The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1896-02-28
The guard within called out, grufiiy;

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notes of the good points Of horse, ana
nodded in grave approval; You would
make a brave matador, my son, If you
had first the much-needed practice. AS
it is--well, it may be, perhaps Toro
Negro will let you"
which he placed at Antonio's disposal,
and reycrently laid out the richly col
ored sash, the small red flag and the
short sword, sharp as a razor, that COM
prised the matador's equipment. An
tonic took up the light weapon. bal
anced and swung it back and forth. ran
his fingers along its keen edge, and re-
placed it on the table.
Again the guard smiled and nodded.
''Iyhen all is ready L will call you,
senor," he said, as he left the apart
Rlent.
antonio could hear the tramping of
hoofs, as the picadores mounted, and
the music of the band came to him
family, through the thick walls, as it
played the strains of familiar song--a
favorite song of Lola's:
"Gayly the flags are Haunting,
List how the horses neigh;
An envious crowd greet the riders proud,
AS they mark for Toro the way.
Then a trumpet blast, loud and haunting,
Echoes from hill to hill;
The broad gates swing and into the ring
Bursts Toro to wreak his will.
" The chulos play for their honors;
They futter scarfs in his eyes,
They prick his rough hide, and his anger
deride,
AS to toss them he blindly tries.
"Then the plaza is hushed and GREATNESS,
u The Toreadores give way.
The brave Matador looks the plaza DER,
And, singly, awaits the fray.
"The bull cores the ground in his fury,
And bellows with rage and hate
AS he charges his foe, but flashing blow
Ends Toro, and ends the fete."
How stirringly Lola had sung it that
night Oh the mountain! And when she
had finished she laid her guitar beside
him, and spoke of the Pascua bull fight,
and, with soft arm around his neck,
asked him to take up the challenge, in
an effort to win the grand public prize
the much coveted prize that would
fall to him who might conquer the black
Sensuntepec bull. In their poverty it
was quite a fortune to them. 1t was by
far the largest prize that had ever yet
been offered. Its possession would
mean they might marry at once, with
out waiting for that uncertain time
when they might be able to save enough
to pay the fee of the padre. The PADRES
fee was very high; 80 pesetas for hold
ing the mass, so more for the precious
scroll that would prove the ceremony.
The valley folk seldom marry at all;
but, safe in their mutual promise, lived
their lives in their matched cane huts
without the PADRES blessing.
But Lola was not in the valley. She
would not listen to aught but the mass
and the good priests fatherly blessing.
Why, then, had he so bluntly refused?
1t was not from cowardice; that he
knew. He hardly understood it him
self, but that he had an unreasonable
dislike of inflicting useless torture.
And Lola had called him a coward;
had refused to hear such childish
excuse, and, with a fine scorn, had left
him
And he had gone back to his little
cane hut, and had lain awake through
the long, dark night, watching the
twinkling Southern Cross and think
ing about this girl whom he loved
who had mockingly called him a
And long before daybreak he left the
hut, and, ut sunrise, awoke the padre
and the padre had written letter for
him-at Tie price of his last peseta.
And he had not seen Lola since, until
in the church procession. But to-day
to-day he would show her that at
least he did not lack the courage!
He heard the shouts and the cheer
ing, as the picadores entered; and he
heard the wild, pulsating notes of the
sounding far away and in
distinct. Then he heard an occasional
burst of applause; and still he sat there
waiting.
At last the guard came to call him.
lie rose and took up the short-bladed
sword and his other safeguard, the
small, red flag, and passed out into the
He cast one glance about the surging
sea of eXpectant faces, and then looked
longingly up at the hills that rose be-
hind the city. Their blush tops seemed
trembling in the haze, the air seemed
drowned in expectancy, and far-off
sounds came plainly-among them the
tinliie of sheep bell far up on the SHIN
.nering mountain side.
Then a sharp cry rang out: Guar
desc. Antonio-guardesel"
He caught one glimpse of girl in