Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-12-29
A SHADOW OF DEATH.
a Weird and Pathetic Talo OF the
"Corrida do Toros."

ulll u w VI A<NOhs
was a 'contrabandista, and smuggled
mules into France over remote and
secret passes Of the Pyrenocs. We
were very proud Of our sleek. handsome.
smooth mules. We made large sums
Of money, but we also ran great risks
of detection and Imprisonment lhated
the business. so once when VIC werc
crossing one Of the passes | ran away.
For DAYS ! wandered about, until l
reached large city full of white, clean
buildings, which they told mo was San
Sebastian. asked II there was cor
r;da do toros (bull ring) there, and on
oing told there was ! made my way
to tho place, saw tho manager, and
told him my story and my desire to be
a bull-iightcr.
'At one time there used TO be good
school there for training bull-fighters.
After various prelimlnaries | was ad-
mittcd, and found some twenty or
thirty other young men who were
going through their training for
'chulos.' The great favorite of the
school was young 'espada' named
Fernando Nunez, as handsome and u
graceful creature as the dear God
ever mado. He was also pleasant, al
ways kindly, and had a cheerful greet
ing and smile for each one Of us, and
was the idol OF the whole school. HC
was very Young, perhaps the youngest
'cspada' that was ever seen in the
arena.
Tho hull ring OF San SebaStianC
stands--Or used to stand ON long
sandy stretch of plain on the other sid,
of the railway line 1t was a largI
wooden amphltheater and the pens fol
the bulls were quite apart, but con
nectcd with the arena by long. darl
passage, through which the bulls wer,
driven into the ring. For thre,
or four hours every day we practicet
jumping and vaulting in the arena
PLAYING with the lasso and bulls witt
tipped horus.
There was 20 be y great bull-ligh
on the feast OF San Sebastiano. an,
Nuncz was to try his skill there for th
third time in his capacity Of 'espada.
He was considered by the authorize
the rising star us bull-lighter, an,
almost equal to Montos in point 0
courage. daring and dextcrity. ii
was always very kind to me, and rathe
picked me out from my comrades t
be his constant companion. | wa
much ilattercd, Of course. by his dis
tincton. Perhaps showed my elatio
too much. for un old bull.Eghter (wh
had served many years in the aren
and had retired from public life onl
to be master in the school at San 81
bastiano. with pension from the Go,
crnmenD said to me ono day;
"Mi hijo. you will not msundel
stand me II | give you word of war;
ing, will louP'
81 shall only be too grateful to you
: ] replied, wondering what had bee
doing TO incur censure in my work.
"Do not go so much with Nuno
IIc is fascinating and very charming
and, so far as | know, as good as he
handsome. But his absence is betti
than his company. You remember Il
old proverb; "Ninas y vinos son M
guarder,n and he is as enticing {
wine
"'But he is so good and pleasal
that he can not have sold himself to Il
devil, | said. 'Of what are you accu
J ing himP'
az am not accusing him Of an
thing replied the old man. crossir
himself deyoutly, 'but'-and here
put his mouth closely to my ear-'he
!, a doomed man.
"Adoomed man. I cried. but VIII,
Who could wish tho poor fellow al
: illP He is so good and kind and ga.
"'No one on earth wishes him Ill,
am sure said the old man, eagerl
But the ghost of the arena folio
him like a shadow by day and
night, and | am sure that he is
doomed man. / have been in u
= business for ycars--long before y
were born. l have had my trump
as 'espada, but | have never kno'
. one to live who was followed BY
ghost. Monies was doomed by 1t,
4 was Cucharos, so were many Others
II could name; and now this poor you
fellow The good old man bro
down with tears in his eyes,
"'But what sort of creature is t
ghostP' | asked. Does it follow
the companyP
"HOh, Santa Fe, nor cried
friend Rodriguez. 1t only folio
certain people who are to die. Y
will sec double shadow of the sa
shape and size as he walking bes
him by day and by night, and-and
few DAYS before the bull fight cor
of the ghost stands before tho arr
: door with drawn sword, and acct
panics the doomed man everywhere.
"'I can not believe III! ! cried.
hair on my head was standing up v
: fright, and my body was wet will
D clammy cold.
I "'Just wait and sec, said old r
riguez sadly, 4 shall not go and
him fight. because l could not bear
sec him killed, for l love him.
saying this he left me.
II turned the matter over in
mind AMI came to tho conclusion
Rodriguez was getting silly, and tn