Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1858-05-22
FIRST LOVE.

cllneo her classlcally moulded bro,
upon the shoulder Of her lover.
No, Leila, you are not my only
nor my first, l have loved another
= Long years before lsaw you love,
another-and l love that other still.
Love that other still, and bette
than me! Paul, why do you tel
) that'' asked she, raising her darl
blue eyes and gazing steadfastly in
; to those Of her lover, half in aston
ishment, half in eorrow while hel
jewe]ed fingers frightened convrl-
sively upon bis arm.
you asked me, Leila, and
answered with truth and sincerity
you would not have me deceive YOU
would you!'
you love her still, then2'
4 love her still 2
And better than you do me?'
Not better, but as well.'
'And will love er sill p
| Until death, and even beyond
death, over her last resting place
will 1strew springs earliest flowers,
and bedew the sacred spot with the
purest tears that love ever shed.'
'Handsomer than l, is she not?'
'Her eyes are black as night, and
her hair in glossy blackness out
vies the wing Of the raven. She
hasn tyour 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 blind
ly, and then in the midst Of my
happiness, tell me that there is an
impossible barrier between us?-
This night, Paul, we must part for.
ever! l would not have believed
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
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
her, them
Il 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 F?
Forget me, Paul, or forget her for
ever!'
Forget her, Leila? Never! Il
would not lose one jot of her pure
affection for the tairest face thet
ever bloomed; no, not for the girdle
Of Venus or the love Of a second
Helen =
'Then, Paul, you are lost to me
forever; we must part. Farewe !
to our every dream of brighter
future. | love you too we'll, and
am too proud to share your love
with aught created. O! PAIL, you
haze wronged me deeply;' and her
sxquisitively chiselled lips curled
with indignant sorrow.
Stop, Leila, or you will deeply
wrong me, also. l met this loved
one, as l said before; long years
ago, in one Of the sweetest and sun
,iest wales of our broad Illinois,
with her, hand in hand,
or years, beside the sparkling
waters of my schildhood's home
First by her smile Of exquisitive
weetness, she taught my heart that
he loved me with unutterable fond
less and never have doubted, my
rust in her has ever been steadfast
md fearless ]; never has her eye
ooked coldly upon me, and never
vill it, till the death angel shall dim
hem for the long sleep. Oft in the
till hours Of night have | been :
weakened, as ife-by the sleep-god's
wing, and beheld that face, those
yes gazing on me with all the bea
itice tenderness Of a guardian
NIGEL over a repentiny prodigal
nd a kiss would fall upon my brow
oore soothing than the dews Of j