Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1855-07-05

on his return; that he would not dare {, ca
her his little Alice, then; as he looked hac
lingeringly, she laid a soft brown curl in h
hand, saying: '... 5
81 have kept it for you this long, long tim
Ben; ever since the day you brought m
home through the snow--do YOU remem berl
He did remember, and with one pussonat
burst Of grief, he pressed the little girl I
his bosom; and the brave-hearted boy sobbe
the farewell he could find no words for.
But, five years are not always lifetime
True, it was such 10 the quiet, thoughtfu
Charlie Allen, whose large dark eyes ha
stolen brilliancy from his books; and th
laughing little Bel Archer--both were lai
to sleep in the old church-yard, where tn
night stars shone on their graves. Other
were out to seek future in the gay world
and some grew into miniature men and wo
men by their own swee. firesides; but Alice
May was still child Yet she was taller
and her slight form more gracefully develop.
ed; but there was the same angel looking
through her eyes as had watched there in
o!den days. She stad at home now, to assist
her mother in sewing--ther chief support;
but she was the same shy, sweet Alice that
Ben Bolt had carried through the snow.
Ben Bolt had come back How strange
that five years should have passed so quickly
and stranger still that this tall handsome sail
or, whose voice was so full and rich, should
be Ben Bolt. Kate Ashley was not thinking
the church bell flosted through the village;
there she stood before her mirror, arranging
her shining curls, and fas ening her dainty
bonnet, with its white ribbons and dropping
blue bells. thinking, if she could not fascinate
Ben with her sparkling eyes, it would be de-
lghtful to have his chief atte nton during the
stay. ....... t..arU# .t %
He thought she did look very beautiful, as
he sat, before service, looking on the clden
taces--but there was fairer one than hers
he fancied, as he saw the sweet face of Alice
May, with the half-closed eyes, and long,
golden-edged lashes, shadowing the pale
cheek. He carried ir his bosom curl like
the one nesting so softly by he; temple, and
it was talisman, keeping him from the en-
chantment Of other eyes, ..I. -,- /
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 to express at his safe return, that
it well nigh bewildered him. 1t was very
pleasant to be SO warmly welcomed by old
friends, delightful to chat of by-gones and i,
was indeed Sabbath of joy for Ben Bolt.
Sweet Alice! All, how long and weary
the time had been to her. Sometimes her
hean died within her, as she thought of the
broad ocean; but when she looked so shyly
at Ben that morning, and saw how han dsome
he had grown, heart sickness came over
her, and the sunshine fell but dimly at aer
feet. She knew she had hidden away, in the
depths Of her pure heart, wild earthly love,
and she stroye to put it from her; for, would
ne think of her now! So it was no wonder
she should slip her slender hand in her moth
'r's and steal quietly from. the joyous throng.
1t was Sabbath eve--One Of those balmy, |
moonlight evenings of the young summer;
Mrs. May had gone to visit sick neighbor
md Alice sat by the window with the bible
'pen, and her slender white fingers pointing
o the words, falling 60 musically from her
ips:
"And there shall be no night there; end
hey need no candle, neither light of the sun;
or the Lord God giveth them light, and they
hall reign for ever and ever.''
She looked tremblingly up in the moon
ght, for close behind her knelt the manly
orm of Ben Bolt. There was told a sweet
tory Of love and hope, not the less sweet for /
eing the language OF every human heart and
he tiny hands Of Alice were folded in his as
he said, very low and sweetly:
"lfI live, Ben, when five years more have !
assed, 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
len, in its gushing sunnincss, pictured radiant
opes for the future. He was so young and
all OF vitalty-every pulse of his heart was
eating gladly. and the coming five years
yere more precious to him than all the past.
"lf we both live, Ben, God will have us in
is holy keeping" she said in answer to his
ar,ing words; but, as he pressed her con-
ulsively to his beating heart, he replied:
"God will be merciful to those who love so
early. Alice, darling"
She knew it, but she knew, also, that God
id not always hear the prayer falling from
he hopeful lips. Sweet Alice. Adown the
iture she looked tremblingly, and, as she
aw the fragile form and spiritual face, with
White lilies braided in the soft brown hair,
er eyes grew dim with tears. for she knew
OF if twas bridal ora bcr:al, for close
eside the altar was the graveyard.
They were not wanting who wondered at
ZEN Bolts choice, and thought it strange he
hould take Alice May in preference to the
lirest and wealthiest. Some there were
ho Leld tEeir heads loftily when they pass
her, but her heart was on the blue waters,
nd she needed it not. '4 ~ NJ ..--. 81
How she watched the days in their passing.
he noted how the summer waned-how
lie field of waving grain grew yellow in the
heard the glad voices of the
eapers; and when the leaves We're falling,
le children went out gathering in the woods;
len the noiseless snow fell, and lay on the
i'll side as in olden days, until the genial
pring-tide sun melted it away, and the violets
nd harebells dotted the fields. So passed a