The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-18
her First Love
xToU WIN let me confess to you. won't

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS


Uopypsaha sss. bx Deals ssoss Pub. Ca
VOU viii let me confess 20 you. won
you? You are just the listener
want. You can be sentimental. hav'
seen the tears In your syes when yo'
have listened 10 tale OF distress. ans
when you are moved have seen th'
color come and go. and your lips CULVER
and have known that you could feel
DO quiet. you interrupt me. You sa,
you are not priest, but mani That i
you 6it and listen. sna sit and talk
some day you may also be found with
arms about me telling me to be faithful
Abaurdl We know each other too well
you and /. You will never again be mJ
lover, there must be mystery and diff
aculty and reticencs Cor love. and II u
an atmosphere we have emerged from
long ago. So long ago that have al
most forgotten, and do not hate yot
for that past No, do not hate you
like you. and will believe you, anc
when have told you all my story, and
there comes the moment when you will
know why | have told you, will b.
guided by you entirely: because whai
know you know. only more-for
know only the men have loved OF
thoss who have loved me. while you
know men when they do not love. and II
may come to that.
Whom. where. how shall begin my
confession TO you7 Here. viii roll
you cigarette. will light II for you,
see; | will take one myself. Sit there
Ia that low chair. that cushion will al
your back, and through the smoke-rIngs
you ehall see me young again. No! !
do not want compliments from ySy !
am young still. fair stili, OF course: were
not. you would not listen. But the
youth OF 20 and the beauty OF 80 10 not
the Youth and beauty that wish you
to see through the smoke
You have often wonder why love
Ashbury ParS - is because | first met
hiA sssssse. was barely II then. and
Aad gone down from my home, my coun-
try home. on the upper Hudson. where
papa was poor Episcopal clergyman
to visit my uncle, who had a cottage
there for the season.
remember II we'll. We were abou
to start q game OF tennis. and had {
racket In my hand.
Dolly. dear" said my eldest cousin
do you mind not playing this set
Papa has brought man down with him
see. they are just getting out of th'
coach. He Is asthmatic or consumptive
or something. and can't play. Talk I,
him instead OF me. there's good girl
was always amiable: am not amiabi,
now. dear! consented. and they be
can their game.
This is our little cousin from Oak
Icy" said my uncle. pattlng my shouide
kindly. Dolly. dear. this 10 BAR. Baa
ing; lie Is little out OF sorts. You girl
must cheer him up among you, and 20,
had better be tho FIRST. You are tn
Quictest. and won't brighten him.
Ho turned 10 me, and said, in voic
that lad In It q musical hoarseness, sucI
q voice a. had never heard before, no
viii again. think. unisss hear It 1,
Heaven, for | have listened for Il al
my Ito:
mo; don't think yon will frIshtel
me-"
lie was a tall man. very slender, wit
6 brown beard. and hair so thick 1t stoo,
up On either side ~ the parting quite "A,
Inch above his head His eyes wer
small. deep set. and brown. with dis
tsnt look In them. can see him nov
more distinctly than can see you.
have slways seen him distinctly. Shal
| chow You his portrait, There 1t Ii
Go Quiet. beeQuiet. do not say word
II hurts like touch on a wound II yo
should criticise. IL you should even ad
mir
~ lou dare to laugh shall hate you
but. mere. you may laugh IL you will, /
IL. 'rue. all the same. have besn faith
gul - HMM my way Hut will pu
awar the portrait. Then csp tell you Z
IL batter
SAL air sprayed in our faces I'm thos
summer mornings by the long sea vail
In tho evening the band played. and b
tho band II was light. and the crowd
moved hither and thither In the IA,
Dnt We walked apart from them all, h
AND j. between the green hedges, han
IN band l believe there nevor was
lore dream like ours. He VAS dying Z
con lmption. and half my love was pit,
but lie went down so deep In my hear
and nc uprooting left the place so ten
der. could not bear touch. and so
shut X up. and people say since then
have 40 heart.
* you ever love young girl-don
protest. you are the very man to do 4
with your blue eyes and sensitive iipa
n cvcr You should love such a one. the
remember this II. though she love 20,
she dces not shrink from you, IL, thong
ste love you. her hand barely presse
yougl ia return; and her lips quive
aud move away under yours: IL. thong
she love you. she does not shrink fror
you and fear you, and she tests whs
she would rather cry. and mocks 20
when she would rather caress-lf sh
cocs none OF these things. why, thes
you are decelving yourself. or she Ia d.
eeiring you. or both. but she 10 no youn
Eth.
was happy whom we talked of m
Eca: when he quoted poetry to me, an,