The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-02-27
La PAsCUA.. 3.
BY RALPH GRAHAM TABER.


BY RALPH GRAHAM TABER
''The black bull is of the Sensunte-
Zee breed; his like has never been seen
hcre before-so tall, SO glossy, so wide
Of horn, so strong of shoulder and lean
OF flank! You should have seen the fire
In his eyes as they drove him into the
patio! And there is something more,
s,cnores,' the speaker leaned forward
md held mis- brown finger upon his
t:,icl> lips, mysteriously; 1T is secret
known but to the few"
'''Chen it is scarcely a secret" the
younger of his two auditors replied. a
faint smile lowered uncertainty about
the corners Of his mouth, and he toyed
. idly with the glass before him.
What is this wonderful secret?'
asked the other, expeliing cloud OF
j.: smoke. from his lungs. 49,.
lit is said there will be new mata-
dor" .-..a go,
'.Pouf! that is not news, Don Pedro.
These Misunderstanding come and 60,
like the bulls they Stay; it is only a
question of time with them. Sooner or
later drink too much ina kes the nerves
faltcr, and then----thcn the knife hits
half an inch too low, or it fails to strike
ahe right moment, and new lnatador
is needed! The other"
but this" interrupted the landlord
this is news, senOres; for the mata-
dor has never even faced a bull, not as
Danderillero nor capeador-"
''Caramba! What is the name of this
fooi? The question was asked i'll =
tone of contempt, and the tall youth
looked up with an impatient frown.
The landlord shrugged his shou.-
<lers. II do not KNOW the name. but he
comes from the upper country
Then we will drink to the excellent
:.u,l. Come, friends; shall it be aguar-
dente? H., ~.
II thank you," the youth replied,
courteously, ''but not for me, senior; |
do not drink it," Rising from his seat,
he wished them good day and de-
parted.
What ia our young friend who will
not drink?" asked the guest. as he
tasted his glass Of strong spirits.
~ passer, who came but this morn
ing. He gave his name rs Antonio.
i>now no more ab9uthim."
As Antonio reached the street, he
heard the tones of a distant lnar:G.ba
heating out the national air. Following
(, tortuons walk, chat was hedged on
ether side by banks of b'o"o-red
roses, he slowly crossed the broad
square in front of the low adobe nm. lie
selected a bud, trimmed the thornS with
Ills knife, and thrust the stem beneath
the band of his wide sombrero.
=, Reaching the street OH the, opposite
side, he found himself before the ca
1hedral, whose pretentious entrance
faced the f1Ower-covered square. \
,udely-carved stone high up on its yell
low adobe wall proclaimed that the
first foundation stone had been lad l20
Gears beforehand the structure was act
vet finished. The stucco decorations
within it's high arch had fallen away in
places, and spots of green mold cl..ng
10 the plaster casts of the soints.
Showing irreg,,larity here and there
we're small punctures-some of item
lilled with moss--from which lad balls
..night;beAag with a knife, the me,nsn-
toes of: revolutions; and GROWING the
frch:*stood a:st..tne, Of the Virgin. COY
1owfully viewing her empty arms from
which the Babes image had fallen.
Antonio carelessly noted all this. but
lis thoughts were of the solemn high
1,ass, that was s.On to be celebrated,
md of the gayiy-dresse'l throng that
would fill the church and overflow" The
plaza, when the grand professional
Of LII Pascua and the browning d:y Of
the holy week-the day that co1nrnc,n-
GRATED the birth of the infant Saviour.
The air was trcmulous with musical
sounds, and the people began to coll
xregate. The marimba notes swelled
louder and louder, the tramp Ola null
+itude echoed along the rough pave
ments and the head of the procession
turned into the square. AS it ap-
preached, 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 OF
the incense filed the street with it's
subtle perfume, and served to throw an
additional charm about the chariot hat
followed. This was a float drawn by
,wo-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
n;,on it's 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 Il glistening star that
lowered over the cradle. Behind them
'verc the skin-clad shepherds, each with
1. snow-white lamb in his arms, and be-
side the crib stood the mother, a slight,
tair girl. draped in. flowing robes,
chosen from all who had come for tfie
rete because of her saint~like beauty,
.~k a n ~,