The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-07-23
FIRST LOVE.

Am your, only and hTSt love {! asked
bright eyed girl as she reclined her classically
moulded brow upon the shoulder of her lover.
mo- Leila, you are not my only, nor my first.
Long years before saw you loved another
and | love that other STILL"
Glove that other still, and better than me
Paul, why do you tell me that 2" asked she
raising her dark blue eyes and gazing steadfastly
into those of her lover, half in astonishment,
ened convulsively upon his arm.
"fou asked me, Leila, and answered with
truth and sincerity; you would not have me de-
ceiFe you, would you ?'
"You love her still, then ?"
II love her still" -r,E
"And better than you do me ?'
"N0t better, bat as we'll"
"And will love her still 2"
"until death, and even beyond death. Over
her last, last resting place will strew springs
earliest towers, and bedew the sacred spot with
the puregt tears that love ever shed" <-a
"Handsomer than l. is she not p
"Her eyes are as black as night, and her hair
in glossy blackness outvies the wings of the
raven. She hasn't your sweet blue eyes and
your soft brown hair. Oh Leila, her eyes
have been the sweetest eyes to me, that ever
looked the eternal look of love-" s-.@
"Paul, Why do you wish to break my heart 2"
Why have you taught me to love you so wildly
and blndly, and then in the midst of my hap
piness, tell me that there is impossible bar
rier between US? This night, Paul we must
part forever | 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 thus !!
Think you that you could not sharesfny heart
with one that so dearly love-"
"Never, Paul, never !'' --<
"You shall, Leila, and must! Listen for
moment, while tell you of my first love and I
am sure you will be willing to share with her
then" -..-.--
81 will listen, Paul, but will not share your
love; [ must have all or none; I am selfish in
that respect, and who, that loves as I do, is not?
Forget me, Paul, or forget her forever p
''Forget her, Leila? Never would not
lose one jot OF her pure affections for the fairest
face that ever bloomed No not for the girdle
of Venus or the love of second Helen !'7
"Then, PAM, you are lost to me forever, we
must part. Farewell to our every dream of
brighter future [ love you too we'll, and am
too proud to share your love with aught created.
"Stop, Leila, or you will deeply wrong me
also | met this loved one, as | have said be-
fore, long years ago in one of the sweetest and
sunniest wales of cur broad Illinois wandered
with her hand in hand, for years, beside the
sparkling waters of our childhood home First
by her smile Of exquisite sweetness she taught
my heart that she loved me with unutterable
fondness and never have doubted; my trust
10 her has ever been steadfast and true; never
have her eyes looked coldly upon me, aud never
will they till the death angel shall dim them for
the long sleep. Oft n the still hours of night
have [ been awakened, as if by the gentle far
ming of the seep-god's wing, and beheld that
face, those eyes gazing upon me with all the
repentant prodigal; and kiss would fall upon
my brow more soothing than the dews of Her
mon. The same gentle hand has led me along
fe's fowery way and beside its unrufled water
and if ever my arm raised to do deed of wrong
or my heart steeled to onceive it, that gentle
admonitory voice came whispering in my ear,
and stayed the one midway ard drew the iron
from the other. And l do we'll remember, in
my manhood's iper years, when deep sorrow
fell upon my soul and l would fain have drank
oblivion from the wine cups fiery brim, that
some dark-eyed woman came, and bade me, in
the name of God, to shun the fatal snare; and
twining her arms around my neck, while her
eyes beamed with loves deep inspiration, she
poured oil upon the troubled waters, told me of
purcr hopes aud higher aims, aud 10 my ear
whispered golden word that has out-lved al!
sorrow" - ....-:..t. -.-~..,, .f asE-- -
"Lelia, would you know tho name of my first
love ? 'Tis my mother"
''O Paul, III forgive you, and share your
love; indeed I will"
~ knew you would, Leila. Second love is as
dear as the first" z=