Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1909-06-11

All, those hours of first love! Poor
human beings, who pass your nights
within the four walls of room, pits
you!
We were only snakes. But we had
the night and all its sweets woven
| forever through our love. Soft winds,
scented with the pines on the crest
of the Blue mcu~ta tains, rippled the
grasses above us, as we tasted the
bliss OF loving companionship. The
nighthawk sank to blow his shrill
bugle-like note beside us; the stars
glowed redly through the breathing
dusk; from the canyons far up in the
hills come the mournful cry of coy
ote. Down under the velvet grasses
it was dark and sweet and we were
alone, and we loved.
When at length stole home and
coiled myself on the smooth stones
could not sleep. l lay motionless
until the pale greens and yellows
came marching up the east, and the
trees on the mountains crest turned,
one by one. to gold, and the meadow
larks sang, oh, so sweetly, in the val
ley where knew he lay as motionless
as l, dreaming of joys that had been
and longing for those that were to be.
There was a month full of such bliss.
But day came when my father
knew; and that night the king of rat
tlesnakes went down the hill in my
stead, and lay in wait for his rival.
When ] was convinced that they had
killed him, l stole away in the night
and made my way to the other side
OF the valley, and dwelt alone on an
other hill and mourned. There were
no snakes and there were no human
things. And, oh, the days were long,
and, oh, the nights were lonely.
Deep and passionate was my grief
through all the spring, and summer,
and fall. When winter drew on, how
glad was l to curl myself in a dark,
warm place for my long sleep. re-
call that my last thought was of how
dreary and heart-breaking my awak-
ening would be in the spring. Yet
when the awakening came-well, am
female thing and that must be sufn-
cient explanation.
1t was on warm and lovely day in
April that l languidly uncoiled and
slid out to lie upon the stones. Never
shall l forget how the beauty of that
day thrilled me! l was glad, exulted.
only to live once more. My memories
OF love and sorrow seemed vague.
Had l ever wished to die? Well, now
l longed to live.
The valley stretched before my
eyes, green and shining like a great
emerald. There were splashes of vel
low where the buttercups grew. and
there were shooting stars, and all the
sweet winds of spring
/ remember my first glimpse of my.
self In a still pool that spring You
may have observed a woman, reft of
her love, In your own life, you human
things. You may have seen her tears.
her anguish, her garb of woe. Then
when few months have gone by, you
must have one day had your eyes daz.
zled by her sudden blossoming out
into new and wonderful beauty. You
must have marveled at the color in
her cheeks, the brilliancy of her eyes.
the warmth of her mouth, the subtle
grace of her movements. So 1t was
with me. Life throbbed once more
through all my being.
The loneliness grew unbearable.
One day as lay curled, half-asleep,
l heard step. A moment later a
man came close to my heap of stones.
sprang erect. kissing and swelling,
for l had not time to escape. He
paused and looked at me.
Beautiful thing!" he said, in
tone of sadness. Strike, If you will.
shall not harm you"
He threw himself on the ground
near me. He was unarmed. Ashamed.
but incredulous, l dropped back into
coil, and lay watching him, motion
less, save for the slow sliding of my
head from side to side. He looked at
me steadily.
THAT snake could be so beauti-
full" he said, in the same sad tone.
He reached out his hand with a ca.
ressing motion. Come" he said. I'VE
N-iS 'iohO. LeI US DC ITlenQS.
His eyes drew me with an irresistI-
BILE fascination. A new, strange feel.
Ing stirred me. l uncoiled, and slid
to him with graceful undulations. He
laid his hand upon me, and both of us
We're without fear.
Days passed. I learned gradually
that he had come there to forget
woman. He pitched a tent near the
stones and dwelt there. followed
him everywhere. never permitted
him to get out of my sight. slept at
his feet. and with the first dawn-ray
i found his hand and curled upon it.
waiting patiently for his caress.
One night when the moon hung
large and yellow on the violet breast
of the sky, he threw himself upon his
blankets, and held his hands out to
me.
Il am sorrowful tonight, Lilith,"