The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-04-05

L
all sides could be heard the rattle of
| dice, the chink of coins, and above all
the monotonous sing-song of the rou-
! lette callers.
When they had found a place at one
of the tables Ortez thrust a handful of
silver in front of Carlota, saying: Play
for me, senorita."
''Se va bola." (the ball rolls) exclaim-
ed the caller, at the same time giving a
whirl of the wheel and sending the
| ivory sphere spinning around the
board Carlota placed FIVE of the big
dollars on as many of the little squares
on the table.
"Basta," enough bets) cried the caller
as the ball circled toward the center,
and then .'Veingte-uno, colorado"
Owenty-one red), as it dropped into one
of the diminutive pockets. Carlota saw
her money swept in by the croupier.
Again the ball was set in motion and
now Carlota placed SO on the table.
| "Catorce-negroi" (fourteen-biack)
came the monotonous call, and the ten
shining pieces of silver. followed the
other five. Once more Carlota tempted
fortune, this time placing $40 on sin
gle square, the red nine.
| "Bastai Nueve-Colorado!" (nine-red)
came the call.
"Bravo!" cried OrteZ.
who ever heard of such luck." eX-
claimed Don Eduardo.
| While they spoke the bank piled up
| Carlota's winnings before her-three
hundred and fifty bright coins. Carlota
clapped her hands and gave a little
happy laugh Take it, Senior Ortez"
she said pushing the pile toward him.
NO will take the half the other half
is yours he replied, and. following the
custom, Carlota took her share and
slipped it into her fathers capaciouS side
pocket.
Il am tired now; let us go somewhere
and rest" said Carlota suddenly to her
father Then turning to Ortez, cot
course, we shall see you at our house;
the doors of Casa Grande are always
open. Buenos noches, senior"
Papa" said Carlota, as they went on
with the throng, Il thought l saw an old
! friend of ours just now
Yes; who was it?" inquired Don
Eduardo.
| why, none other than for an in
slant there was a quaver in the music
of the girls voice Gas though tremulo
stop had been drawn ouD-"Ricardo."
Il was told this Afternoon that the
young scapegrace had returned" re-
piled the Don composedly.
why, papa, how can you speak of
him like that" exclaimed Carlota.
True, when he was a boy 1 took a
friendly interest in him, for he was a
lad of much promise, but you remember
how he went off with that American
circus without word to anyone-I re-
solved then to wash my hands of him, -
replied her father.
But still he has made a success of
his undertaking, for when Dona Inez
returned from the States she said she
had seen him in performance at Chi
cago and not even the best of the Amer
lean acrobats could snrpass his feats on
the trapeze and his tumbling."
'Ay, chocarrero, a clown. and in
| what capacity do you think he comes
back to his native village? AS a bull
fighter! l hear he has made a reputa-
ton as great picador-a name to be
proud of surely
Then we shall see him in the ring to-
morrow exclaimed the girl.
! Doubtless; but do not recognize him
Carlota. When a man throws away all
pretense to responsibility respectable
people ought not to countenance him. y
Carlota was too wise to say anything
further, nevertheless her thoughts were
all of Ricardo. She'recalfed how as chill
dren they had played together among
the roses and oleanders. She remem bered
H. - i \
hand in hand in the old lemon orchard
and how the day had come when Ri
cardo had looked at her with a new light
in his eyes and they had found them
selves frightened and half-sobbing,
clinging in each others arms. She
| thought of the time when her lover
had vowed because of his poverty to
leave his native village, declaring that
| he would never return until he had
wealth and could claim her for his bride.
And this was the end of it all-he
had come back a bullfghter. But at
least she would see him once more on the
| morrow-after that, Senior OrteZ or
whomever her father might choose!
1t was the hour appointed for the bull
| fight and several thousand persons were
assembled to witness the sport. Don
| Eduardo and his party set apart on the
canopied benches, reserved for the more
exclusive among the spectators. The
band was playing a lively air, and the
men and boys whistled and called, eager
for the performance to begin.
At length the wicket leading into the
enclosure was thrown open and two pic
| adores entered the ring. They made a
brave sight as they moved about, their
ponies champing and cavorting with ex-
! element while the riders bowed in
| graceful recognition of the plaudits of
the multitude, the sun flashing brightly
/ from polished trappings, gold braid and
gilded ornaments. AS soon as these had
| taken their places they were followed
by two men on foot who were most bril-
| liantly attired. Their dresses, of the
same pattern, consisted of short tight
| jackets, knee breeches and silk stock
| ings, the whole costume of one being of
| bright blue and that of the other of
| flaming scarlet. The toreadores crossed
, the ring together, then removing their
jaunty caps they made obeisance to the
admiring assemblage. 1t needed no Sec
| ond glance to tell Carlota whose was
that supple graceful figure clothed in
red The bull-fighters eyes, full of fire
and daring, as she remembered them of
old sought her own, and then, availing
| himself of pretty custom of the coun-
| try which allows of public homage to
beauty, Ricardo stepped toward the
! canopied seats and tossed his cape,
which he had removed ON entering the
| ring, straight up into Carlota's lap
/ I'd Ia