Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1892-05-13
miscellaneous.
JUANITO.

mere itVeu at peville, In tho fauDourG
ef Triana, a youth of some sixteen year
called Juanito ell Morenito.
Orphaned Of father aud mother, he
had grown up sturdily as a wild woeC
that pushes itself forth from the stones
of the Triana pavements. sleeping some
times under the beautiful stars, some
times in the stable Of o posada, nourish
ing himself upon handful of swea,
acorns or fritter purchased half price
from strelling yender, and doing for Q
living thousand and one haphazard
jobs, the most lucrative of which, per.
haps, being the sale of programmes a
the doors Of the theatres.
A handsome lad, too, in spite Of his
tattsred garments, with luminous eyes
smiling mouth, close curling hair, and
a deeply sunburned skin that had wot
him the surname of Morenito. How
ever, for that matter, there was really
a strain of gypsy blood in his veins, ant
like all gitanos he was Of m indopend
Ont nature, loving vagabondage for ii
endless freedom, and crazy about bull
6ghts.
But, alas the morning Of the holy
Friday saw Morenito waken in moros,
and gloomy humor. All during tho
Passion week the theatres had of course
been closed, and he, in consequence un,
able TO continue his business Of pro.
gramme selling, did not st the moment
possess cuorto in his pocket.
All the more was he sensible of his
poverty, as on Easter morning a superb
corrida of bulls, with Mazzantini and
Frascuelo as spadaS, was to be held ia
Seville; and now, seeing the emptiness
of his purse, he was going TO be de-
prived of his favorite spectacle.
But may be after all il was not too
late fortune perhaps was still to be
found in the streets Of the city. Hope
returned with the thought, and with a
murmured prayer to the Virgin de ID
Esperanza, to whom he was greatly do
voted, Morenito shook the rim of straw
that alone remained upon his curly locks
and hurried from the stable ip which
for the night he had made bis bed upon
a heap Of fodder.
The morning was magnificent. Against
q blue, sparkling sky the slender rose
tower of the Giralda stood out with the
clearness Of delicate cameo the street,
already were full of people arriving
from the country to view the process
sions Of the Confradias, and already
too, on the square Of tho Toros, long
tail of purchasers eagerly bsseiged tbs
Office ''of location sight that, you
may readily believe, did not lessen th,
bitterness of bis keen regret.
For many long, weary hours Juanitc
beat the pavement Of the Rue de Ia
Sierpcs, shifting the odor Of the fritteri
and cinnamon cakes sputtering ant
browning in the boiling oil, or following
in the wake Of the toreadors slowly
promsnadiRg and strutting the Tagging
before the cafe doors, nodded as il they
had been melted and poured into thsil
short velvet jackets and tight-RttinQ
brseches.
Vainly had he racked his brains seek
ing an honest means Of gaining Tn,
necessary pesetas, vainly sought TO az
fliate himself with the vendors thai
cried the programmes Of the procession
and the names Of the different brother
hoods. All the places we're filled 10 ad
vance they rsbufied him everywhere
AT last, unable 10 stand II longer, bi
stomach empty, bis back broiled by tn
sun, he turned aside into the Plaza d,
Ia Constitution, whore the procession
would probably conc TO a stand, anc
finding under one Of the portals Of TN
Audiencia n corner full Of shadow, b.
decided to rest there while awaiting tn
passage Of tho Confradias.
"He that sleeps well dimes we'll,
says the Spanish proverb, and Moriento
in default Of breakfast, treated hinsel
to q good, thick slice Of DOING. 500
he slept and slept profoundly, and, IN,
faith but ho was handsome slsepin
thus; stretched full length on tho broad
white stones, one arm doubled unde
bis black cnrly head, the long blac
lashes sweeping the brown Of the check
the red lips parted in a dreamy smil
over teeth as white as almond kernels
an opinion shared in by couple
tourists passing AZ the moment, youn
people and doubtless newly married.
any rate, couple Of lovers--ons kne
ii by the way they held each other
arms.
"Ah see him, the handsome boy
, said the young man to bis wife. stoppir
a second 10 contemplate the sleepe
what a picture he would make til