Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-01-23
LEOMTA.

IN lowland grove to meet Leonita
go at 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 road at the top of
the hill. A horSeman who had spoken
with her rode away, smiling over his
shoulder Something frightened in Gil
tanos 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 then?'
I.eonita turned her face away.
HE said that mine is the beauty of
the night"
Gitanos eyes flashed at the receding
horseman.
.Why of the night?" he asked.
t"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 pebble with her dainty
toe.
"'Fhat my lips Gitano prompted
Are the downright berries of holly
awaiting the kiss of dawn-so said he,
the CoTegidor."
At tine bend of the road the rider
locked back and raised his glistening
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
Gitano in the lowlaad grove.
Then. as the third day closed, her
father said to her:
"'Nita thou art too much with Gil
tano. Let him so his way. Thou art
no longer a child"
But, my father l am happy with
Gitano"
so much the worse. Bide thee al
home The Corregidor viii come
again"
"trhe Corregidor?"
"Ay. Mia: he hath seen thy beau
y.
What dost thou mean my father?"
"Only that thy place is here. Let
Gitano so his way"
Another day the rider came. and
and when he went away Leonita's
face was in her hands
SILLY child!' her father said. Thou
wilt be the Corregidora-a great lady.
and ride in thy coach. Is this thy
gratitude for a fathers loving careg
Gitano came at shutdown to learn
why I.eonita 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
g>I her FOR his bride; that the fathers
promise had been given; that the not
AIRY was 10 come next morning to seal
the troth, and that until then Leonita
was TO remain within.
Gitano heard as in a dream. The
words seemed to come over some vast
tustance-even from some lightless
world whose fires had flickered out
ages and ages ago. But as her father
spoke Leonita weaved message of
the thread upon her lap and trembled
with excited JOY TO see Gitano read it.
The moon was low. when a call as of
a nightbird fell softly through Leoni-
ta's lattice.
''Gitano
'Nitar
Cheek to cheek. they whispered from
their hearts. and in the meeting of
their lips were 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.
Il would thou hadst no beauty,
then"
Before they parted at the lattice
Leonita begged one last memento OF
lis honest love. A lush young vine
grew IN the withered gumtree at the
bottom Of the gorge.
Bring me snTig OF that. Gitano,
for-remembrance.'
And when she took it from him she
hade him haste TO battle his hands in
milk. Then Gitano knew the cruel
nature OF the vine.
NO. no. Not THAR he cried
But the lattice window closed.
In the morning light the father look
ed on Leonita's face and horror Ealed
his own.