Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1889-07-12

VI SDeuu u uOlluT SttliR ii Dun DknbE
How noisy and hot and dusty they all
looked as they trooped In and took their
seats around me l 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, peasant in::a
flat black hat, trousers, and highly
decorated CATERS and bright waist
coat, and wearing his coat slung from his
shoulders.
''Senor," said, "can you tell me why
so many people are here todayp"
He looked at me moment with an ex-
preston Of surprise.
''You do not know" He spoke with a
strong Andalusian accent. Sebastian
will kill the bull"
Sebastian" 1 said. "Senor, do not
think me ignorant, but I 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 "I will tell you his story.
Sebastian is only muleteer who once a
week drives caravan of 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 here?"
Yes, said. 81 arrived yesterday"
"Then you do not know Juanita--La
Bella Juanita we call her?" He did not
wait for me to answer his question, but
continued: every one falls in love with
Juanita, and Sebastian, like the rest, did
too. He 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 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 astonish-
ment 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 impas-
sive as if she were alone and unnoticed.
Her light. golden hair-not uncommon
among the Spaniards-was bound up high
upon her head, and surmounted. by
dark crimson rose, which held in its place
her mantilla of black lace.
1t was time the bull fight commenced,
and already the impatienee Spaniards
were shouting and calling, but yet the
cobernador had not taken his seat In the
box reserved. I was all impatient to
see Sebastian, and his was the first bull
he killed. gazed hastily round the ring
whatan anomaly it presented. Near me,
but in the better seats, were lady and
her two little girls, whom she was feed
ing on chocolate and whose tiny hands
were all ready to clap the victorious ma
tador.
Behind and around me were the iaunty,
dusty crowd among whom passed and
repaSsed the sellers of water, with their
shrlll cry of "Aqua, aqua fresca, and the
vendors of biscuits and uuts. Below is
the arena with its burning yellow sand, u
miniature desert. Suddenly the band
commenced to play. 1 turned, and saw
that the administrator box was no longer
empty. A small man in black coat and
silk hat had taken his seat. surrounded
by half a dozen officers in full uniform and
a lady or two. One by one the spears OF
the picadors were handed to them and
he measured the points to see that none
were beyond the prescribed length--suf-
ticient to slightly wound and enrage the
bull without endangering its life or miur-
ing it seriously.
Four of the matadorS were profession
ais; the fifth-to whom was given the
place of honor in the center and slightly
ahead-was Sebastian. All eyes were
turned on him.
gate is open in the arena. With a
roar, and a shout from the people, the
bull rushes from his darkened cell into
the ring. He looks around him; for q
moment he paws the ground; then, led
on by the moving cloak of one of the
matadors, he charges. A graceful bend
of the body and a slight movement to one
side, ara the bull has passed his quarry,
who stands untouched and smiling be-
hind him. Again he charges, three times
in quick succession. but his horns touch
nothing moro solid than the crimson
cloak, which waves above his head each
time as he passes the matador For
moment 'tOro" stands as IL stupefied
then espios larger and safer bait, and
with fearful rush lifts horse and
pirador into the air, hurting them to the
ground in heap. The matadors are
quick, however, and while the picador is
being helped 10 his feet and the attend
ants are ua-addiinS the horse, fast b!eeu-
ing ~ death from wound in its side,
they ,ai or the bull by waving their
c,oaKs and Keep his attention liked on
themseive,. He is a good bull. The
people are delighted. "Bravo, torow
they cry. ".yayIssimo |"
Another horse falls dead, the third is
wounded and let out, the fourth killed,
but the Spanlards are not satisfied in
heir love Uf blood.
Two of the matadors step to the side of
taearrna, leaving their cloaks and taking
in each hand a banderilo. They step
into tine center OF the ring and posing
,hens,lvc7 on tiptoc, holiing the bande-
rillp5 fuv above their heads at arms
length, face the bull A moment the nov
Hrluus beast pauscs, then with charge
makes for one of his aderVsarica. Tor Il
Second all IS a cloud OF dust, in which the
adyan' ling io.me uf bGl and man are
sra., ely ui,'eiuibie; the next, the bull is
believing round the ring with the points
OF the bandcriiiOs fast in his shoulders,
and the b:uderilero is smiling and bow
ing unscathed. There is no need for five
banderillos on this bull. Four times does
he receive the sharp-io-ked points. and
four times does he miss his man.
The bugle sounds.
Sebastian who up to now has gazed in
careIess way at the scene, steps forward,
takes the sword and the flag, and with
a gallant stride marches to the adj
ministrator's box, where he swears to
kill the bull.
There is deafened cheer as he throws
his hat among the people to be held till
he returns yictorious-or dead.
| turn instinctively toward Juanita
bo ,yae taaniner haplr in har sant Glpxviv