The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1900-02-22
LEOMTA.

/A\ lowland grove to meet Leonlta
0S at the creek he wondered why
sbe had grown so different; why she
no longer would play the games that
for years they had played together;
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. A horseman who had spoken
with her rode away, smiling over his
shoulder. Something frightened In ill
tano's breast. With firm steps he
came to the hill top.
"Who was he. 'NitaF'
"Who but the Corregldor," she an-
swered archly.
What said he?"
more than ever another hath said.
Gltano."
What thenT
Leonita turned her face away.
He said that mine is the beauty of
the night"
Gitano's eyes flashed at the reeedlng
horseman.
why of the night?" he asked.
Because" she faltered, because
so said the Corregidor-my brow Is the
moon touched snow upon the noun
tain, and my eyes are the glinting
stars"
said 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.
Are the downright berries of holly
awaiting the kiss of dawn-so said he,
the Corregidor."
At the bend of the road the rider
looked back and raised his glstening
sombrero. Leonita waved her supple
hand and smiled. But when she turn
ed again to her companion the smile
departed from her lips, for the sad
ness of his eyes rebuked her heart.
The next day and the next the rider
came, but Leonita was ever away with
Gltano in the lowland grove.
Then, as the third day closed, her
father said to her:
"Nita, thou art too much with Gil
tano Let him go his way. Thou ART
no longer a child"
But, my father, l am happy with
Gitano."
$50 much the worse. Bide thee nj
home. The Corregidor will come
again"
1.-THE Corregidor"
"Ay, 'Nlta; he hath seen thy beau
ty."
what dost thou mean, my father?'
"Only that thy place is here. Lei
Gitano go mis- way"
Another day the rider came. and
and when he went away Leonita'.
face was In her hands.
"Silly child" her father said. "Thol
wilt be the Corregidora-a great lady
and ride in thy coach. Is this thy
gratitude for fathers loving care?
Gltano came at shutdown to Learn
why Leonita had not kept their dali,
tryst Her father sat with them ane
told Gitano 'all-that the Corregido
| had smiled upon her beauty and beg
ged her for his bride; that the father,
promise had been given; that the not
AIRY was TO come next morning to sea
the troth, and that until then Leonit,
was to remain within.
Gitano heard as in dream. TIL,
words seemed to come over some vas
distance-even from some llghtles
world whose fires had fickered on
ages and ages ago. But as her fathe
spoke Leonita weaved a message o
the thread upon her lap and tremble,
with excited JOY TO see Gitano read II
The moon was low, when call n o
a nightbird fell softly through Leonl
ta's lattice.
"Gitanow
"'Nitaw
Cheek to cheek, they whispered iron
their hearts. and In the meeting o
their lips were sealed pathetic vow
of love beyond this life
| Then through the somber avenue o
silence they came again to view til
gloomy present
and spoke he only OF the beauty q
thy faceY Gitano asked.
'.Only of that" she answered.
II would thou hadst no beaut,
then"
Before they parted at the LATHE