Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1858-06-03
FIRST LOVE.

mo, Leila, you are not my onl.
nor first, | have loved another. Lon
years bsforeI saw you | loved anotl
Grand love that other still.
Love that other still, and bette
than me! Paul, why do you tell m
that?" asked she, raising her dar
blue eyes and gazing steadily int
those of her lover, half in astCnish
ment, half in sorrow, while her jew
eied fingers tightened ccnvulsivel,,
upon his arm.
You asked me, Leila, and I an
swered with truth aud sincerity; yo'
would not have me deceive you
would your
"You love her still, then!"
81 love her still"
sand better than you do me?'
"Not better but as well.
"And will love her still?"
Until death, and even beyond
death; over her last resting place viii
l strew springs earliest flowers, and
bedew the sacred spot with the pur'
est tears t, at love ever shed"
"Handsomer than ], is she not?'
"Her eyes are black as night. and
her hair in glossy blackness outvies
the wing OF the raven. She hasn't
your eyes or your soft brown hair, yet,
oh! Leila, her eyes 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
between us? This night, Paul, we
must part forever! 7 would not have
believed this had another told me!
and her eyes grew dim with tears.
"Be not too rlsh, 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
with the one that | so dearly love?'
Never, Paul, neyer!"
"You shall, Leila, and must! Lis
ten for moment, while tell you oi
my first love, and | am sure you will
be willing to share it with her then.
81 will listen, Paul. but viii not
share your love; | must have all OF
none; am selfish in that respect, and
who that loves as l do is not? For
get me, Paul, or forget her forever?
"Forget her, Leila! Never! !
would not lose one jot of her pure af-
fiction for the fairest face that
ever bloomed,- no not for the girdle
of Venus or for the love Of a second
Helen?"
"Then, Paul, you are lost to me
forever; we must part. Farewell to
our every dream Of a bright future.
I love you too we'll, and am too proud
10 share your love with aught crea-
ted. 0. Paul you have wronged me
deeply;" anc ber exquisitely chiselled
lips curled with indignant sorrow.
'Stop, Leila, or you will deeply
wrong me, also. | met this loved one
as l said before, long years ago, IL
one of the sweetest and sunniest wales
of our broad Illinois; wandered with
her hand in hand beside the spark
ling waters of my childhcod's home
First by her smile Of exquisite sweet
ness, she taught my heart that she
loved me with unuttered fondness
and never have doubted; my trusf
in her has ever been stsadlast and
fearless; never has her eye looked
coldly upon me, and meyer will it. til
tie death angel shall dim them fol
the long sleep. Oft in the still hours
OF night have / besn awakened, as |
by the sleep-god's wing, and behelf
that face, those eyes gazing upon me-
with all the beautiful tenderness OF !;
guardian angel over a repentlng PROD
iaal. and kiss would fall upon my
brow more soothing than the dews o
Hernron. The same gentle hand ha'
led me along life's flowery way, an(
beside its unruffled waters; and II ev
er nv arm was raised to do a deed 0
wrong, OF my heart steeled to con
ceive it, that gentle admonltlon came
whispering in my ear, and stayed th'
one midway and drew the iron iron
the other. And do we'll rememoe'
in my manhood's riper years, "hei
deep sorrow fell upon my soul and