while (<DATA>) {

    # We could use split( /\s+/, $_, 3 ) to explicitly
    # set the max split limit to 3, but split() is smart
    # enough to see we are capturing into 2 variables and
    # automatically sets the limit to 3. Smart perl!

    my ($first, $second) = split( /\s+/ );
    print "Line $.: '$first $second'\n";
}

__DATA__
this is the first line right here
line two comes next way down here
then third line is here
fourth comes next