The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1896-03-20
miscellaneous.
LA PASCUA.
BY RALPH GRAHAM TABER.


pee breed his like has never been
seen here betore-so tail, 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 the patio Aud there is
something more. senOreS, the speaker
leaned forward and held his brown
finger upon his thick lips, mysterious
": lit is IL secret known but TO the
few"
Then it is scarcely a secret" the
Younger of his two auditors replied.
\ faint smile lowered uncertainty
about the corners of his month, and
he toyed idly with the glass before
him.
What is this wonderful secret =
asked the other, eXpelling Il cloud of
smoke from his lungs.
at is said there will be d new malta
dor"
"Pouf, that is not news. Don Pedro
These matadOres-they come and go.
like the bulls they Stay ; it is only q
question of time with them. Sooner
or later IL drink too much makes the
nerves falter, and then-then the knife
hits half an inch too low, or il fails to
strike the right moment, and Il new
matador is needed. The ether
But this interrupted the land
lord-''this is news. SenOreS for the
matador has never even faced bull,
not as banderilero nor capeador-''
"Caramba p, What is the name of
this fool - The question was asked
in II tone of contempt, and the tall
youth looked up with an impatient
fr0wn.
The landlord shrugged his shoul-
ders. II do not know the name. but
he comes from the upper country"
Then we will drink to the excellent
bull. Come, friends; shall it be aguar-
diente ~
II thank YOU the youth replied,
courteouslv. but not for me. senior: |
do not drink it," Rising from his
seat, he wished them good day and
departed. -,
"What is our young friend who will
not drink = asked the guest. as he
tasted his glass of strong spirits.
"A passer, who came but this morn
ing He gave his name as Antonio.
know no more about him
As Antonio reached the street. he
heard the tones of a distant marimba
beating out the national air. Follow.
ing a tortuous walk, that was hedge,i
on either side by banks of blood-r
roses, he slowly crossed the broad
square in front of the low adobe inn.
He selected IL bud, trimmed the thorns
| with his knife, and thrust the stem
| beneath the band of his wide som
| brero.
Reaching the street on the opposite
side. he found himself before the ca
| thedral, whose pretentiOuS entrance
faced the flowercovered square. y
rudely carved ston, high up on it,
yellow adobe wall proclaimed that
| the first foundation stone had been
| laid 1870 years beforehand the struc-
| ture was not yet finished. The stucco
| decorations within its high arch had
| fallen away in places, and spots OF
green mould chung to the plaster casts
of the saints. Showing irre%ularity
| here and there We're small punctureS
some of them filled with moss-from
which lead balls might be dug with IA
| knife, the mementOes OF revolutions ;
and browning the arch stood Il statue OF
| the Virgin, sorrowfuliy viewing her
empty arms from which the Babes
image had fallen.
Antonio carelessly noted all this,
| but his thoughts were of the solemn
| high mass, that was soon to he celo
| brated, and of the gayly-dreSSed
| throng that would fill the church and
| overflow tine plaza, when the grand
| professional should draw near. For
| it was the feast of La PaScua and the
browning day of the holy week-the
| dav that commemOrated the birth of
| the infant Saviour.
| The air was tremuIOus with musical
sounds, and the people began to con
gregate. The marimba notes swelled
| louder and louder, the tramp of IL null
| titude echoed along the rough pave
ments and the head of the procession
! turued into the square. As it ap-
preached, Ant .nio dotted his hat re
| spectfully, and he kuelt when the rob
ed priests passed, with the shining
''Santisimo'' held on high. surrounded
by swinging censors. The smoke of
| the incense filled the street with its
subtle perfume, and served to throw
an additional charm about the chariot
that followed. This was a float drawn
| by twoscor of young girls clad in
| pure white garments, with thin veil
| ing pinned to their soft, black hair
and falling back over their shoulders.
| The chariot, too, was draped in white,
and upon its broad platform was pre-
scented tableau Of the Nativity. Be
fore a gilt manager. in which lay Il
figure of the holy Child, three boys,
representing the three wise men, rev
erently lnelt and gazed upon glisten
ing star that lowered over the cradle.
Behind them were the skin-clad shep-
herds, each with Il snow white lamb
in his arms, and beside the crib stood
the mother, IL slight, fair girl, draped
i'll flowing robes, chosen from all who
had come for the fete because of her
saint like beauty, and bashfully proud
of the distinction that was hers TO Ell
Joy for the hour.
As the Iatter's glance fell upon An
tonic, kneeling hareheaded in the
thrOng, and as she felt his eyes bent
upon her. her face was marked by Il
passing shade of annoyance. Antonio
caught the expression. and the quick
blood surged to his olive checks.
He muttered bitterly TO himself
"She is saying again, as she said be
fore Antonio, what a coward " Bu.
it shall be for the last time To day
to-day shall show her -
He rose from his knees and Shout
dered his way through the crowd to
enter the church. where the organ
was purring the notes of the proce.
siOnaI. As he uucODSciously crosse,
himself AT the font aud made the gent
nrxioa, his eyes sought for her-thi-
girl who had called him IA coward.
He saw her at last she had kuplf