The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-12-01

10 that girl marries her hrsi love-but
70 none does she ever attach that strange |
intangible interest, sacred with never |
expressed psthos, which attaches to her |
fr.t sweetheart. Her memory Of him !
10 like q faint, delicate perfume which
ssill clings about that FIRST Wild rose of
summer that no gave her during the 6rst
tete-a-tefe walk they ever took together In
the woods. How well she remembers il
all. IL Was the 6rst summer after she
lsf school. II was . little out Of the
way summer resort where she was stay
Ing with party Of friends. and where
he ehaneed 10 come, too, and, after meet
ing her, fingered.
She was q little hattered 10 find her
self walking alone with him, quite BY
accident, OF course, and both tried to
keep up lively and natural conversa-
tion. and as consequence il was per-
fsciiy absurd, somewhat constrained and
altogethsr fragusDtary.
Thee he saw this rose, the only one
upon . bush full Of buds that grew
close 10 the moss-grown trunk Of q fallen
tree just over the source Of tiny stream
Of vsisr that wound, like . tangled
thread, In and out among the tress. He
gathered and gave II to her with half
shy, half laughing look-so transparent
ly copscious in its endeavor to be un-
conscious, and with remark intended to
bs sprishtly.
And she look IL, between blush and
Q smile. with . swih-up look from eyes
that were bus,ly playing hide and seek
under the becoming shelter Of long
lasbes. -.r .....
She tucked Il in at the wais,bsnd Of
her dress. just as she would have done
any other rose, but how careful she wsi
not BY any sudden movement to de.how.
or Il Of lie simple circlst Of pale pink
leaves.
He does not know-he will nevei
know--thns as soon Ms she wsa alon'
In her room, with the door locked, sh,
drew 10 carefully from her belt ant
kissed II dsin,ily though with repressec
passion, before she exalted IL to the po
sition Of honor in her pet vase, bit o
biiouisrie, just big enough to hold thi
ons flower City, and in honor Of
6llsd csrsfully with clear, cool waite
by her own pretty fresh fingers, a
rosily tipped As those Of Aurora in tn
act Of drawing aside the curtain Of tn
dawn.
What was The unspoken compact be
tween them that caused her, standin
before her glass In her simple whit
dress that same evening, to pose tn
Tower shyly among the Furnished wave
Of ber hair7 ..
will she ever forget how his ey,
thank herr Will she ever forget u
night on which she wore 1t? Was ther
ever another nigh, like that? Will the
ever be sgninl
For her, no. For every girl who hi
yet to meet her 6rst lover, yes. The
will be just one for such girl, but ne
or another.
Was IL the earth she trod on? He
beautiful everything wasl As il Il
world we're just new madel The ligh
the music. the gay chatter, bright sm,l'
ringing lsughterl And when she dane
With him she seemed to have wings
her feet. Then at last they were alo
together In the cool, fragrant, dew
darkness outside; and to be together.
BE- arm In arm, TO hear each othe
voices, that was all they cared for. The
was no other world for them that mig
They were separated from-our comm
earth by such a swift flowing tide
deep hut up.poken delight. Unspok
because young affection is too sacred
words. First love Is dumb, and leal
speech but slowly. Deep down in e'
heart was the rsptnrous consciousness
loving and of being beloved by the 0
erwhieh 10 worth lifetime of 81 Il
yous."
II brimmed each heart with a suffic
delight, even asa flower cup is brimn
with dew. The sun will drink the {
mp by and by, even as the world will
up this fountain Of innocent gladnes'
Bat the dew has been in the flower
and in the girls heart-First L.
whose memory never departs.
The wild rose in her hair was wit
cd when she again stood before
glass, with flushed cheeks and q
brightness in her eyes. But she lai
-as carefullyas M young mother m
lay her first-born In its cradle-betv
two pages Of Tennyson, upon p
that he had read 10 her the day be
10 rests there still.
To q careless observer, what matt
worn copy Of Tennyson with with
wild rose pressed between its leaves2
But to her il is all that 10 left, ma
Of the purest and tenderest romance
girls life; il Is the first sifs Of her