Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1856-02-23
Srlett Gale.
FIRST AND LAST LOVE.

--"I have half a mind to talk 10 you
OF old times, Philip. l1Aink you would hardly
laugh at me- HeayenH if J. S.,
or any of them. should hear me say once
loved woman, should never hear the last
Of it. What would you say to know that !
am not bachelor"
you, Granbyp'
"I am not bachelor"
"You have wife p
Il had wife"
"Where is she y
"Gone."
"Wherei"
TO God, ! trust Yes, trust that much.
II may be so 4: it must be so. 1t can not be
otherwise. She was too fair, too pure, too
much of angel mould to be forever lost. And
yet Lucfer fell The bright star that led
the morning song Of old creation fell. God
help me l know not where she is. Philip"
"ls she dead H'-I whispered the question.
Yes, dead long ago, and dust Of the earth
now"
Another long pause ensued. He rose from
his seat and walked across to an old mahoga-
ny writing-desk, or bookcase, or closet--a
curiously y-carved piece of furniture-and took
from drawer small case of ebony. He
paused to light fresh cigar as he turned to
me with it in his hand. The smoke of it
curled thickly up into his right eye as he
handed it to me to open. Perhaps, proba-
bly,, it was the smoke that caused the tear
that filled the eye. Perhaps it was not.
| opened the case, and he sat down with his
back to me, and his feet on the fender.
| 1t was magnificent sight that. Jewels
of the rarest and most splendid kind, dia-
monds, rubes, and emeralds, and jewels that
| did not know the name Of There was the
cost Of crown or kingdom 20 my astonished
eyes in The setting Of the picture, but the
jewels did not outshine the face that was
among them, fairest and proudest of all.
1t was the face of a queen-of Mary of
Scots-or more, perhaps. Of old King Rene
daughter, in her girlhood. Beautiful exceed
ingly, in all the rare beauty of seventeen
years of unclouded joy. Yet, as looked at
the face, | saw a something-I can not well
explain t-that made me think that face was
made for tears and sadness. Joyous as it
was. fairly radiant with gladness, l still
thought that was but painters fiction, aud
that sorrow would find fit residence in those
| glorious eyes. A torrent Of dark brown hair
flowed over her shoulders and her eyes were
I lifted up just enough to express full delight
but had they been lifted little farther the
face would have been that of the angel that
loved his Lord best of all those who fell, and
loved Lucifer next, and was tempted to his
ruin, now looking up to his lost throne and
unforgotten Master.
ii said she was my first love and my last
Listen, and / will tell you ALL
"She was the daughter Of clergyman who
lived near our home. He was wealthy. and
had purchased splendid place adjoining my
fathers, which, you re remember, came into my
possession when was Of age. | met her
hrst in one of my walks through my own
lands, which were not separated from her
fathers by any fence or wall. She had strolled
through the woods, as was her custom, ac-
compsnied only by her dog, large, broad.
chested fox-honnd, as like as well could be to
your dog John, that you are so proud Of He
knew that he had queen to guard, and so he
told me by his bearing when he approached
me.
II was respectful; he was firm. The for.
mality OF an introduction had not been com.
piled with, and l must not come near. He
Knew l was stranger; and though bowed
and lifted my hat, he was not to be appeased
ana 1 could not pass down the path except |
fought the dog. The lady laughed, and /
Joined the laugh. 1t was Introduction
enough for us, but not so thought her more
than duenna-careful guardian. We exchan.
ged look, a smile. laugh; and then / ex.
pressed my regret at not being able to vel
come Miss Hanson las could not doubt tba,
it must be she) with more Of formality to my
lgrounds.