The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-10-02

las If anything could, dear MartO."
The new dog, naturally an excitable
animal, having endured much i'm the
way OF insects and heat since his arri-
val, at last lost his head completely.
Over the lawn he tore, swapping and
foaming. Up the gate Daisy climbed
in terror, springing down to Mario.
"Don't let Rover hurt me, DEAR" she
cried, and Mario, stamping his four
little black feet, roared challenge to
Rover, then licked with his rough
tongue the white face of the frightened
child beside him.
Rover heard the defiance, and over
the wall he came with howl.
Five minutes later, when those that
heard the racket in Marto's paddock
came up, Rover was merely mass of
crushed flesh, while Mario, standing
guard over Daisy's little senseless fig
ure, alternately licked her white face
and begged for more dogs to kill in
Daisy's defense.
1t was quite full fortnight before
Daisy recovered from the effects of
Rover's behavior, but when once again
she went down to the paddock Mario
was gone.
With one excuse and another did
Senior Smithers quiet his daughter and
account for Marto's disappearance.
Though the truth is, Marto's fame as a
fighter had reached Havana, and the
manager of the bull-fghts had purchas-
ed Mario for exhibition when old
enough to be really dangerous if en-
ragged.
One day. after another year, Senor
Smithers's brother from New York,
Daisy's Uncle John, came down to
Cuba. Then Daisy, for the first time,
was allowed to accompany her parents
to Havana.
Said Uncle John the day after their
arrival in the city-Daisy had been
telling him of Mario, the beloved but
ungrateful Mario, while she was ill he
had run away into the swamps-said
Uncle John:
"As there is to be bull-tight this af-
ternoon, I'd like to attend 1t will be
a novelty to ma"
So Daisy's parents, being ignorant
of what brutal sport bull-fight real
ly is, after being assured by the land
lord that it was "very amusing" that
afternoon repaired to the Place del
Toro, Daisy with them.
They were early, so there was little
delay before they found themselves in
a position where they might overlook
the arena wherein the poor brutes were
slaughtered, though they did not know,
oh, no, indeed, Had Daisy's parents
known what bull-fght really is they
would have remained at the hotel, and
their daughter with them.
They were early, very early, the par
ty of Americans, so when Senior Ortega
Senor Smithers's friend, offered to show
10 Uncle John the bulls to be killed,
Uncle John took the hand of his niece.
"Come, Daisy" he said, ''we'll look
for Mario among Senor Ortega's pets"
And they found Mario, much to the
amazement of Uncle John, in the cell
of the first bull TO do battle, Daisy
Mario, gaily bedecked for the sacrifice,
but Daisy did not know.
"Dear Marto," Daisy called, and
stretched her hands through the bars.
Up to the bars Mario ran, TO lick the
little hands and paw and roar his de-
light at the meeting, to shake his great
head until the streamers flashed a
though to show her how well he had
been treated since she had left him to
the hands of those that took him so far,
far from where he had saved her from
Rover.
80, Mario - Daisy reproached,
''why did you run away from me, my
Mario"
But Mario, with denial i'm his eyes,
tried to explain in bellows that con-
vinced the matadoers of his ferocity,
that he could not help himself. he real
ly could not. She failed to come to his
assistance, in his need, whom twice he
had saved, and would save again, if
need required.
"You said you loved me-" Mario
looked with his great, bright eyes, ''yet
So through the bars Daisy patted
Marto's nose and kissed him. Promis-
ing to return after little while, she
left him, whereat Mario clashed his
horns against the iron gate and moan
ed for the little one that had been his
playmate.
There was the sound of music some
where, then a door opened and out
Mario rushed, seeking Daisy, into a
ring where gaily-garbed bandilleros,
capeadors and toreadors awaited him.
Daisy's face he saw, Daisy beyond the
inclosure, his Daisy. Across the ring
he ran, lifting up his great head to
below and roar with delight.
Then they were on him, the men in
bright garments, Haunting their red
cloaks in his face, pricking him with
| their lances.
"Marto, o, papa ~ he heard Daisy
cry, and he thought of his victories in
Daisy's defense, did Mario. Daisy
must again be in danger, or why her
cry of agony. Right and left Mario
charged; he was gallant fighter, the
black bull, Mario,
This horse he gored, that tantalizing
capeweaver he tossed and trampled, in
Daisy's defense Two lances i'm his
shoulders, which he did not feel, so
mad with rage was he, against those
that, he believed, were imperilling
Daisy, his Daisy!
Now the matadore with his little
sharp sword fronted Mario. a thrust
from the butcher. blow that brought
Mario quite to his knees, as The hot
blood followed the stroke and he knew
that he was wounded to the death, in
the defense of Daisy, did Mario.
Let them 90 now, LET them all go, his
| Narro haI sla;r ba