Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-05-31
IN THE BULL RING.
WHAT CAUSED A SPANIARD TO
BECOME A BULL FIGHTER.


A WOMAN, OF COURSE, WAS AT THE
BOTTOM OF IT-AFTER HER
LOVER HAD KILLED THE BULL,
THEN SHE KILLED HIM.
1 was early in my seat, for l
like. above all things, to see the
motley crowd of sun'burned Span
iards come trooping to their nation
al game. | was not in the SOmbrd
or shady seats, for l prefer to take
my plade among the crowd, one OF
whom | almost am now, and, more
over, what right has a penniless
young arts spend a dollar on
seeing a bull fight?
How noisy, and hot and dusty
they all looked as they troOped in
and took their seats around ne! /
was surprised at the crowd; there
was no great matadOr going to kill
bulls to day, yet all the cheaper
seats were filling.
| asked my neighbor, a peasant
in a fat black hat, breeches, and
highly decorated CATERS, and a
bright waistcoat, and wearing his
coat slung from the shoulders;
"Senor," | said, "can you tell me
why so many people are here to-
day ~
He looked at me for a moment
with an expression of surprise.
"You do not know he spoke
with a strong AndulasiaD accent.
Sebastian will kill the bull"
sebastian T' said. "SenOr, do
not think me ignorant, but | know
no bull fighter of that name"
He laughed.
"He has never killed a bull be-
fore to day is his first. He comes
from this part that Is why every
one is here" Then he added: 81
will tell you his story. Sebastian
is only a muleteer, who once a
week drives o caravan OF mules
from his mountain village to this
town. Once week he comes with
his burden of fruit. But he is
Door; the mules are not his; he
only works for another" He
paused for a moment, and he add
ed: "YOu are a stranger here ?"
eyes, | said. l only arrived
yesterday"
"Then you do not know Juanita
La Bella Juanita, we call her 7"
He did not wait for me to an.
swer his question, but continued;
every one falls IN love with
Juanlta, and Sebastian, like the
rest, did too. He prayed and be-
sought her to marry him, but she
is proud, and would not look at the
humble muleteer. But after a time
his handsome face and oft repeated
tale impressed her; so she told him
she would marry him if he would
kill a bull in the ring at today's
fair. But hush Here she is"
turned IN the direction in which
he was pointing, and gazed with
establishment on one Of the most
lovely creatures it has ever been
my lot 10 see. All eyes we're fixed
on her, yet she was as impassiye
as if she were alone and unnOticed.
Her light golden hair-not uncom'
mon among the Spaniards-was
bound up high upon her head, and
surmounted by dark crimson rose,
which held in its place her man.
tilla of black lace; her dress was
open slightly at the neck, and
showed a wonderfully chiseled
throat; her arms, too, were bare
from the elbow, and rivalled in ex-
quisite whito0ess and shape her
neck her dress was of black lace,
while loosely thrown over one
shoulder wasa an embroidered shawl.
II surprised me that one OF her
station should be so we'll dressed.
though it was not the dress that
struck one SO forcibly-it was
those great gray eyes and dark
lashes the curved eyebrows, the
aqulline nose, the perfect bow
shaped lips.
She took her seat among the
common people, who made way for
her on every side, but whom she
entirely ignored. 10 sooner was
she settled than she drew out a
great fan of black lace, which she |
opened and closed in regular mOnot- |
ony, leaning back with a weary |
look in her halfclosed eyes and a
smile on her brilliant lips.
1t was time the bull fight com.
menced, and already the impatient /
were shouting and call
ing. Clear above the music of the
band rang out the notes of bugle.
a great folding gate was thrown
open and the procession entered
Eve matadors and four picadOrs,
the latter mounted on their horses,
which looked well weary of the life
they we're so soon TO end.
Four OF the matadors were pro-
fessionals; the fith-to whom was
given the place of honor in the
centre and slightly ahead-was