Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-08-14
THE STORY OF AMATA.
BY MARGARET A. BoRLAND.

BY MARGARET A. HORLAND.
The old adobe house is picturesque
ruin. with but two walls standing. The
California tourist may see it standing
near the entrance to a canon in the
mountains southeast of Los Angeles.
In the year 1876. it was the home of
Senorita Amata Ceballo, who lived
with an invalid father, devoting herself
to his care. Yet she was not lonely,
for almost every evening when her ia
Their sat doing or smoking in the vesti-
bulo, and the old woman servant was
occupied by her evening duties, the
pretty Senorita would hear bird call
ing from the shady stream near the
door and knew her lover waited for
their twilight visit.
The father and the old Sonora knew
it, too. But was not he her novio? and
the laws of propriety were less strict
than in the Spanish cities.
How shall we describe her? Imagine
the most beautiful Spanish girl
you ever saw, having dark melt
ing eyes shaded by long lashes,
with round rosy little mouth,
and complexion Of clearest olive
that seemed like dark velvet, and, when
so perfect as hers is. more charming
than any her fairer sisters may possess.
This, at least, was the opinion of Don
Roberto Montiio, who stood beside her
listening to the music of the stream at
their feet.
do you know, mi amado, it always
reminds me of youths sound of rum
ming water" she said, looking up into
his face.
ITO me ALSO" he replied, ut is our
love song"
As he spoke she observed troubled
expression in his brown eyes, and an
increased air of proud, tender possess
sion as he spread on the ground the
cloak he carried and drew her down to
seat beside him.
my heart is heavy" he said. @For
Amata mia, this IS our last visit for
many months.
He saw her lips tremble and felt her
hands clasp tightly about his US if to
forbid his going.
Then in voice deepened by emotion
and with lovers tenderness. he told
her that his business demanded his going
to the city of Mexico for an absence of
one and half years. He would leave
his large rancho in the care of a younger
brother, and when he returned his for
tune would be secure, the tito to the
land clear, and they could then be mar
ried.
As he explained the details she COM
pretended the necessity of his going, in
order that his estate might be secured
against the Americans who were pour
ing into the country and beginning to
realize the value of land for other pur-
poses than gold digging.
They talked for long time that
evening, for there was much to be said
and many VOWS and promises to be re-
peated. Both knew they should cherish
the thought of these hours through the
lonely evenings to come, and wished to
remember it all-every word and caress,
the sweet sounds about them, the sleepy
song of the hooking birds in the trees
overhead, the streams music. and over
all the clear, soft moonlight-the Cali
fornia moonlight that reveals even the
color of flower and garment.
During his southwark journey the
sound of some running stream often
brought it all back to him
her loving words, her sweet courage
and her prayer for his safe keeping.
After he had gone to the house to bid
farewell to her father, they parted. she
keeping up bravely until he was out OF
sight.
Perhaps the interval of the separa-
ton seemed longer to her than to him,
for she remained quietly at home caring
for her father and spending the leisure
hours at her embroidery-the beautiful
Spanish drawn work with which she
trimmed garments and household linen
for her wedding day.
Before she accepted Don Roberto she
was the belle of the Spanish town in
the valley below, and he had wooed for
several months against Senior GaspAr,
whom he still hated, although Amata
was model of faithfulness to him, low
ing him far too we'll to care for the at
tentions of other men.
@Csn not we again be friends? You
must feel lonely now" Senior Gaspar
said one day meeting her after mass
near the church of the mission.
sNo," she replied, "my thoughts are
pleasant company"
He made few similar attempts to re-
new their former friendship, but always
With the same result-her complete
royalty to her no VIC.
Gaspar's actions were watched Dy
keen.eyed little Senorita Lucia who az,
mired Don Roberto and admired still
more his fortune.
Every good, my fine Senorita, she
Thought. you refuse him, NO doubt,
but / shall consider you as planning
secret meetings. Wait until Don no.