Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-07-08
FIRST LOVE.
How old could I have been at that

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timer
| am quite sure l was only about
twelve or thirteen years old. Or !
might have been fourteen. Surely,
| was old enough to fall desperately
in love.
If ] cannot recollect when, ! can at
least remember how the tender pas
sion commenced. AS soon as my
aunt would leave the house to repair
to church for her evening devotions,
was very fond of stealing into her
room and ransacking her bureau
drawers, which she always kept in
admirable order. These drawers
were like museum to me. for al
ways found some rare, quaint object
there. and subtitle eastern perfume
emanated from them. There were
satin pincushions discolored by age;
lace mitts, folded away in tissue pa
per; small pictures of saints; sewing
materials; reticule of blue velvet,
embroidered with beads. and silver
and amber rosary.
All of these things and more were
to be found in the different hooks
and corners. would examine them
curiously and afterward put them
back in their places
But one day-how well l remem-
Der It'll just as plainly as though it
were today saw a gilt object
cleaning in the midst of some old
lace collars. involuntarily thrust
in my hands for it rumpling the
laces) and drew out q miniature
painted on ivory, about three inches
long and inclosed in a gold case.
was perfectly enraptured as l
gazed upon it. A ray Of sunlight
fiickered through the window pane,
lighting up this charming likeness,
which seemed as though longing to
leave its dark prison house and come
toward me. 1t was the picture OF
q most beautiful creature, such as
had never beheld before, excepting
in my youthful dreams. The fail
lady might be about twenty years
old. She was not a young maiden
not tender bud just about to open
but woman in the full radiancy ot
her beauty. Her face was oval, bu
not very long, her lips were full ant
parted in a smile, while her eyes
'drooped languidly, and she had {
dimple in her chin, which seemed
imprinted there by Cupid's playful
touch.
Her hair was dressed in a singula,
and graceful style. 1t was gathereC
in knot, while a pyramid of puff
surmounted her temples, and ther
was a basket of braids on top of he
head. This old fashioned coiffure
ending at the nape of her neck, re
vealed all of its rounded lines, ant
also another dimple, still more sh.
and soft than the one in her chin.
As for her dress, it was of som
light. gauzy material. A necltlac
of pearls rested upon her snow,
bosom and upon the smooth surface
OF her low cut bOulCe.
Her arms, which were worthy o.
Juno, We're fully barred, Their tape
exnemities were fit models for
sculptor. But am not exact in say
ing "eXtremities," for only one o
her hands was visible. 1t held
rare lace handkerchief,
As | think now of my feelings a
that time | am amazed at the strik
ing effect which the contemplation
of that miniature produced upon me
Indeed was SO carried away b,
my feelings that | held my breath
while ] fairly devoured the pictur
with my eyes,
/ had seen portraits of beautiful
women in the illustrated papers, il
tho shop windows, and also in tn
NEUROLOGICAL pictures in my father
dining room. A beautiful curve,
harmonious and elegant outline
would always captivate my gaze
which was prematurely artistic; bu
the portrait which | had found il
my aunts drawer, aside from il
great beauty, seemed to be animate
by subtle vitality, One could Sc
that il was not an artists ideal, bu
the likeness of real person of hes
and blood. The luxuriant tone c
ooioring seemed to reveal, under tn
pearly flesh ants, tho rich, mantlin
blood, while the lips appeared cage
to display the pearly teeth. To con