Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1874-05-14
THURSDAY. MAY Id, 1874.

books; and the laughing, Belle Archer
both were laid to sleep in the old church
yard, when the night stars shone Oh their
graves. Others went out to seek fortune
in the gay world, and, and some grew
into miniature men and women by their
own sweet fresides; but Alice May seelr-
ed still q 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 the olden days. She stayed ut 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 came back. How strange
that five years should have passed SO
quickly and stranger still that this tall,
handsome sailor, whose voice was SO full
and rich, should be Ben Bolt. Kate
Ashley was not thinning of the sweet
Sabbath rest, as the chime of the church.
bell floated throug the village; there she
stood before her mirror, arranging her
shining curls, and fastening her dainty
bonnet, with its white ribboncs dropping;
blue-be-ls, thinking if she could not fas.
cinate Ben with her sparkling eyes, it
would be delightful to have his chief at
tention during his stay.
He thoughc she did look very graceful
as he sat before service,-looking on
olden faces but there was fairer one
than hers he fanciea, rs he sawthe sweet
face of Alice May, with the halfclosed
eyes. and long, golden edged lashes,
shadowing the pale cheek. He carried
in his bosom curl like the one nesting
SO softly by her temple, and it tails
man, keeping him from the enchant-
mcnt of other eyes.
When the service was closed, Ben Bolt
was thronged about by old familiar faces
they had so much to say, so many
lthings 70 speak Of, SO s, much Joy to cx-
press at his safe return, that it we'll nigh
bewildcrcd him 1t was very pleasant
to be SO warmly welcomed by old friends,
delightful to chat of by-gones; and it was
indeed Sabbath ofjoy to Ben Bolt.
Sweet Alice! All, how long and weary
the time had been to her.-Sometimcs
her heart died within her as she thought
of the broad ocean; but when she looked
SO shyly at Bon that morn, aud saw how
handsome 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 to the depths
OF her pure heart, q wild, earthly love,
and she strove to put it from her, for
would he think of her now? So it was no
wonder she should slip her slender hand
in her mothers and steal quietly from
the joyous throng.
1t was SABBATH evc-onc of those bal
my, moonlight evenings of the young
summer; Mrs. May had gone to visit a
sick neighl.or, and Alice sat by the win
dow With the Bible open, and her slen
der white fingers pointing to the words,
falling musically from he lips
"And there shall be no night there
and they shall need no candle, neither
light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth
them light, and they shall reign for ever
and ever"
She looked tremblingly upward in the
moonlight, for close beside her knelt the
manly form of Ben Bolt. There was
told n sweet story Of love and hope, not
the less sweet for being the language of
every human heart, and the tiny hands
of sweet Alice were folded i'll his rs she
said, very low and swectly: "If | live,
Ben, when five years more have passea
and you return II second time"
She did not finish tit was uevcr
| finished.
So they plightcd their troth that claim
holy SABBATH evening, and the buoyant
heart of Ben, in its gushing sunniness,
pictured radiant hopes for the future.
He was young and SO full of vitality
every pulse of his heart was beating glad
| lv and thn cominrr f;vn yoor. ,voro ,,o,o