The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1896-02-28

| Antonio carclessly noted all tlla, o1t
lis thoughts were of the solemn nlgi'
,,ass, that was SION to be celebrated
and of the gayly-dressed throng shat
would fill the church and overflow The
plaza, when the grand PROFESSIONAL
should draw near. For it was the Feast
of La Pascua and the browning d:y OF
the holy week--the day that commcm-
GRATED the birth of the infant saviour
The air was tremulous with musical
sounds, and the people began TO con,
pregate. The marimba notes swelied
louder and louder, the tramp OF null
titude echoed along the rough pave
ments and the head of the procession
turned into the square. AS it ap-
proached. Antonio DOTTED his hat re-
spectfully. and he knelt when the
ROBBED priests passed, with the shining
"Santisimo' held on high, surrounded
10y swinging censors. The smoke or
the incense filled the street with it's
subtle perfume, and served to throw an
additional charm about the chariot that
followed. This was float drawn by
| Two score of young girls clad in pure
white garments, with thin yelling
pinned to their soft, black hair and fall
ing back over their shoulders. The
chariot, too, was draped in white, and
upon its broad platform was presented
tableau of the Nativity. Before a
gilt manager, in which lay figure of
the holy Child, three boys, representing
the three wise men, reverently knelt
and gazed upon glistening star that
lowered over the cradle. Behind them
we're the skin-clad shepherds, each with
a snow-whitc lamb in his arms, and be-
side the crib stood the mother, q slight,
lair girl, draped in flowing robes,
chosen from all who had come for the
fete because of her saint-like beauty,
aud bashfully proud of the distinction
that was hers to enjoy for the hour.
AS the lattcr's glance fell upon An
ouio, kneeling bareheaded in the
throng. and as she felt his. eyes bent
upon her, her face was marked by
passing shade of annoyance. Antonio
caught the expression, and the quick
blood surged to his olive cheeks.
He muttered bitterly to himself: "She
is saying again, as she said before: An
tonic. what coward!' But it shall be
for the last time. To-day-to-day L
shall show her!"
lie rose from his knees and Shout
dtred his way through the crowd to
enter the church. where the organ was
purring the notes of the professional.
As lie unconsciously crossed himself at
the font and made the genufiexion, his
eyes sought for her--this girl who had
called him q coward. He saw her at
last; she had knelt, near the aisle, in
food of bright, red sunlight that
strcamed through a loaded window.
Her loose. gray robe had been laid
aside, and the mass of her hair had a
tinge of bronze, as the colofed rays fell
upot it. Antonio had no thought of
the mass. He hardly heard the grand
singing.
Presently nervous hand touched.his
shoulder, and a rough voice whispered:
"Was it TO see them kill the bull-the
fine, black bull of SensnntepeC-tl.ot
on came down to the city? You were
wise not TO answer the public challenge.
T have seen him, and I-even l. VITO
have given many a bull the sword
thrust-do not like the lock of this fcl-
low
at is 200 pesetas," Antonio answered,
Gbsently.
And would earn them, Antonio, IN
spite of my broken wrist--if only TO
: bx Jy,,+ IN
Challenged-one whom they say is new
to the redondel." Then he added, with
some asperity: Your chance would
have been quite IS good as his-ard
think-2O0 pesetas! Had you not
lacked the courage!"
Antonio did not resent the speech.
He merely answered, quietly: You,
too, then, think lacked courage. That
it was lying reason gave to Lola. as
excuse for refusing the challenge!
Hardly lie, Antonio. l give not the
lie save Ter reason. 1t is more that yoJr
life has been of he sheep-ttat you
lave not the nature to battle and xiii"
Antonio made no reply. He was Ev
ing again that night on the hills when,
Weakened from sleep by his lambs load
bleatlng, he had seized his machete,
had rushed to the I'D, and had siain the
mountain lion. The angry mark on his
shoulder burned again, where the
brute's strong claws had struck him,
aud his olive cheeks burned, too. as he
thought of how Lolo had called him
coward, and how her father now said
lie lacked courage. Her father. +he
famous matador, who had broken his
wrist in the last Pascua fight, and yet
managed to kill his victim.
The on rrulouc old man had conf i-1upd