The Winchester home journal. [volume] (Winchester, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1858-05-06
FIRST LOVE.

her classically moulded brow upon the
shoulder Of her lover.
"No, Leila, you are not my only, nor
my first, | have loved another. Long
years before | saw you loved anoth-
er-and love that other still"
"Love that other still, and better
than me! Paul, why do you tell me
that" asked she, raising her dark blue
eyes and gazing steadily into those of
her lover, half in astonishment, half
in sorrow, while her jewelled fingers
tightened convulsively upon his arm.
you asked me, Leila, and | answer
ed with truth and sincerity; you would
not have me deceive you, would you?"
"You love her still, then?"
81 Hove her still"
"And better than you do me2"
"No better but as WELL"
"And will love her still"
"Until death, and even beyond death
over her last resting place will ! strew
springs earliest flowers, and bedew
the sacred spot with the purest tears
that love ever she'd"
"Handsomer than /, is she mott"
"Her eyes are black as night, and
her hair in glossy blackness outvles
the wing Of the raven. She hasn't
your eyes or your soft brown hair, yet,
Oh! Leila, her ewes have been the
sweetest eyes to me, that have ever
looked the look Of eternal love-"
"Paul why do you wish to break my
heart? Why have you taught me to
love you so wildly and blindly, and
then in the midst of my happiness tell
me there is an impossible barrier be-
tween us? This night, Paul we must
part forever! | would not have be-
lieved this, had another told me-" and
her eyes grew dim with tears.
Be not too rash, Leila hear me to
the end, you love me too dearly to part
with me thus! Think you could not
share my heart with the one that so
dearly lovc?"
Never, Paul, never!
"You shall, Leila, and must! Lis
ten for moment, while | tell you of
my first love, and am sure you will
be willing to share with her then"
will listen, Paul, but will not share
your love>l must have all or none;
am selfish in that respect, and who
that loves as | do is not? Forget me
Paul, or forget her forever"
Forget her, Leila! Never | would
not loose one .jot of her pure affection
for the fairest face that ever bloomed:
no not for the love of q second Hell
en-"
"Then, Paul, you are lost to me for
ever; we must part. Farewell to our
every dream of a bright future. |
love you too well, and am too proud to
share your love with aught createl.--
o, Paul you have wronged me deeply;"
and her exquisitely chiselled lips curl
ed with indignant sorrow.
Stop, Leila, or you will deeply
wrong me, also. met this loved one,
as said before. long years ago, in
one of the sweetest and sunniest wales
of our broad illinois; wandered with
her hand in hand, for years, beside the
sparkling waters Of my childhood's S
home. First by her smile Of exquis-
ite sweetness, she etaught my heart that
she loved me with unutterable fond
ness; and never have | doubted; nv
trust in her has ever been steadfast
and fearless; never has her eye looked
coldly upon me. and never will it, till
the death angel shall dim them for
the long sleep. Oft in the still hours
cf night have been awakened, as if
by the sleep-god's wing, and beheId
that face, those eyes gazing upon me
with all the beautiful tenderness of a
guardian angel over repenting prod
igal; and a kiss would fall upon my
brow more soothing than the dews of
Hermon. The same gentle hand has
| laJ mn a lopo I;co',, Uo,,ou,, -. I,