The National tribune., 1889-05-16
\ BULL FIGHT
And a Tragic Romance that Re-
suited.

I was early in my seat, for I like, above all
things to see the molly crowd of sunbuTned
Spaniards come troopingto their national game.
/ was not in the SOmbra or shady seats, for |
prefer to take my place among the crowd, one
of whom | almost am now and, moreover,
what right has pcnniless young artist to
spend a dollar on seeing bull fight?
How noisy and hot and dusty they all looked
as they trooped in and took their seats around
me! / was surprised at the crowd there was
no great matador going to kill bulls to-day, yet
all the cheaper seats were filing.
l asked my neighbor, a peasant in a fiat
black hat, breeches. and highly-decorated
CATERS and bright waistcoat, and wearing his
coat slung from the shoulders:
'Senor," l said, "can you tell me why so
many people are here to-day?"
He looked at me for moment with an ex-
preston of surprise.
'You do not know!" he spoke with strong
Andalusian accent. Sebastian will kill the
bull"
"sebastian?" said. "senor, do not think
me ignorant, but know no bull fighter of that
name"
He laughed.
"He has never killed a bull before; to-day is
his first. He comes from this part that is
why every one is here" Then he added:
will tell you his story. Sebastian is only
IL
mules from his mountain village to this town.
Once week he comes with his burden of
fruit But he is poor; the mules are not his;
he only works for another" He paused for
moment and he added: You are a stranger
here2"
"Yes," I said. "I only arrived yesterday"
"Then you do not know Juanita-La Bella
Juanita we call her2" He did not wait for
me tor answer his question, but continued :
Every one falls in love with Juanita, and
Sebastian, like the rest, did too. lie prayed
and besought her to marry him, but she IS
proud and would not look at the humble
muleteer. But after time his handsome face
and oft-repeated tale impressed her; so she
told him she would marry him if he would
kill bull in the ring at tO-day's fair But
hush here she is"
] turned in the direction in which he was
pointing and gazed with astonishment at one
of the most lovely creatures it has ever been
my lot to see. All eyes were fixed on her, yet
she was as impassive 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 a 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 rivaed in exquisite whiteness and
shape her neck; her dress was of black lace,
while loosely thrown over one shoulder was an
embroidered shawl. 1t surprised me that one
of her station should be so we'll dressed, though
it was not the dress that struck oneso forcibly-
it was those great gray eyes and dark lashes,
the curved eyebrows, the aquiline 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 No sooner was
she settled than she drew out great fan of
black lace which she opened and closed in
regular monotony, leaning back with weary
look in her halfclosed eyes and smile on her
brilliant lips.
1t was time the bull fight commenced, and
already the impatient Spaniards were shouting
and calling, but yet the gobernador had not
taken his seat in the box reserved. l was all
impatient to see Sebastian, and his was to be
the first bull killed. / gazed at hazard around
the ring. Whatan anomaly it presented! Near
me, but in the better seats were lady and her
two little girls, whom she was feeding on
chocolates, and whose tiny hands were already
| to clap the victorious matador. Behind and
around me were the jaunting dusty crowd,
among whom passed and repasSed the sellers of
water, with their shrill cry of "Agua, aqua
| fresca," and the vendors Of biscuits and nuts.
Below is the arena with its burning yellow
| sand, miniature desert; above Suddenly
| the band commenced to play. / turned and
! saw that the administrators box was no
! longer empty. Snall man III q DldEk COaG
| and silk hat had taken his seat, surrounded by
half dozen officers in full uniform, and lady
| or two. One by one the spears of the picadors
/ were handed to him, and he measured the
| points to see that none were beyond the pre-
| scribed length-sufficienU to slightly wound
and enrage the bull without endangering its
life or injuring it seriously. Clear above the
music of the band rang out the notes of bugle.
| A great folding gate was thrown open and the
procession entered--fiye matadors and four
| picadors, the latter mounted on their horses,
/ which looked we'll weary of the life they were
so soon to end.
/ Four of the matadors were professionals; the
| fifth-to whom was given the place of honor in
the center and slightly ahead-was Sebastian.
| All eyes were turned on him. Pale-paler,
| doubtless, from the scarlet and gold costume he
was wearing-but dignifed and graceful, he
| approached the administrators box, before
| which he bowed, as did the others.
Two minutes later the picadors were placed
and Sebastian walked TO the side of the arena,
! for his was the last item in the performance
! the killing of the bull. He came close to where
/ was sitting and bowed to Juanita. His face
was deadly pale, but never in my life have l
seen q more determined look TO do or die.
His aquiline nose, his almond eyes, with
| thin black lashes and brows, his fine upper lip
and slightly heavy chin, formed as striking a
face as one could see. He was very handsome,
| hanuSOmer almost IuaQ Jus}Olta lerSSlI, VINO
acknowledged his bow with q scarcely percept-
| ibe sign of recognition over the top of her fan
and slight elevation of her eyebrows, as
though there was nothing tragic in the scene
but was one of every day occurrence.
/ A gate is opened in the arena. With a roar
| and a 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 oI
one of the matadors, he charges A graceful
bend of the body and slight movement to one
side, and the bull has passed his quarry, who
stands untouched aud smiling behind him
again he charges-three times in quick success
| sion-but his horns touch nothing more solid
than the crimson cloak, which waves above hi:
head each time as he passes the matador Fol
a moment toro" stands as if stupefed, ther
espies larger and safer bait, and with fear
full rush lifts horse and picador into the air
hurting them to the ground in a heap. The
matadors are quick, however, and while the
picador is being helped to his feet and the at
tendants are unsaddIing the horse, fast bleed
ing to death from wound in its side, they cal
off the bull by waving their cloaks, and keel
his attention fixed on themselves. He is
good bull. The people are delighted. Bravo
toro !" they cry. "Bravissimo!"
Another horse falls dead, the third is wounded
and led ont, the fourth killed; but the Span
iards are not satisfied in their love of blood.
Aas cabdIloS mas cabqllos :" they cry-eveI
the two little children with their mother CT.
MAS caballoS :" Another is led in and killed
| l- nd spa n