The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1896-03-20


of this fellow
1T is POO pesetas," Antonio answer
ed, absently.
And | would earn them. Antonio
in spite of my broken wrist-if only to
gain the glory But a new ESpada
has challenged--one whom they say il
now to the redondel" Then he added.
with some asperity: Your chance
| would have been quite as good as his
and think-200 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 chal-
lenge -
Hardly d lie, Antonio ! give not
the lie save for reason. 1t is more that
your life has been of the sheep-that
You have not the nature TO battle and
kill"
Antonio made no reply. He was
living again that night on the hills
when, wakened from sleep by his
| lambs loud bleatin%. he had seized
| his machete. had rushed to the ruid,
and had slain the mountain lion. The
angry mark on his shoulder burned
! again, whore the hrute's strong claws
| had struck him. and his olive cheeks
| burned, too, a IL thought OF how
| LolO had called him coward, and how
her father now said he lacked courage.
| Her father the famous matadnr. who
| had broken his wrist III the last rascHa
| fight and yet managed to kill his vic
| tim
The garruIous old man had con
tinuel to whisper What was ii lie
had been saying?
- is fortune. And you could
have married my Lola.
Antonio turned and laid his hand
| impulsively Oh the Old mans arm. It
is enough for now. senior. You will
attend the fight with her? Then You
will see me later
Antonio abruptly left the church
and crossing the square with
rapid strides, plunged into the mae
of crooked streets. between she brown
tiled dwellings, and presently emerged
to another square, the famous Piazt
de TOroS. II was inciosed by a high
adobe wall, on whose Top was u thick
| growth of cactus. He did not aD-
| proach the main entrance. which Il
merry crowd WIS besicgin@, but sought
Il small door 0n the eastern side at
| which lie knocked nervOusly.
| The guard within called out. grutfly:
"Quien ?,
| "Antonio Gomez
"Welcome, Antonio Gomez
The bury guard eyed the youth's
1.-THE figure, as a dealer might take
notes OF the good points OF a horse.
and nodded IN grave approval: You
| would make a brave matadOr, my son.
if You had first the nIuch-ueeded prac
tice. As it is-well, it may be, per
haps-if Toro Negro will let You"
| He led the way t. an inner room,
| which he placed at Antonio disposal
and reVerenrly LAID out The rich y col
ored sash. the small rel ilag and the
| short sword. sharp as a razor that
| comprised the muta,lor's equipment
| Antonio took up the light weapon.
| balanced and swung it back and forth,
ran his fingers along it's keen edge,
and replaced it on the table.
| Again the guard smiled and nodded.
| "Wneu all Is ready | will call YOU
senior, he said, as he left the apart
meat.
Antonio could near the trampiu@ @.
hoofS us the picadores mounted, ami
the music of the band came To him
family, through the th;2, walls, as il
| played the strains OF u familiar sOu"
"A favorite song of LOla's:
..GayIv the il,as are Haunting.
| List how the horses neigh;
! An cnvious crowd greet III" rides proud.
| As they mark for Iorp the way.
'Then trumpet blast, loud and haunting,
| Echoes from hill 10 min;
| The broad gates swing and into the ring
! Bursts furO to wrCak his Will.
The chuIos play for their honors;
! They Euttgr SCuTIS III his eyes.
They prick his rough hid, ana hsaaEnr dcrjt...
As 1" toss fhe'" ne n'lnu'E '''S
| Then { he plaza is hushed and GREATNESS,
rh nn i,r a%F, V,t ri io, Ei ,,,
a And. s,6si i,' awaits the fray '''''
| ..,.,,.. ,.,.,, ,-l ,i,,, t,..r,,.
And Fellows viii ,'T rare yea, I'd hate
| A. he charges lis toe. h,'t . flashing blow
hhd> '"'o' an" c'''s '"' 'e'''
How stirrimgIv LoIa haG suum IL
that might or the mountain AbI
when she had Finished she laid her
guitar beside him. and spoke I'll ihr
PaScua bull fight, and. with - soft
arm around his neck. asked linn to
take up the challenge. IN al effort ~
win the grand public prjze-Ihe much
coveted prize that would tail 10 him
who might conquer the black Sen
! suntepec bull. In their poverty il
| WAS uuiIs il fortune 10 them. Ii was
by far the largest prize that had ever
| vet been offered It's possession
would mean they might marry at once
without waiting for that uncertain
time when they might be able 0stvc
enough to pay the lee of the padre
The na,lre's fee ,ras very hi@h: 50
ueseIas for holding the mass. 10 more.
for the precious ,cruI! thar wGuiI
prove the ceremony. The valley foi.>
sci low marry it, all; but. safe in their
mutual promise live, IL their tharchtG
cane huts without the paara's h!es-
inc
But Lola was not in the valiel
She would not listen to aught hut the
mass ana the rood priests fatherIy
blessing. WHY. then. had lie 80 biuuG-
" refuspdy 1t was nnr from cowurdice.
that he knew. Hanlrtlv understood
If himself, but he had an unreasonable
dislike of intiictit.@ useless torture.
Ana Lola had called him a coward ::
had refused 10 hear such a childish
excusp, and. with a fine Scorn. had
left him.
And he had zone back TO his little
came hnt and mad lain awake through
fine LONE dark night. Watching the
twinL,IinrSour hpru ross and THINKING
ahout his nirI whom he loyed-whu
had mokingly called him a coward
And LONG before daybreak he left
the INIT and at sunrise awoke the
M dre-ond the nadre had written =
Letter for bjm--;rt rIr price of this
last naseta.
And he had not seen Lola since. un-