M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1855-08-23

~ 49, N'N ASHShhbSi3 anu WIN OllC
passionate burst oil grief, he pressed
the little girl to nis bosom; and the
brave hearted boy sobbed the farewell
he could find no words for. .-l b..
But, five years are not always life
time. Ttue, it was such 10 the qDiet,
thoughtful Charlie Allen, whose large,
dark eyes had stolen brilliancy from
his books; and the laughing little Bel
.Archer-both were laid to sleepin the
old charch-yard, when the night stars
shown on their graves. Others were
out TO seek fortune IN the gay world,
aud some grew into miniature men and
wemen by their own sweet firesides
bAs Alice May was still q child. YET
she wastaller and her slight form more
gracefully developed, but there was
the same angel looking through her
eyes as had watched there in olden
days. She stayed at home now, to
assist her mother in Sewing--their
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
passeG so quickly, and stranger still
tnaI this tall, handsome sailor should
be Ben Bolt. Kate Ashley was moi
thinking Of the sweet Sabbath day rest,
as the chime Of the church bell hoated
through the village; there she stood be.
lore the mirror arranging her shining
curls and fastening her dainty bonnet,
with its white ribbons and dropping
blue bells, thinking, if she could no
iaScinate Ben with her sparkling eyes
1t would be delightful to have his chic
attention during the stay.
lie thought she did look very beau
tliul, as he sat, before service, lookin.
on the olden iaces--but there was
Iairer one than hers, he tancied, as h
sa the sweet face OF Alice May, witt
the half closed eyes, and long, golden
edged IaShes; Shadowing the pale cheek
He carried in his bosom curl like tn
one nesting so softly by her temple
aud 1t was taisman, keeping hin
from the enchantment OF other eyes.
When the service was closed, Rs
was thronged about by old familiar Z "a
ceS--they had so much to say,so man
things to speak OF, so much TO expires
at his safe return that it we'll nigh be
wildered him. 1t was very pleasar
to 6s so warmly welcomed by oil
friends ,'delightFultto chat of by-gones
and it was indeed a Sabbath of Joy 10
Ben Bolt. . .t ... =. "
Sweet Alicel All, h8@ long anc
weary the time had been to her. Some
times her heart died within her, as sin
thought Of the broad ocean; but whel
she looked so shily at Ben that morn
ing, and saw how handsome he hat
grown, heart sickness came over her
and the sunshine fell but dimly at he
feet. She knew she had hidden away
in the depths OF her pure heart, wilc
earthly love, and she strove TO put i
from her; for, would he think Of hel
now? So, it was no wonder she shoe
slip her slender hand in her mother
and steal quietly from the joyous throng
1t was Sabbath eve--one Of those
balmy,moonlight evenings fthe youn!
summer; Mrs. May had gone to visit {
sick neighbor, and Alice sat by the
window with the Bible open, and hel
slender white fingers pointing to the
words, falling so musically from heI
lips: e....
"Am there shall be no night there
and they need no candle, neither high
OF the sun; Tor the Lord God givetl
them light, and they shall reign for ev
er and ever"
She looked tremblingIy up in tn,
moonlight, for close behind her knel
the manly form OF Ben Bolt. Their
was told sweet story Of love and hope
not The less sweet Tor being the languag
of every human heat, and the tin,
hands of Alice were folded in his a
she said, very low and sweetly:
"lf | live, Ben, when five year
more have passed, and you return
second time" H. .....
She did not finish tit was neye
finished. 10 ... a
So they plighted their Lroth that calr
holy Sabbath evening, and the buoy
ant heart OF Ben, in its gushing sunni
ness, pictured radiant hopes OF the in
ture. He was so young and full Of vi
taIIty-every pulse Of his heart wa
beating gladly, and the coming fv,
years were more precious to him thai
all the past.
"It we both live, Ben, God vii
have us in his holy Keeping" she salt
in answer to his parting words; but, a
he pressed her convuIsiyely to his beat
ing heart, hereplied
"God will be mercilul to those VIII,
love so dearly, Alice darling" sag
She knew it, but she knew, also
that God did not always hear the pray
er falling from the hopeiullips. Swee
Alice! Adown the future Ben LOOKED
trembling, and, as he saw her fragil
inrm and sniritnal face with whit