Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1867-02-15
THE FIRST LOVE AND THE LAST

"a
It is an old story am about TO tell; thststory
which, thank Heaven! people never tire Of
listening to, any more than we dotof seeing
the buds swell and the leaves upfolding, and
the world made young again By the coming Of
spring The story to which, ss VIC listen, our
own youth comes back, ard once more the
flowers bloom, and the skies are blue, and our
hearts are beating joyoasly, and it is May.
! am not young nc@, neither is the day on
which am soberH writing this little record
Of a long pastsp<riod q balmy ono Of spring,
or an nything Ike i; and yet May comes fire sh-
! ~ back 10 pc as recall that day Of which
| am goingto speak.
| A lUk was singing far up in the dark blue
sky a few sheep were pasturing in the green
ditance, and tall figure dressed in gray,
sith gun on his arms, and one or two dogs
frisking around II, was coming lcisurely along
the sea wall. had been fully intent but the
minute before upon the sketch Of an old boat
was making but now felt but one beating
of my heart, and saw nothing but Mark
wall, with his dogs playing around him.
The little picture was never finished, for at
the instance that became conscious Of the ad.
vancing figure dropped my brush, and hope
les ly ruined my distance by great smear Of
Vandyke brown. 1t was never inishcd--no;
tusI have it yet, AMI mean it shall be laid
beside me in my coffin. -
He was long way of when first saw him,
and yet it seemed almost the neSt iastan Mt that
he was standing beside me speaking. My
heart had not left off beating and could feel
the color hot inmy face rs l looked up; but
nay fiery little terrier took exception to his
dogs, and flew at them with tunultuous disap-
proval, taking his attention of me for the
moment. When this little fracas was quieted.
he put his GYM on the bank, made his rctrev
ers lie beside it, ard sat down himself by me.
slave you had good sport?" askc,!, by
way of saying some.hng-anything.
,"Nc," he answered; "but don't compre-
bccau Sc thought should see you and +
wanted to tell You piece Of news and ask
you question
I "News is precious commodity indeed in
these Willis; bnt please remember my Scotch
blood, in expecting an answer 10 the ques-
ton"
He did not seem 10 be attending to what he
said. He had taken up one of my sable
brushes, and was absently playing with it.
hut threw it down the next moment, and said
softly:
"Hester, have got an appointment that l
have been trying for, and shall leave for In
dia next month-;hat's my news"
s My heart, which had been beating so wild
y, seemed t staud suddenly still, and drop
down--down. The water and the ma rsh
rocked, blended hazily into each other and the
sky, and then voice that sounded dim and
afar of, but was my own, too. said:
cit is good news, suppose
"Gocd news! Well, yes, hope 80.
He STOPPED a minute here. His voice was
a very deep one, for he was large, broad
chested man; but when he spoke again it had
a soft undcrtone in il that used to ring in ny
ears aftorwaris--it doe. now.
Il thought it good news this morning, for
without it | could not think of a wife. That
troubled me little enough till latcly-till, all |
till knew you, Hester. My dear, think
you have guessed the question"
Guessed it! All, yes. But my face was
down upon my hands he could not hear the
cry that was sitting in my heart, and he wen,
on gently, pi,eously--
"Dut will not get an answer to it so Will
YOU go with me to lndia?'
\ did not answer-I could not. All! those
who have had deliberation to kill their own
happiness, to raise up themselves the barrier
that shuts them out from hope, and love, and
life, will know how hard it is-will pity me.
''Willyou be my wife, and go with me to
India?a
"1cannot.f And no wonder that he made
sudden movement Of surprise, for myself
wondered to hear the hoarse passion Of my
own voice.
.'You cannotl What fool I have been
then! lhoped--I hopcd-Hcster! Is it inn
possible that you have not known what have
been thinking of all this time ~
Knowing what he had been thinking about
All ! the life and light and joy of those mo-
ments when had dared te hope that did
All !! the anguish of feeling now that they had
been in vain!
"Look at me, Hester; don't think under
stand-you, my dear" he said patiently and
gently. s'iou say you cannot be my wife,
and yct-tell me you cannot love me, and l
am answered at oEce."
He put his arm over my shoulders as leaned
forward, with my face buried in my lap and
whispered:
"l think you don't love me, Hester.p
sOh, do, Mark, dol' cried, lifting NV
head; ''but cannot marry you. shall have
to give you up"
'Give me up, my dear love!" and he held
me closer.
II cannot 60 to India. AAa8
''Why not?' and he looked half anna red
half amused.
could not bear tho glance of his kind,
dark eyes, shrank away from his arm, and
said: 9A
Il cannot leave Milly.'