The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-08-07
cARMgNclTA WINS A NAME.

Whe Spanish Dancer Christened by Band
Of Brigands While Captive.
sin my time, said Carmencita, 81
have danced before the queen OF Spain
and other notables and have been inn
pressed by the surroundings but no
dancing that ] ever did had such pecul-
lar and impressive surroundings "a one
that / did when q little girl before o
band OF Spanish brigands When I was
10, was living with my aunt and nm
Gle, who had produce farm not very
far from Madrid and equally near to
the palace Of the Escurial. ] was In
the habit Of loading O donkey with
fresh eggs and vegetables for the priests
who had charge Of the church, and ON
one particular morning / not only had
heavy load Of provisions for the fa-
theirs, but nearly Q. 600 reals besides hid
den In my bosom, which were to pay
for some masses for my aunt's mother.
IT was proceeding along slowly with
my donkey, not thinking Of anything
else except the bull fight ] had seem ON
the previous Sunday. when / was sud-
denly surrounded by fierce looking men,
and in few minutes / was being hur-
ried down rocky path into some dark
woods, where tall and dignified man,
the chief OF the robbers, was lying
asleep. He was awakened by our COM
ing and smiled kindly ut my poor little
trembling self and asked me my name.
Carmen, / exclaimed through my chat
tering teeth. Well, Carmencita, don't
be frightened, and perhaps will let
you go home soon may tell you that
that was the first time I was ever ad-
dressed as 'Carmencita Little Carmen
| tho same as now call myself, so I
was christened by brigand, I may say.
"Well, sat down and watched the
robbers making omelets ont OF my fresh
eggs and crunching my crisp onions,
and how wished every mouthful would
choke theml After awhile the chief
looked to where was crouching in q
corner and called me to him and made
me drink big tincupful of wine. and
then he demanded to know where ! had
hidden the money for my greataunt's
masses ] was dumfounded. How do
you know that ] have any money!
asked. oh. know, little one. Let us
count the shining coins and zee i1 there
10 enough. And motioning to one Of
the women OF his band was soon re-
ieved Of the treasure hidden In my bod
ice. ] implored him not 20 take IL 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 noticed that
my pleading In the name Of the church
was having its effect ON the othax mem
bers Of the band, and then somsbody
began playing . mandolin. For Is few
minutes everybody listened, and wIaakh
err Ii was the wine / drank or what =
don't know, but ] began tapping the
ground with my feet and noddin9 fn
tune with the aria 'Ah you dancep
said the chief Now, come, little una,
see II you can't earn back your mass
money.
81 sent up . silent prayer to the
blessed Virgin and followed the band 10
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 danced, and the
good saints must have inspired every
movement of my body, for soon the en-
tire band was clapping their hands and
shouting Bravo. bravissimar For
nearly an hour ] continued until at
last had to stop from exhaustion. But
when had finished the robber 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 of his hat and went
around among his band, saying. Now,
boys, let us pay Carmencita for the good
breakfast she brought MS. / heard the
clink Of money falling in his hat, and
in o few minutes he came 10 me and
told me to place my two hands together
like pocket, and then he poured on
my palms q sum far larger than should
have received from the priests for my
farm produce Then, with two more
of his men, he escorted me and my dom
key nearly to the gates of the Escurial
and before he left he gave me small,
curiously bent piece of iron. 'Thik
said he, will save you from all molcs-
tation in this portion Of Spain IL you
ever have the fortune to meet any more
gentlemen OF my profession
Il told my story to the fathers at the
palace, and . troop Of dragons was
sent In pursuit, but / ami glad 10 say
they did not catch Antanazio. That was
the bandit chiefs name Ny uncIe
was quite content with the amount I
brought him for his eggs and vegsta-
bles, and there were few pieces over
for me TO spend at the fair. The rob
ber's piece Of iron have still. think
it In my mascot Philadelphia Timea
Theory and Practice.
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