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

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 seem
ea still u child Yet she was taller, and
her slight form more gracefully develop
ed; but there VAS the same angel looking
through her eyes as had watched there
in the 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 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, rs 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 ribbones dropping;
blue-be-ls, thinking if she could not fas
cnate 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 fincied, rs he saw the sweet
face Of Alice May, with the half.closed
eyes. and long, golder-edgcd lashes,
shadowing the pale cheek. He carried
in his bosom IL curl like the one nesting
SO softly by her temple, and it tails
maa, keeping him from. the cnchant-
ment 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
things ospeak Of. SO much JOY to cx-
press ut his safe return, that it well nigh
bewildercd him 1t was very pleasant
to bes warmly welcomed by old friends,
delightful to chat of by-goncs; and it was
indeed Il Sabbath ofjoy to Ben Bolt.
Sweet Alice! All, how long and weary
the time had been to her.-Sometimes
her heart died within her as she thought
of the broad ocean; but when she looked
so shyly at Bon that morn, and 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 i.aG hidden away to the depths
OF her pure heart, 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 neighIor, 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 oflove and hope, not
the less sweet for being the language of
every human heart, and the tiny hands
of sweet Alice were folded III his rs she
said, very low and swectly: of l live,
Ben, when five years more have passed
and you return second time"
She did not finish lit was never
finished.
So they plighted 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
ly, and the coming five years were more
precious to him than all the past.
"Ifwe both live, Ben, God will have
us in his holy keeping" she said in an