The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1889-11-16
STORY OF THE BULL RING

was early in my seat, for I like
above all things, to see the motley crow
OF sunburned Spaniards come troopin
to their national game.
l was surprised at the crowd; ther
was no great matador going to kill bull
today.
asked my neighbor, 'Senor, can vo,
tell me why so many people are here to
dayY' "
You do not knowl Sebastian will
kill the bull"
Sebastian l know no bull fighter O
that name."
"He has never killed a bull before.
VIII tel you his story. Sebastian is only
muleteer. Once week he comes witt
his burden of fruit. But he is poor; the
mules are not his; he only works for an
other" He paused for a moment. and
added; "You are strangerr'
YES" said. 81 arrived Yesterday. Z,
Then you do not know Juanita.
Every one falls in love with Juanita.
Sebastian prayed and besought her &c
marry him, but she is proud, and would
not look at the humble muleteer. But
a1tera time his handsome face impressed
her; so she told him she would marry
him If he would kill bull in the ring at
today's fair. But, hushl there she is.
standing near that column"
turned and gazed at one of the most
lovely creatures it has ever been INV LOT
to see. Her light golden hair was bound
up high upon her head, and surmounted
by a dark crimson rose, held in her man
tilla of black lace; her dress was open.
and showed wonderfully chiseled
throat; her arms, too, were bare from
the elbow, i'll their exquisite whiteness
and shape; her dress was of black lace
But 1t was not the dress that struck one
30 forcibly-it was those great gray eyes
and dark lashes, the curved eyebrows.
the aquiline nose, the perfect lips.
She took her seat among the common
people, whom she entirely ignored, and
drew out great fan of black lace, which
she opened and closed. leaning back with
weary look in her half shut ewes.
1t was time the bull fight commenced.
gazed round the ring. Behind and
-eT0und Iuc was tho dusty crowd, among
which passed the sellers OF water with
their shrill cry of "Agua, aqua fresca.r
and the vendors of biscuits and nuts
Below, the arena, with its burning vel
low sand, miniature desert. Suddenly
the band commenced to play; l turned
and saw that the administrators box
was no longer empty. A small man in
ablack coat and silk hat had taken his
seat there, One by one the spears of the
picadors were handed to him, and he
measured the points to see that none
were beyond the prescribed length.
Clear above the music of the band rang
out the notes Of bugle. A great fold
Ing gate was thrown open and the pro
cession entered,
-FOUR OF the matadors were profession
ais; the fifth was Sebastian. Pale in his
scarlet and gold costume but dipnifed
and graceful, he approached the admin
Htrators box, before which he bowed.
Then he came close to where was sitting
and bowed to Juanita. His face was
deadly pale, but never in my life have |
seen a more determined look. He was
very andsome--handsome almost than
Juanita herself, who acknowledged his
bow with scarcely perceptible sign of
recognition over the top of her black lace
fan.
A gate is opened in the arena. With
a roar, and shout from the people, the
bull rushes from his darkened cell into
the ring. He looks round him; for a
moment he paws the ground, then, led
on by the moving cloak of one of the
matadors, he echarges- his horns touch
nShing more solid than the crimson
cloak. Fer moment "toro" stands as
If stupefied, thel. espies a larger and
safer bait, and with a fearful rush lifrs
horse and picador into the air, hurting
them to the ground In heap. The
matadors are quick, however, and they
call off the bull by waving their cloaks,
and keep his attention fixed on them
selves. He is a good bull. The people
are delighted. 'Bravo, toro" they cry.
Another horse falls dead, the third is
wounded and led out, the fourth killed;
but the Spaniards are not satisfied in
their love of blood. "Mas caballosl mas
caballosp Then the bugle sounds.
Two of the matadors step to the side
of the arena, leaving their cloaks and
taking in each hand banderillo. Four
times does the bull receive the sharp
forked points, and four times does he
miss his man,
Again the bugle blows. Sebastian
steps forward, takes the sword and the
flag and marches to the administrator
box, where he swears TO kill the bull.
There is a deafening cheer as he
throws his hat among the people, to be
held till he returns victorious-or dead.
turn instinctively toward Juanna;
she was leaning back in her seat, slowly
tanning herself, her half closed eyes
scarcely conveying any expression of in
terest.
Sebastian faces the bull, the flag in his
left hand, his eyes ON the beasts His
hand is as steady as a rock.
The bull charges; / drew a quick
breath; Sebastian gracefully, with the
ease of practiced bull fighter, escaped
the horns. A cheer rings out from the
crowd, bringing sudden flush to his
cheek.
Again the bull charges, again and
again; each time Sebastian is unscathed.
but as yet he has had no chance of kill
ing the bull. He is facing it now; slow
ly he raises the sword-the point never
trembles. For one second all is dust,
the next saw his manly form laid out
full length in the sand of the arena.
HE is killed." cry the people; "he is
Killsdl
! gaze at Juanita once more. The ex-
preston Of that beautiful face has not
altered to the least degree
hated that womanl -
J A shout frora the peoplel sebsS.lan