New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-15

r,er was the royal box draped with magnincent
dart Indian brocades and daintily decorated
,,,tb ,ight hue streamers All eyes were turned
in this direction, and notes OF admiration snow
cred down upon it like a storm OF haiIstones,
Presently the king himself entered al ,ne mead
az a brilliant company The whole conrourse
rose 10 its feet like one man. and tossing It's nat
on high and waving it's handkerchief aloft: rent
the air with "Viva el Rey. ri Key graclousiy
responded and sat down amid reluctantly dS
ing cheers The herald then, obtaining permits
sion of his majesty for the sports 10 commence
sounded the trumpet At this signal door in
the barrier was opened. and procession. con-
sisting OF the days gladiators, wound In and
around the sanded circle a quarter OF an nouI
afterward the fighting was In fun swing, blood
flowing plentifuly from men ana beasts. Inc
spectators. nothing touched by the suffering be-
fore them passionatey dealt their misses and
plaudits now to the bull, now to the toreador'
according to the tide OF battle.
Shortly before noon. during an interval in thn
entertainment while the king faithfully initiated
b., his devoted subjects was taking MS refresh-
ment an eminent ecclesiastic attached 10 tne
Cathedral Of Seville entered the royal DON. ne
led bv the hand one Murillo by name. whom he
now presented to his majesty. Charles was well
pleased to receive the painter spoke or their
nrevious meeting at Madrid, paid him some
prettv compliments and provided for him a seat
on his right hand when the sports recommended
Now Murillo. being one Of the most gentle OF
men, was by nature opposed to giadlatorial ex-
bihitions hut an offer TO sit by his majesty g
side was I'm those days equivalent to a command.
The trumpet was once more SOUNDED Inc us
ing of trap door on the slue Oh tht CIRCUS Up
poste the king released from his cell stately
hull OF the breed Of La Vista Hermosa. beast
OF this breed Is not tn be surpassed Dy any III
Spain. 80 that its appearance caused the spec'a-
tors to settle themselves TO the sight win more
than usual interest and attention First the
picadores, mounted on horseback checked MIN,
grazed him and generally aggravated MIN with
their blunt-headed lances But the run was s n9t
all upon their side for the brute put two steeds
and their riders hors de combat In no more than
1--WE minutes. A great beginning TINS Tor DULL
and Bravo toror' resounded on all SIDES Inc
picadores were at length Kissed on TOT thelr want
~ success and now Il the turn or the Dan
derilleros whose weapons are two Danderlllas or
short slaves wi barbed points. The banderilla
has TO be fixed In a particular spot In the shoul-
der Of the beast and the feat, II skilfully ac-
compshed Is nearly always attended with great
peril Murillo could not help noticing that a
man called FL VigOroso far exceeded ms COM
rades In deyterity and courage. He was man
once seen never to be forgotten, for his race was
dreadfully SCARED by liv!d cicatrlce Whch
t-aversed his left cheek from ear to nostril: In
the eyes OF maitre d'armes II would nave
served for a faultless illustration OF face cut
from the navajo. Inquiries as to Its origin were
by no means successful. for FL Nigoroso was apt
TO be remarkably sore and touchy on this topic.
Rumor said II was the outcome Of love AFFAIR,
and II rumor had averred that the cut had been
received ten years before on the Guadalqulvir
beach. rumor would have been quite correct
Trifles like that however. get forgotten.
But for the cicatrice. Vicente was handsome
gladiator, and was earning a reputation In Sc
Vile that should. he thought, be Of great service
to him in a certain quarter. Why he had taken
to earn his living in the ring viii presently be
guessed
Meanwhile the grand brute Numbered about
the arena, scattering the dust high above him
and giving the place much the appearance Of the
Sahara "waltzing in sand coonnades." Vicente
stood calmly before him with arms out
stretched holding aioft two banderilias. re
within a couple Of yards Of him. and then. stimuli
taneousy planting weapon in each shoulder,
escaped the fatal horns by hairs breadth he
received real ovation, and the king himself
took from his own finger a diamond ring, and
flung II to the successful banderillero.
At length the animals strength began to fall
from loss Of blood. from rage and from exerton'
so the final stage was forthwith proceeded to.
The trumpet sounded again, and a torera. or
female bull-slayer entered the arena sword IN
hand. She was dark-haired. black-eyed woman
about tWenty-seven years of age. and her tight
fitting dress low -necked and short-skirted. dis
played a finely developed athletic figure AS
she approached the royal box to give her salute,
Murillos gaze became fixed and fascinated. 'Can
IL be she?" he murmured. Can II be the poor
fower-girl Leona? Nay. nay! This woman has
no bountiful curves about her lips no sorrowful
softness In her eye no tender expression at ALL
| was mistaken" And he recompo5ed himself.
Nevertheless Leona 1t was. Leona la florera OF
ten years back. Leona la torera now The ter
rible blow which had swept the life out or Me-
quineZ had swept from her the freshness and
bloom Of youth and beauty. The mouth had
straightened, the eyes had hardened. the jaw
had grown decidedly square. Still she was a
handsome woman. Still she beloved OF
Vicente How she became a torera Is long story
but was mainly due to the efforts OF some or her
relatives who were picadores. suffice Il to say
that when Vicente returned to Seville many
years after his flight he found Leona already
following his perilOus profession. Time had not
changed his feeling toward her. In fact he was
more devoted than ever. Leona did not rebuff the
slayer Of her lover. was his name ever men,
toned between them. but, strange TO say. she
kept him dallying at her side. though at arms
length. What she meant none could tell. least
Of all he: and so Vicente. that he might be al
ways near her. turned banderillero.
Scarcely had the torera sauted the king than
the bull. which had recovered its breath sud
denly sent the unsuspecting toreadores flying for
their lives. About dozen Of them set on 10 him
however and dragged him to the ground. where
he lay quiet for a few moments Meanwhile
Leona on the opposite side OF the arena was talk
ing with Vicente. Her shining eyes were par
cularly restless to-day. but that did not prevent
them from wearing the expression Of fixed pur-
pose. CHANGING to look across the circus at the
bull. she found that the brute was ominously ey-
ing herself. whose bright attire was very con-
spicuous With gigantic effort, he suddenly
bounded out OF the grip of his captors and made
straight for the white dress. At this moment
Vicente was peculiarly interested in reply he
was waiting for from Leona's lips.
All at once Leona staggered backward
Vicente" she cried. Vicente. hold me
fallw
Vicente was close at her side In instant and
supporting her with his muscular arm. at the
same time looking with an alarmed expression
into her face.
She, reclining thus. through her long black
half-closed lashes. watched the swift oncome of
the bull He, mindful of her alone. with wide
anxious eyes. saw only the pallor of her counte-
nance
"'Tis a bitter thing 70 die young. Vicente n
bitter thing" she murmured quietly. yet clearly
with the heavy breath struggling to her lips. a
bitterer thing still to be killed young. Poor Me-
quineZ"
The whole ten thousand neonle were shout
ing a warning TO the unconscious couple. or a
sudden Leona, still gazing steadily through the
half-closed lashes, dextrously twisted herself on,
of Vicente's arms. The next moment, the terrible
horns piercing the body OF the brave banderllero
the bull rushed madly and crushed his
bleeding body against the barrier. Ieona bounded
up TO the brutes side. and with a superb thrust
drove her sword into his shoulder up TO the hilt
The beast and his victim both dead.
Ieona stood with tight clasped fingers needless
Of everything. She was looking keenly back