Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-01-17
LEONITA.
-S~NN~NN~N

SAC s Gitano walked through the
= I0\. lowland grove to meet Leonita
Mt the creek he wondered why
she 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 rond at the top of
the hill. A horseman who had spoken
with her rode away, smiling over his
shoulder. Something tightened in Gil
tano's breast. With firm steps he
came to the hill top.
''Who was he. 'Nita?'
.'Who but the Corregidor." she an
swered archly.
..What said he!"
More than ever another hath said,
Gitano."
what them
Leonita turned her face away.
He said that mine is the beauty of
the night"
Gitano's eyes flashed at the recedlns
horseman.
q 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 y
said he that? What more?''
..,That my harris the midnight cloud;
that my lips"
She turned a pebble with her dainty
toe.
..That my lips" GItano prompted.
Are the dew-bright 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 glistenIng.
sOmbrero. Leonita waved her supple
hand and smiled. But when she turn
4 ed again to her companion the smile
departed from her lips, for the sad
ness of his eyes rebuked her heart.
5 The next day and the next the rider
came, but Leonita was ever away with
Gitano 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 child"
But, my father, / am happy with
Gitano."
$50 much the worse. Bide thee mt
home. The Corregidor will come
again"
"The Corregidor?"
SAY, 'Nita; he hath seen thy beau
ty.'
what dost thou mean. my father?'-
y "Only that thy place is here. Let
Gitano so his way"
I Another day the, rider came. and
and when he went away I.eomita,s
face was In her hands.
"Silly child" her father said. .eThou
wilt be the Corregidora-a great lady,
I and ride in thy coach. Is this thy
gratitude for fathers loving care.'
Gltano came at sundown to learn
why Leonita had not kept their daily
tryst. Her father sat with them and
told Gitano all-that the Corregidor
& had smiled upon her beauty and beg
ged her for his bride; that the fathers
promise had been given; that the not
AIRY was to come next morning to seal
the troth, and that until then Leonita
was to remain within.
Gitano heard as i'll dream. The
words seemed to come over some vast
distance-even from some ligl1tless
world whose fires had flickered out
ages and ages ago. But as her father
spoke Leonita weaved Il message of
the thread upon her lap and trenbled
with excited joy to see Gitano read 1t.
= lie moon was low, when call as of
a ghtbird fell softly through Leoni-
ia lattice.
* ltano!'
"'Nitaw
Cheek to cheek, they whispered from
their hearts, and in the meeting of
their lips We're sealed pathetic vows
of love beyond this life.
Then through the somber avenue of
silence they came again to View the
gloomy present.
And spoke he only of the beauty OF
thy face" Gitano asked.
.Only of that" she answered.
II would thou hadst no beauty,
then"
Before they: parted ut the lattice
Leonfta begged one last memento of
his honest love. A lush young vine
grew in the withered gumtree. at the
bottom of the. gorge.
Bring me sprig of that, Gitano,
fcr-remembrance."
And when she took 1t from him she
babe him haste to battle his. hands In
milk. Then Gitano knew the cruel
nature Of the vine.
mo, no! Not thatr' he cried.
But the lattice window closed.
In the mo % light the father look.
ca on Leor y face and, horror paIed