San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-06-24

1S45 but Ii years old-a very pretty,
black eyed, black haired girl, the "toast"
of both the valley of Rio Florido and of
the valley of Nazos. Her extreme love-
illness even had been the talk of the great
fair held in San Bartolomo.
Escamilla, the third son of eel Coxo,"
was just 20, stood feet 10 in his shoes,
was as straight as an arrow and as 1.-the
some as the reeds that grew on the mar
gin of the lagoons on the ranch. He was
better educated than the rest of his broth
ers, both in practical sense and in the
usages of the best society the republic
afforded, as he had attended two or three
terms at school in the City of Mexico,
the great capital # the great nation to
which he belonged, and which he be-
lieved to be the best on earth. In his
first bull fight after his return from the
metropolis, he made his appearance in
the arena in most elaborate suit, fash
toned from the reigning style at the cap
ital, creating a surprise among his own
sex that .bordered upon jealousy and
furore among those, of the opposite. He
distinguished himself further by throw
ing three bulls successfully.
Escamilla's rival in good looks and ex-
pertness in the bull ring was his brother
Juan Marian fact, there were many
of the people of the Rio Florido, both old
vaqueros and young maidens, who
thought Juan far surpassed Escamilla in
manliness at least if not in personal
beauty. He certainly equaled him in
craftsmanship, simply lacking perhaps
some of that ''brilliancy of execution"
which Escamilla had acquired in the
City of Mexico.
Before the return of Escamilla to Ca
dena Juan Maria was always the fir. at
eel gallo" and ''Colea de toros," and had
ever laid his trophies of the sport at the
feet o. the bewitching Ysabel. At a
gallo in December, four months before
the arrival of Escamilla, Ysabel was
wOOed and in a measure won by the
presentation of the remains of gallant
rooster at the hands of Juan Maria, who,
his offering being we'll received, from
that moment looked upon the beautiful
girl as his sweetheart.
When, however, Escamilla took up
his abode ~ the hacienda again, he. too
much of an exquisite to work with his
brothers and father in the great pas
lures, finding plenty of time on his hands
for counting. supplanted Juan in the af
fectiOns of the young girl. AS Juan's
nature was superior in frankness and
open heartedness, he refrained from
forcing his suit, and the affair was con-
cluded by day being set for the mar
riage of Ysabel and Escamilla.
In honor of the occasion it was deter
mined to have a grand bull fight, at
which all the neighbors within radius
of 100 miles were to be present. The
morning before the ceremony was to be
performed ''El Coxo," with all his sons,
excepting Escamilla, who remained be-
hind to attend upon his affianced Ysabel,
started out into the great pastures for
the purpose of driving in the immense
black bulls required for the sport, while
other neighboring rancheros busted them
selves in building stout corrals in which
to secure them until the time arrived to
lead them into the arena.
Toward evening, while the mesquite
grass lay cold and gray under the shad-
ows of the mountains, Escamilla and the
happy Ysabel left their hammocks on
the wide gallery of the house, where they
had been resting during the sultry hours,
to take walk along the main trail lead
ing toward the rocky hills.
When they reached point half a mile
from the gate of the hacienda, where
thicket of chapparal bounded each side
of the road, suddenly there arose cloud
of dust in front Of them.
Here come the bull fighters" ex-
claimed Ysabel, as she withdrew her
waist from the encircling arm of her
lover; "let us go back to the house."
ooh, no." replied Escamilla, perhaps
they are my father and brothers. Yes,
there are eight; lookT'
+ But what the poor girl really saw, with
her eyes almost starting from their sock
cts and motionless with fear, as she rec
ognized them now only few hundred
yards away, was band of COmanches,
naked to the waist, painted horribly and
brandishing their lances. In. a moment,
needless of the helpless maid at his side,
the coward Escamilla turned and fled
down the trail toward the rancho, shout
ing as he ran: Los barbaros! Los bar
baros!"
In few rods horseman met him. 1t
was his brother Juan Maria. He had
caught young antelope with his lasso
and was riding ahead of his party to pre-
sent it to Ysabel The exclamation of
the frightened Escamilla and one glance
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