St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-05-20
A TALE OF THE BULL RING.

From Blackwood.
l was early In my seat, for like
above all things to see the molly crowd
OF sun-burned Spaniards come troOping
to their national game. ] was not In
the sOmbra, or shady seats, for prefer
to take my place among the crowd, one
lot whom almost am now; and, more
Over, what right has a penniless young
artist to spend dollar on seeing bull
fght9
sHow noisy and hot and dusty they all
Looked as they trooped in and took
their seats around me! Twas surprised
aDo the crowd; there was no great
matador going to kill bulls to-day, yet
alfthe cheaper seats were filling.
Iasked my neighbor, peasant in a
fiat black hat, breeches and highly dec
Orated CATERS, and bright waistc0at and
wearing his coat flung from the shout
deFs.
"Senor," said. team you tell me why
$50 many people are here tO-day?"
He looked at me for a moment with
ian expression of surprise.
"You do not knoW!" he spoke, with
tian will kill the ball."
Sebastian" said. "Senor, do not
think me ignorant, but know no bull
fighter of that name."
He laughed.
HE has never killed bull before;
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 muleteer,
who once week drives a caravan of
mules from his mountain village to this
town. Once a 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 a moment,
and he added, You are a stranger
here?"
Eyes," ] said, II only arrived yester-s
doy;,
Bella Juanita we call her?" He hid
not wait for me to answer his question.
but continued: s'Every one falls in
love with J9anita, and Sebastion. like
the rest, did too. He prayed and be-
proud, and would not look at the hum
Die muleteer. But, after a time. his
handsome face and oft-repeated tale of
love 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 aStOnish-
ment at one of the most lovely creatures
it has ever been my lot to see. All eyes
were fixed upon her, yet she was as im-
passive as if she were alone and un-
noticed. Her light golden hair-not UNI
common among the Spaniards-was
bound up high upon her head, and sur
mounted by-a dark crimson rose, which
held in its place her mantilia OF black
lace; her dress was open slightly at the
neck. and showed wonderfully
were bare from the elbow, and
rivaled in exquisite whiteness and
shape her neck; her gross was
of black lace, while loosely thrown over
one shoulder was all embroidered shawl.
1t surprised me that one of her station
should be SO we'll dressed, though it was
not the dress that struck me so fOrcibly
lit was those great gray eyes anddark
1aSheS, the curved eyebrows, the aqui-
Ii inc nose. the perfect bow-shaped lips.
She took her seat among the common
people, who made way for her OH 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 a weary look in her
half-closed eyes and smile on her brill
liant lips.
It was time the bull fight commenced,
and already the impatient Spaniards
were shouting and calling, but as yet
the gobernador had not taken his seat
int the box reserved. was all impa-
tient to see Sebastian, and his was to
be. the first bull killed. gazed at
hazard round the ring-What an
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 all ready to clap the victorious
matador. Behind and around me were
the jalnting, dusty crowd, among
whom passed and repassed the sellers
of water with their slrill cry Of aqua.
aqua fresca,p' and the vendors of bis
cults 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 administrator box
was 10 longer empty. A small man in
q black coat and a silk hat had taken
his seat, surrounded by half dozen
off ers in full uniform, and a lady or
two. One by one the spears of the
pleadOrs were handed to him, and he
measured the points to see that none
were beyond the prescribed length
sufficient to slightly wound and enrage
the bull without endangering it's life or
injuring it seriously. Clear above the
music of the band rang out the notes of
a bugle. A great folding gate was
thrown open, and the procession en-
tered-fiye matadOrS and four pleadOrS,
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 profess
SIGNALS; the fifth-to whom was given
the place of honor in the center and
were turned OH him. Pale-pafer,
doubtless, from the scarlet and gold
costume he was wearing-but dignified
and graceful, he approached the admin
istratOr's box, before which he bowed,
as did the others.
Two minutes later the pfcadors 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 seen more determined look to
door die.
His aquiline nose, his almond eyes,
with thin black lashes and br0ws, his
fine upper lip and slightly heavy chin,
formed as striking face as one could
see. He was very handsome-hand-
somer almost than Juanita herself, who
acknowledged his bow with scarcely
perceptible sign of recognition over the
top Of her fan, and slight elevation Of
her eyebrows, as though there were
nothing tragic in the scene, but it were
one of everyday occurrence. ,,.,l
A gate is opened in thearena. With
Ia roar, and a shout from the people, the