The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-09-01
THE BELL OF MERRY WISHES.
AN ARTISTS RECOLLECTION.

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we're shrouded in gossamer, seen when
heated particle that floats in the atmos-
phere.
For at least the tenth time since taking
up my home upon the castle hill I
strolled down the winding footpath,
through the little orange orchard that
discloses itself behind the reconstructed
wicket swinging just without the Gate of
Justice. was going to pay a visit to
the keeper of the watch-tower, perched
on precipitous cliff that runs out into
the heart of the city Of Granada. On
this towers roof swings the alarm bell of
the castle, tolled from dusk to dawn,
even unto this hour, to reassure the
sleeping town that the Moor has not re-
turned. Here dwell to-day, on the lower
floor, the survivors of the five genera
tons of its custodians. The family at
present consists of an old woman, wild
owed daughter and her son. The daugh-
ter had married early and we'll. She Sc
cured the great catch of Granada; she
became the wife of the toreador. But,
alas, a more than usually vicious bull
pinned poor Escamillo to the side
of the ring one afternoon, and he
died with his young wife's shrek of an
guish ringing in his ears. The widows
grief was unnoticed by the multitude,
which shouted itself hoarse. "Bien
hecho!" ''Bien toro!' The shouts rose
higher and higher. Never was more soul
stirring occasion. The mangled body
wss borne out amid the shouts, "Well
doner' Good BULL" "Well doner"
A matador sprang into the arena, seized
the sword of his gasping superior. Then
was the moment of his lifetime. One
lucky swords stroke would make him the
toreador of Granada. With steady hand
he awaited the onset of the ensanguined
beast and ended the days sport-its tri-
umphed hero. In Spain the dead are
remem bered longer by their relatives and
sooner forgotten by their friends than in
any country in Europe. The new espada
radiant in all the glory OF knighthood
won on the field of death-was enter
tanned that night at the grand cafe on the
mirers that would have greeted poor
Escamillo, and it is only simple justice
to say that the latter's absence was hard
ly noticed. The reception of the new to-
reader as he entered the theater near the
end of the second function was such as
to distract the actors attention to the end
of the play. The funeral revived the in
terest in the dead bull-fghter for few
days; then the little widow returned with
her child, young Camille, to her mothers
lodge on the pinnacle of Alhambra Hill
end buried herself from the world. The
young scapegrace-I call him Sapolio,
because he deserved it-had no intention
of respecting his mothers sorrow. He
hung around the old place, always in a
sunny spot, thrusting his services upon
visitors, but performing in the most
slovenly manner every commission given
from the least to the most important. He
wore his fathers leggings and silk CIR
die, dilapidated enough now; but a vii
lainous-looking sombrero had taken the
place of the old bull butchers cap. I
had made all the acquaintances possible
within the Alhambra in order that I
might wander about the castle at pleas
ure, and this fellows good opinion had
been secured at the expense of number
less reals and pesetas. When gained it
was worthless, except that it took me to
his grandmother's dwelling, and thus
enabled me to get an accurate idea of
the economics SO paradoxically associ-
ated with the utter shiftlessness of the
poorer classes in Spain. I had not en-
countered young Sapolio this after
noon, but I did not experience any
regret.
Night after night as / lay at the hotel
of Washington Irving, in the Alhambra
Gardens, had heard the bell of the Vela
Power tolling at short intervals through
out the long hours of darkness. The
stiffness of those nights! The moaning
OF the wind through the lonely Expresses
that garnish the walls Of the Vermillion
Towers seemed requiem mass for the
dead and forgiven. 'Infidels" theirs is
the art of angels and God who loves
the beautiful hath given them), with
whose harmony the wild, exultant peal
of this ''Christian" bell Jared like the
response Of demon choir of pharisacal
souls damned for ruin and discord
wrought.
There is tradition, old as the Con-
quest, that whenever a maiden touches
this s'silver-tongued bell" she thereby
makes sure Of husband. The curious
feature about the charm is that the num-
Der of youthful blessings that are to en-
circle the family braser0 depends upon
the JUNCTION with which the bell IL struck
by the inploring maiden. 1t swings ct
leaat eight 1eet shove the roof Of the
vsla Tower, and 70 reach il u not always
- oaniset iaak imaGinab1o On the part
49, -LLs--- 49, ~.-~-.~.A l. ~~~4~