Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-28

WNw -
killed, be sure, but he may be laid up for
some time, and that would be pity"
why IS not San Miguel here to run err
raHds for his novia?" grumbled Fausto,
moving off. however.
Ramon hates bull fights" murmured
'4et You a eo to 90 a 49, p prim:tR mia. Why is
that" asked Fausto, mockingly. IF you
don't like them, why not stay away, as
Ramon does?"
Again Manuela colored, but she made no
reply.
PART IL
The evening after the bull fight was
Dona Blanca Velasco's tertulia, OF evening
at home That lady was repos.ng her
ample form after the fatgues of the day
in rocking chair. awaiting her guests in
a state of semi-somnolence. Gloria and
Manuela were seated on low seats near
the window, talking. Manuela's face bore
an expression of great sweetness, and at
the same time a sadness, which might be
accounted for by the fact that death had
deprived her of her nearest relations, and
she had come almost stranger to her
fathers native land.
She had been devotedly fond of her only
brother, Rafael, wild scapegrace, who,
some years previously, after getting into
more than ordinarily serious scrape in Lon
don. joined the Carlists in the north of
Spain, and had fallen in one of the name
less SkirmiSheS which were features in that
unlucky war.
The conversation of the girls was inter-
rupted by the entrance of Fausto with
Pace Ramirez.
What news of Guapito?" asked Gloria
Good. He is bruised and shaken and
one thigh is somewhat torn, but he will be
well before the carnival replied Fausto
This comes of having bull fights out of
season. If the first bull fight of the sea-
son had been on Easter day, as is natural
and proper, this accident could never have
happened" said Pace.
1T is the fault of that Italian prince; he
desired particularly to see one and could
not stay here any longer" said Gloria
Let him be content with novillos,"
grumbled Paco, who. as an aficionado, re-
scented anything not completely zen regle"
in bull fight.
Ramon San Miguel now came IN, and sit
ting down beside Manuela, spoke to her in
a low voice.
They tell me you nearly tainted at the
corrida, Manuelita; 1 wish you would re-
fuse to witness that cruel sport
My aunt and cousin go. / do not like
to be singular" said Manuela, with an air
of confusion.
Alma mia! Everyone knows 1 never go
to them, and in Spain a girl who is seen in
public without ner novio is more singular
than one who refuses to so to bull fights.'
1T is a terrible fascination-you cannot
understand-you do not know" faltered
she.
NO indeed. do not know, 1 wish did,,
said Ramon, gravely.
AS the velascos carriage turned into the
Prado the first day of the carnival, black
velvet mask in ID plurned hat sprang lightly
on the step.
.:;Senoritas miasr' cried he. Offering box
of bonbons to the girls. Il had almost
given you up and gone off with the wife of
the Japanese ambassador What have you
done with Pace, Gloria? And la Inglesita,
where is her novio? Look how sad and
silent she sits! Shall fetch Ramon, Man
uela?" Manuela, who was not used to the
boundless license allowed to masks in car
nival time in Spain, was rather taken
aback; the Squeaky voice close to her ear,
the uncanny eyes glaring out of the eye
holes in the mask half frightened her.
Gloria, however, was quite in her element,
and answered for her:
Yes. yes, go and fetch our novios, since
you are SO ungallant as to desire their
presence
Not t. replied the Black Mask, who had
now opened the carriage door and seated
himself on the edge of the seat beside Man.
uela. Il am quite content to keep the two
prettieSt girls on the Paseo to myself. All!
well aimed"' as Gloria, taking handful of
bon bOns, threw Them at a masked estudian-
tina who. stood drumming a guitar on the
euSe Cl tBe 1901 pain. He immediately left
off drumming. slung his guitar en- his back,
and ran after them. At the same moment a
devil, all in scarlet. with long tail, which
he held in his hand and kept waving 10 and
FRO, climbed up the barOuche from the back
and sprawled in the hood, just behind Man
uela and Dona Banca, who occupied the
front seat. They did not perceive him, but
Gloria, sitting with her back to the Horses.
did. and was about to exclaim, when he
made an imperative sign of silence, and she
paused, not wishing to spoil sport If some
fun were intended. In the meantime the
estudiantina, in whom She had recognized
her novio Paco. overlook them, and, chat
tering with him. she forgot to pay any more
attention to the devil. The Black Mask was
looking straight in Manuela's face; she cast
her eyes down and played with her fan; he
lent nearer and nearer; and as he did so the
scarlet hood of the devil crept closer to them
over the back of the carriage. Suddenly