Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1896-04-10

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; so 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 inficting useless torture.
And Lola had called him coward;
had refused to hear such a 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
iwinkling Southern Cross and think
ing about this girl whom he loved
who had mockingly called him a
coward!
And long before daybreak he left the
hut, and, mt sunrise, awoke the padre
and the padre had written a letter fol-
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 al
least he did not lack the courage!
He heard the shouts and the cheer.
ing, as the picadores entered; and hi
heard the wild, pulsating notes of the
marimba, sounding far away and in
distinct. Then he heard ali 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 bladet
sword and his other safeguard, the
small, red flag, and passed out into tn,
sunshine.
He cast one glance about the surgine
sea of expectant faces. and then looked
'ongingly 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-of
sounds came plainly among them tn,
tinl;le of a sheep bell far up on the shin
lnering mountain side.
Then sharp cry rang out: Guar
desc, Antonio-guardese!"
He caught one glimpse of girl il
white, who stretched her bare arms on
toward him. Then he turned to avoit
the great, black bull that came rushin,
down the redondel. He instinctivel,
lcaped-only just in time-and thu
small, red flag was torn from his hand
The maddened beast tossed it high il
the air and turned to prepare for sec
ond attack, while the spectators
pleased with his agile leap, boisterousl,
applauded.
The bull paved the ground, wit
lowered head, throwing a cloud of dus
in the air. His parched tongue hun,
from his open jaws, his hot breatl
came in painting gasps, The red bloo'
trickled down his sides where tn
spears of the chulos had pricked him
and his bloodshot eyes shone with mad
ress as he quickened his pace to
thunderous charge.
Antonio calmly awaited the assault
and then-then the mad beast stoppe
short in his wild onset, trembled, and
believing, crouched to the ground i
spasm of fear. Antonio stupid
gazed at the bull; then he heard n dul
rumbling beneath him and felt tn
baked earth lift and surge and sink IN
rise, like an angry ocean after storm
The hilltops swayed in the quiverin
air, strong men shrieked aloud in thei
dread and the solid walls of adob
groaned and creaked and cracked.
Antonio dropped his now useles
sword and, with bound, reached tn
side of the ring where he had seen Lol
standing, and where the panic-stricke
spectators were blindly lighting forth
exits.
Lola" he shouted, my Lcla!" en-
out Of the surging mass he heard he
calling to him. "Leap!" lie cried, wit
uplifted arms, and struggling throug
the crowd, she obeyed.
Others, gasping the prayers to tn
saints that their palsied lips failed t
utter, were dropping all about him
but Antonio caught her skilfully ant
with his light but precious burden
staggered away from the crumblin
wall. As he reached the center of TIL
rcdondel the earthquake ceased for
moment; then second series of shock
began, wide crack opened across TIL
, he sank to the heaving, uncertain eartl
not in the muteness of terror, nor wit
n desperate prayer in his throat, br
with a yelling song in his soul, as h
clasped his Lola Closer Was he nc
from the upper country the countr
that lay far back of the hills, the hig
mountain land where Momotombo
towering black peaks breathed blacl
er smoke from dawn to dawn and mad
the treetops bend and nod to- the tur
of the hills 1itful slumbers? VIII
should he fear the quaking earth? Fea
was for those of the lowlands born
Momotombo had rocked his cradle
: and the song that trembled within h
: soul was a song Of thanksgiving an
: gladness-the thrilling note of his V
hrant heart as he pressed his Lola to i
1t was over again in a moment. TT
hiltops resumed their still place in ii
l sky. a welcome wind stirred the ia
[ ,nauCO frees and Lola shuddered mn