew more
spiritual in her beauty and the slender
white hands were often folded on hel
breast as she prayed for those who would
soon be left desolate; for she knew she
was dying.
1t did not startle her; she had felt long
ago that the fair green earth would hold heI
} pulseless heart ere it had left the cloisteI
Of girlhood. Life was sweet and beauti.
J, ful, yet in her sinlessness death had no ag.
J ony, save her sorrow for those left in lone.
illness. 1t was only q very little way to the
land Of rest, and her feet never had grown
weary; yet she longed to look once more
, upon the flowers, and hsve them braided
in her hair; and 30 she fingered till the
, voice Of spring was heard on the hill-tops
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