Mower County transcript., 1890-07-23

then jumped down and ran away lest
his courage should fail him. Instead of
returning to the house, he took wind
Ing path through the woods, and loon
disappeared from sight #
The thought had occurred to Alfonso
that the village doctor might take his
pet bull in payment for services to his
grandfather. So he started of to per-
form his mission.
II was q hard blow to the boy to let
Bella 80. When only littlc tot Of q
youngster he had made the acquaint-
ance OF the bull in strange way. One
day he wandered off into q neighbor's
field to pick flowers. Suddenly fierce
bull saw the child, and rushed at him
with head down and tail in the air.
The child, unconscious Of any danger,
laughed and clapped his hands at the
sight Of the maddened bull, and when
the animal came close to him he picked
up q handful Of grass, and said limo.
Gently:
"Nioo COW; nice COW. Alfonso give
him some hay"
The animal was evidently non-plussed
ut the prattle and fearlessness Of tho lit
tie boy, and after believing and throw
ing up the dirt with his horns, he
stopped and gazed at the little fellow.
Alfonso continued to prattle away, and
even approached the savage animal and
patted him on the leg. Ha offered the
dumfounded creature some grass, which
the bull mechanically ate, and then he
put his arm around tho creatures nose
and patted him. The savage nature Of
the bull was tanned, and he allowed the
boy to do what he pleased with him.
Ever afterwards Alfonso and Bella re-
manned great friends. The bull was
given to the boy and the two grew up
together. While fierce and savage to
every ono else, Bella was as meek and
playful rs kitten to little Alfonso.
There was no wonder, then. that the
boy hated to part with his pet, but it
was question of choice with him-be-
tween his pct and his grandfather. He
loved Bella, but he, loved his grandfa-
ther more.
The village doctor came to tho hut
that night and prescribed for the sick
man. Three days later Alfonso led tho
bull away to tho village and took an af-
fectionate farewell of his pet.
"We'll meet again, Bella" he said,
with tears in his eyes; ''when grandfa-
ther gets we'll We'll work and save
money enough to buy you back"
But fate was against the little Span
ish boy. His grandfather, even under
the careful nursing of the doctor, did
not grow any botter. He gradually
failed and ono day he breathed his last
Little Alfonso was then loft alone in
tho world. His grandfather and his pct
bull were both gone.
After the funeral the boy sought work
in the village, but not getting any, he
wandered on to the city of Cordova. He
entered that place with no money and
with butlittle courage left. But his per-
severance soon helped him out of his
difficulty.
tanned work and became a respectable
citizen once more. He was quick and
active boy, and he pleased his master so
that he was gradually advanced. The
boy saved up his surplus wages until he
had enough, he thought, to buy back
his pet bull.
One day he obtained leave of alb
sence and returned to his native village.
He sought out the doctor and inquired
after Bella.
"Oh! the bull took from you in pay
mcnt for my services?" said the doctor.
"Well, don't know where he is. /
kept him some time so that you might
redeem him. But got hard up for
money and I sold the old brute. He
became very ugly and fierce after you
left There is no telling where he is
now"
Alfonso heard this with heavy heart
and he returned to Cordova q disap-
pointed boy. He took up his work with
as light a heart as possible, but there
was heavy lump somewhere that op-
pressed him. He wanted to sec Bella
once more. He was the only thing that
reminded him of his early life in the
forest of CQrdova.
1t was holiday in the city, and flags
Haunted from every shop window and
public building. The citizens were
gayly attired in their best suits, and
music resounded from every square.
Cordova was to have bull-aght-the
national sport of Spain. Every body
enjoyed bull-aght, and it was only on
festive occasions that they could wit
ness such fun. The big arena where
the fight was to take place had been
cleaned and decked with bunting and
flags until it looked like scene in q
play. o..
Some of the largest and finest of
Spain's fighting bulls had been obtained
for the occasion. Every thing that
could make the fight a success had been
promised the citizens.
Alfonso had never witnessed bull
fight, but he was SO carried away with
the enthusiasm of others around him
that he eagerly looked forward to the
anticipated sport EARLY in the day he
obtained seat among the poorer classes
of spectators. From his lowly seat he
watched the fair women and richly
dressed men file into the great boxes