A LONG-BRANCH EPISODE.
Upon the broad Atlantic sands
I saw a maiden and her lover,
Her dimpled fingers in his hands,
Her shy blue eyes the sea looked over;
With coy girl’s love to him she turned,
And said, “Dear,
Do you think that any one will know
That you have dared to kiss me so?”
Alone upon the pebbly strand
Break ocean swell and pale moonbeam;
The lovers are walking hand in hand
From the bluff to where the gas-lamps stream;
They reach the peopled colonnade:
Trembling, she said,
“Dear, I’m sure they all will know
That you have dared to kiss me so.”
The waltz floats through the casement low,
And the lovers stand at the open door;
The maid shyly whispers, “Will they know?”
Her eyes seem fastened to the floor:
Fond he looks down on the fair young face—
“All will see
That my arms are empty,” he said,
“And no kisses cling to your lips so red.”
They join the dancers’ merry whirl,
The room is filled with beauties fair;
With cheeks aflush and ruffled curl,
My maiden dances with absent air;
She fears that every one can tell.
Yet, I trow,
Only the lover and I could know
Which was the girl that had been kissed so.
