Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-07-18
CARMENClTA WINS A NAME.

Her heart was hungry for the lad
She danced with long ago!
Norman Gale.
CARMENCITA WINS A NAME.
The Spanish Dancer Christened by Band
of Brigands While a Captive.
I'm my time" said Carmencita, 81
have danced before the queen of Spain
and other notables and have been i'm
pressed by the surroundings, but no
dancing that l ever did had such pecul-
1ar and impressive surroundings as one
that l did when little girl before a
band Of Spanish brigands. When was
15, was living with my aunt and un-
Gle, who had produce farm not very
! far from Madrid and equally near to
the palace of the Escurial I was in
the habit of loading donkey with
fresh eggs and vegetables for the priests
who had charge Of the church, and on
one particular Torning I not only had
a heavy load OF provisions for the IA
theirs, but nearly 2, 600 reals besides hid
den i'll my bosom, which were to pay
for some masses for my aunt's mother.
81 was proceeding along slowly with
my donkey, not thinking of anything
else except the bull fight had seen on
the previous Sunday, when / was sud-
denly surrounded by fierce looking men.
and i'll few minutes 1 was being hur-
ried down rocky path into some dark
woods, where tall and dignified man,
the chief of the robbers, was lying
10 xxrac,
ing and smiled kindly at my poor little
trembling self and asked me my name.
Carmen, I exclaimed through my chat
tering teeth. Well, Carmencita, don't
be frightened, and perhaps I will let
you go home soon.' may tell you that
that was the first time [ was ever adj
dressed as 'CaTmencita'-- Carmen
the same as now cali myself, so I
was christened by brigard may say
We'll, L sat down and watched the
robbers making omelets cut of my fresh
eggs and crunching my crisp onions,
and how wished every IIouthful would
choke them! After awhile the chief
looked to where l was crouching in a
corner and called me TO him and made
me drink q big tincupful CT wine, and !
then he demanded TO know where [ had
hidden the money Tor my greataunt's
masses. I was Gu1afounded. How do /
you know that I have any money! / |
asked. 'Oh. know, little one. Let us
count the shining; coins and see if there
is enough. And motioning to one of /.
the women of his band I was soon re-
lieved Of the treasure hidden IN my bod /
ice I implored him not to take it and /
told him how sure would be the venge- !
ance Of the holy saints if he robbed !,
them Of their dues.
Like most Spaniards, the bandits !
were truly religious, and I noticed tEat !;
my pleading in the name Of tho church !
was having its effect Oil the other mem |.
bers OF the band, and then somebody |
began playing mandolin. For a few !,
minutes everybody listened, and vheth-
er it was the vine I drank Or what l |
don't know, but I began tapping the
ground with my feet ard nodding in
tune with the aria. 'Ah you dancer
said the chief. Now, come, little one,
see if you can't earn back your mass
money
II sent up a silent prayer to the
blessed Virgin and followed the band to
a smooth piece Of grassy ground just
beyond the cavern. Round this the rob-
bers squatted, tailor fashion, excepting
two of them who stood on one side
strumming guitars. I danced, and the
good saints must have inspired every
movement of my body, for soon the en-
tire band was clapping their hands aud
shouting 'Brava, bravissimar For
nearly an hour 1 continued until I at
last had to stop from exhaustion. Eut
when I had finished the rcbber chief
lifted me in his arms and kissed me and
handed me back the purse with all the
mass money untouched. Then he told
one of his men to bring out my donkey,
and next he took off his hat and went
around among his band, saying, Nov,
boys, let US pay Carmencita for the coed
breakfast she brought us. l heard the
clink of money falling in his hat, aud
told me to place my two hands together
like a. pocket, and then he poured on
my palms sum far larger than should
have received from the priests for ny
farm produce. Then, with two mere
of his men, he escorted me and my don
key nearly to the gates of the Escurial,
and before he left he gave me small,
curiously bent piece of iron. This,
said he, viii save you from all moles-
tation in this portion of Spain if you
ever have the fortune to meet any more
gentlemen OF my profession.
81 told MY story to the fathers at the
palace, and a troop Of dragons was
sent i'll pursuit, but l am glad to say
they did not catch Antanazio. That was
the bandit chiefs name. My uncle
was quite content with the amount l
brought him for his eggs and vegeta-
blcs, and there We're a few pieces over
for me to spend at the fair. The rob
ber's piece of iron have still. 1 think
it is my mascot. '-Philadelphia Times.