Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-01-28
Her First Love
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i VOU will let me confess to you, won
| your You are Just the listener
want. You can be sentimental. hav
seen the tears In your eyes when yol
have listened to tale Of distress, an,
when you are moved have seen tn
color come and go. and your lips CULVER
and l have known that you could feel
Be quiet you interrupt me. You SO!
you are not priest, but man? That 1
you sit and listen. and | sit and talk
some day you may also be found witt
arms about me telling me to be faithful
Absurd! We know each other too we'll
you and I. You will never again be my
lover, there must be mystery and diff
fculty and reticence for love, and It ID
an atmosphere we have emerged from
long ago. So long ago that have al
most forgotten, and l do not hate you
for that past, No, | do not hate you,
l like you, and will believe you, and
when | have told you all my story, and
there comes the moment when you will
know why l have told you. l will be
guided by you entirely; because what
I know you know. only more--for l
know only the men l have loved or
those who have loved me, while you
know men when they do not love, and It
may come to that.
When, where, how shall l begin my
confession to you? Here, will roll
you q cigarette, l will light 1t for you,
see; will take one myself. Sit there.
In that low chair, that cushion will at
your back. and through the smoke-rings
you shall zee me young again. No! /
do not want compliments from you. l
am young still, fair still, Of course; were
not. you would not listen. But the
youth of 80 and the beauty Of 80 is not
the youth and beauty that I wish you
to see through the smoke.
You have often wondered why love
Ashbury Park. It is because first met
him there. l was barely II then, and
had gone down from my home, my coun-
try home, on the upper Hudson, where
papa was q poor Episcopal clergyman,
to visit my uncle, who had cottage
there for the season.
remember 1t well. We were about
10 start q game Of tennis, and had q
racket In my hand.
Dolly, dear" said my eldest cousin, |
do you mind not playing this set?
Papa has brought man down with him;
zee, they are just getting out Of the
coach. He Is asthmatic or consumptive,
or something, and can't play. Talk to
him instead Of me, there's q good girl"
was always amiable; am not amiable |
now, dear? l consented, and they be-
gan their game.
This 10 our little cousin from Oak
ey," said my uncle, patting my shoulder
indy. Dolly, dear, this IL Mr.. Bas-
ing; he 10 q little out Of sorts. You girls
must cheer him up among you. and you
had better be the first You are the
luietest, and won't brighten him"
He turned to me. and said, in voice
hat had In 1t musical hoarseness, such
voice as had never heard before, nor
will again, think, unless hear 1t In
Heaven, for | have listened for It all
ny life:
mo; don't think you will brighten
le."
He was tall man, very slender, with
brown beard, and hair SO thick 1t stood
p on either side of the parting quite an
lch above his head. His eyes were
mall, deep set, and brown, with dis
int look In them. can see him now
lore distinctly than l can see you. l
ave always seen him distinctly. Shall /
show you his portrait? There 1t 10.
Q quiet, be quiet, do not say q word;
hurts like touch on wound II you Z
lould criticise, II you should even ad- =
Ire.
II you dare to laugh shall hate you; /
1t, there, you may laugh II you will, It !
true, all the same. have been faith Q
Il to HMM my way. But will put '
way the portrait. then can tell you Of b
better. N
Salt air sprayed In our faces in those Il
INNER mornings by the long sea walk. Il
the evening the band played, and by n
o band It was light, and the crowds c
owed hither and thither in the gas.
1t we walked apart from them all, he b
ID /, between the green hedges. hand
hand. believe there never was q b
We dream like ours. He was dying Of
and half my love was pity, 1,
Il he went down 20 deep In my heart, v
d the uprooting left the place 80 ten D
r, could not bear touch, and % v
ut It up, and people say since then
We no heart. d
II you ever love Q young girl-dont
otest, you are the very man to do It,
tn your blue eyes and sensitive lips 7
ever you should love such one, then "
member this: II, though she love you, X
. does not shrink from you, II, though b,
e love you. her hand barely presses n
urs in return; and her lips culver
d move away under yours; II. though v
E love you. she does not shrink from B
u and fear you, and she jests when
E would rather CRY, and mocks you "
len she would rather caress-if she :