The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1858-11-04
First Love.

&c Am 1 your only and first love?"
asked bright eyed girl as she reclined
her classically moulded brow upon the |
shoulder of her lover.
"No, Leila, you are not my only, |
nor my first; have loved another
and love that other still"
"Love that other still and better
than me ! Paul, why do you tell me
that % asked she, raising her blue eye
and gazing steadfastly into those of her
lover, half in sorrow while her jeweled
fingers frightened convulsively upon his
arm.
You asked me, Leila, and l an
swered with truth and sincerity you
would not have me deceive you?"
You love her still, then?''
love her STILL"
:" Not better, but as WELL"
Even as we'll do l love the dear
creature, and the memory of her often
softens down my heart to tears"
And will love her still ?"
"Until death and even beyond death;
even her last resting place will | strew
with Springs earlist flowers"
Handsomer than /, is she not?''
"Her eyes are black as night, and
her HAIR in glossy blackness outvives
the wing of the raven. She hasn't
your sweet blue eyes, nor soft brown
hair; yet oh Leila, her eyes have been
the sweetest eyes to me that ever
looked the look of 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 was an impossible barrier be-
tween us? This night we must part
forever! / would not believe this had
another told me-" and her eyes grew
dim with tears.
Be not too rash, Leila, but 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! Lis
ten for moment, while / tell you OF
my first love, and / am sure you will
be willing to share with her, then"
Z" will listen, Paul, but will not
share your love. / must have all OF
none; | am selfish in that respect; and
who, that loves as | do, is not? For.
get me, Paul, or forget her forever %
"Forget her, Leila? Never.
would not lose orc jot of her pure af
lection for the fairest face that ever
doomed; no, not for the girdle O
Venus or second Helen!"
"Then, Paul, you are lost to me for
ever; we must part Farewell to ever,
dream of bright future. love yol
too well, and am too proud to shar,
your love with aught created. O
Paul, you have wronged me deeply
and her exquisitely chisled lips curlet
with indignant sorrow.
Stop, Leila, or you will deepl,
wrong me also. / met this loved one
as / said before, long years ago, in on
of the sweetest, sunniest wales of on
broad Illinois; wandered with her
hand in hand, for years besides tn
sparkling waters of my childhood
hcme. First, by her smile of exquisit
sweetness, she taught my heart tina
she loved me with unutterable fond
ness and never have / doubted; IN
trust in her has been steadfast an
fearless; never has her eve locke
.coldly on me, and will not till the deaf
angel shall dim them for the long sleeT
Oft in the still night have I been awe
kcned, as if by the gentle tanning {
the sleep-god's wing, and beheld ths
face, those eyes gazing upon me wit
all the bcatic tenderness of guardia
angel over a repenting prodigal an
akisswould fall upon my brow moi
soothing than the dews of Hebron
The same gentle hand has led me alon
life's flowery way, and beside it's III
ruffled waters; and if my arm wa
raised to do deed of wrong, or m
heart steeled to conceive it, that gent
admonitory voice came whispering
my ear, and stayed the one midwa
and drew the iron from the othe
And / do well remember in my maj
hoods ripper years, when deep sorro
fell upon my soul, and l would fai
have drank oblivion from the win
cups fiery brim, that same dark-eye
woman came, and babe me in til
name of God, to shun the fatal snar
and twining her arms around my nee
while her eyes beemed with love
deep inspiration, she poured oil upo
the troubled waters told me of pur,
hopes and higher aims, and in my ca
whispered golden word that has on
lived all SORROW
"Lelia, would you know the nan
of my first love? IT'S my MOTHER
so! Paul. I'll forgive you, an
VII share your love; indeed l will"
knew you would, Leila. Secon
love is as dear as the first"