Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1858-06-23
FIRST LOVE.
A PLEASING SKETCH.

"Am your only and first loveW asked
a bright eyed girl, as she reclined her clas-
sically moulded brow upon the shoulder
of her lover.
"No, Leily, you are not my only, not
my first love; | have loved another
Long years before | saw you | loved ano-
ther-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 steadfastly into those OF her lover,
half in astonishment, half in sorrow while
her jewelled fingers tightencd convulsive-
ly upon her arm.
"You asked me, Leila, and | answered
with truth and sincerity you would not
have me to deceive you, would you ?"
"You love her still, then ?"
81 love her still"
"And better than you do me ?"
Not better but as we'll"
"And will love her still ?"
"Until death, and even beyond death :;
over her last resting place will | strew
springs earliest flowers, and bedow the
sacred spot with the purest tears that love
ever shed"
~ 'IldnuSOUleT luHU /, Is Sile not r
"Her eyes were black as night, and her
hair in glossy blackness outvied the wing
of the raven. She hasn't your sweet blue
eyes, nor your soft brown hair; yet, oh!
Leila, her eyes have been the sweetest
eyes TO me that 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
and impossible barrier between us? This
night, Paul, we mustl part forever l
would not have believed this, had another
told mel" 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 that you could not
share my heart with one that so dearly
love ?"
Never, Paul, never! !"
"You shall, Leila and must Listen
for a moment, while tell you of my first
love, and | am sure you will be willing to
share with he then"
81 will listen, Paul, but will not share
your love :. must have all or none; am
, selfish in that respect, and who, thatloves
as do is not Forget me, Paul, or forget
I her foreverw
Forget her, Leila never! | would not
lose one jot of her pure affection for the
fairest face that ever bloomed no, not for
the girdle of Venus, or the love of Sc.
cond Helenw
"Then, Paul, you are lost to me forever;
we must part. Farewell to our every
dream of frightened future. love you
too well, and am too proud to share your
love with aught created. o! Paul you
have wronged me deeply;" and her ex.
quisitely chiseled lips curled with indig
nant sorrow.
"Step, Leila, or You will deeply wrong
me also met this loved one, as / said
before, long years ago, in one of the swee-
! test and sunniest wales of our broad Hi.
nois wandered with her hand in hand fol
years beside the sparkling waters of my
childhood's home. First, by her smiles
of exquisite sweetness, she taught my
heart that she loved me with unutterablC
! fondness and never have | doubted my
! trust in her has ever been steadfast anc
fearless; never has her eye looked coldly
on me, and never will it, till the breath
of the death angel shall dim for the Ions
sleep. Oft in the still hours of night ha
| been awakened, as if by the gentle fan
ming of the sleep-god's wing, and beheld
that face, those eyes gazing upon me with
all the beatifc tenderness of guardian
angel over a repenting prodigal; and {
kiss would fall upon my brow more sooth-
ing than the dews of Hermon. The sam,
gentle hand has led me along, ,life's lowery
way and beside its unruffied waters anC
if ever my arm was raised TO do deed o
wrong, or my heart steeled to conceive it
that gentle admonitory voice came whis
pering in my ear, and stayed the one mid
way and drew the iron from the other. And
do well remember in my manhood't
ripper years, when deep sorrow fell upcr