Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-06-13
LGONITA
By WILLIS D. HAWKINS.

sather; why she now went round by the
bridge and would not let him assist her
across the stream.
When he reached the open. he saw her
standing by the road at the top of the
hill. \ horseman who had spoken with
her rode away, smiling over his shoulder.
Something tightcucd in Gtano's breast,
With firm steps he came TO the hilltop.
"Who was he. 'NitaI"
"Who but that eorregidor?' she an.
swered arehly.
What said her.
More than ever another hath said,
Gitano.'
Leonita turned her face away.
He said that mine Is the beauty Of the
night"
Gitano's eyes flashed at the receding
horseman,
why OF the night?'' he asked.
Because" she faltered-"because--so
said the corregidor-my brow is the
moon touched snow upon the mountain
and my eyes are the glinting stars"
-hSaid he that? What more?'
THAT my hair is the midnight cloud
that my lips
She turned a pebble with her dainty
toe,
THAT my lips Gitano prompted.
"Arc the dew bright berries of holly
awaiting the kiss OF dawn-so said he,
the cug.rgidor.'
Al tbs bend Of the road the rider look
ell ~ d aad raised his glisteuing SOM
br.-r. Leonita waved her supple hand
and liled. But when she turned again
fa her companion the smile departed
i,.~ for b., xalnasu .fh
II Haed her heart.
The next day and the next the rider
eau1r. but Leonta was ever away with
{ t4ao in the lowland grove.
Then, rs the third day closed. her IA
ther said to her:
Mia, thou art too much with Gil
ianp. Let him 50 his way. Thou art no
laaser child"
But, my father. am happy with Gil
isao,"
So much the worse. Bidc thee at
me- Tbp e5rfesidor viii come again"
The cotrcsidot?'
AYE. Mia: he hath seen thy beauty"
what dast thou mean. my father
Only that thy place Is here. Let Gil
tano go his way"
Another day the rider came. and when
he went away L.eonita's face WAS in her
hands.
SILLY child" her father said. Thou
wilt he the corrcsidora. a great lady.
and ride in thy coach Is this thy graft
tude for n fathers loving care?'
Gitano came at shutdown to learn why
Leouita had not kept their daily tryst.
Her father sat with them and told Gil
tano all-that the corregidor had smiled
upon her beauty and begged her for his
bride: that the fathers promise had been
given; thar the notary was to come next
morning 10 seal the troth, and that until
then Leuujia VAS TO remain within.
Gitaao heard as in Il dream. The
words seemed TO come over some vast
dis;ance-cyen from some lightiess world
whose fires had tlickered out ages and
ages ago Bot rs her father spoke Leo
nifa weaYered Il fgessa - of the thread
upon her LAP and trsnlIIed with excited
JOY to see Gitann read it.
The moon WAS low. when call as OF
a night bird softly tell through Leonita's
lattice.
"Gitano.'
"'Nita"
Cheek to check. they whispered from
their hearts. and in the meeting OF their
lips were sealed pathetic vows OF love be-
yond this life.
Then through the sombcr avenue OF ST
lence they came again to view the
gloomy present.
And spoke he only of the beauty OF
thy facet" Gitano asked.
Only OF that" she answered.
Il would thou hadst no beauty, then
Before they parted al the lattice Leo
nita begged one last memento OF his hon