El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-12-05
MY FIRST LOVE
The Herald's Daily
Short Story


confession that her heart was all mine
1t was very difficult for US 10 meet
for our respective families hated one
another cordially, but still we managed
to see one another in a large corn field
which separated our homes and in
which our sweet words Of love mingled
agreeably with the rustic Of the leaves.
In the midst OF the fields was
medlar tree, the fruits Of which we
enjoyed, though they we're far from
being ripe The corn gave US its shade,
the tree its green fruits and our love
gave US strength and patience and
topics for conversation, especially as
we said next 10 nothing We sat down
looking at one another like a picture
of two Cinnamon I remember from my
natural history drinking tea under a
Uee. II noise was suddenly heard
among the leaves Frumetel jumped up
ana ana cried rec in voice that trembled with
fear; 1T is mamal"
1t was nothing, however, but our
goat which was also in the habit OF
visiting the corn field for less romantic
reasons But soon afterwards I would
jump up and whisper: '9Oh, my God, its
rabbi Lebischr But IT would only be
some boy who came TO steal some OF
the unripe fruit Of the tree
Our love suffered a terrible shock
when the time came to cut down the
corn depriving US Of the hOspitable
shelter OF its leaves.
The day before its stalks were to
fall victims to the knives Of the van
QaIs We went there for the last time to
deplore our misfortune. for there was
no other trysttng place near LOvas-
Bereny, no olive grove. no friendly
cave, no forest OF cocus palms to shell
ter our ardent love. Our misery, there
fore, was boundless, and, having had
a good cry together, we decided that
there was nothing left but to exchange
secret messages OF love.
SO / was forced to write. I had
promised to do so and F'rumetel expect
ed me to keep my promise soon Ny
colleague, the caligrapher Sanele, was
to De Cupld's messenger and I was to
give MIN nalf OF my lunch every day
Tor his faithful services, a great sacri-
flee, for the lunch consisted Of a big
slice Of bread generously covered with
prune marmalade. 1t was not without [
a great deal Of signing that I paid him !
his due.
Two days passed before was able to /
finish my first letter, for I had not the /
slightest idea what to write to the i
beautiful Frumetel- At last I had /
divine inspiration. Every five OF six |
weeks rabbi Lebisch wrote a letter to /
MS wife, who was then living in Pa |
lata- ] resolved to copy one Of these Z
letters, and succeeded in getting hold |
of one OF them, which was written in /
most poetic Hebrew Oriental terms:
To the excellent, just and pious /
Dame Chane, pearl among women and |
the treasure Of her fireside. To the /
the joy and pride Of her children, /
whose memories will last for centuries ]
untold. Greetingp
After this long preamble came the
following short letter:
I write YOU that 7 have absolutely /
nothing to write about I am in the ]
best of health and hope to hear the 4
same from you. Sometimes I have an 1
attack Of my old pains, and remain,
Your faithful husband,
Your Little Rabbi Lebisch."
I copied the letter word by word. /
simply substituting "Frumete" for /
Dame Chane."
:, Three days later the answer came.
II looked very strange 7 hurriedly /
opened the pill of well chewed bread /
n which it was enclosed. Imagine my 4
disappointment, when ] could not read /
q word. Juliet's letter to Romeo was /
a yeritable Cattegat of insk spots with
q fe wines between.
How was I TO decipher this message /
Of love- 1 simply could not But what 4
lid 1t matter after all? Were not all 1
these ink marks made by her little
1ardsE Was that not enOugh2 I was
happy Nevertheless, never gave I'D
my attempt to read it, and this caused |
my DOWNFALL l was caught by rabbi
Lebiseh, who snatched away the pre-
,ious letter and read It.
How he did. am unable to under
stand even today. but when he had read
{ he began to tear his hasr and veil |
ike wounded boar. A moment later
felt the pipe stem dancing on my
back.
But love, all powerful love, did not
all me then, for when 1 saw my be-
oved's message in his profane hands. 7
became furious, rushed at him. knocked
lim over, took away his pine stem.
broke II in two and threw it out Of
he window.
The incredible deed was done. Like
myself, rabbi Lebisch stood motionless
With astOnishment Sanele ran. out and
allied my uncle, who found us still
standing like statues
At last rabbi Lebisch recovered the
power Of speech and told what had
happened While I sought refuge be-
lind the skirts Of my aunt, she could
lot help smiling, though she was an
When my uncle had read the letter
Iod knows what II cOntained-he
ooked at me sternly and said I was