The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-10-12
POLIFEMO.
A Story Of q
One Eyed Man.
BY ARMANDO PALACIO VALDES.

AASAu 6dAts al iLApOoiuSy cuOEmOub Willie
mustache. voice Of thunder and q
heart of bronze But even more for
midable than all this was the grim and
awful effect of the terrible, bloodthirsty
gaze of his single eye. In his other eye
the colonel was blind. In the African war
he had slaughtered many Moors and had
taken delight in tearing out their pal
patating entrails. At least this was the
blind belief of all of us-we little boys
who, after school, used to go to play in
the park of San Francisco, in the very
noble and heroic city Of Oviedo.
This fearful man had a nephew or 10
years old like ourselves. Unhappy boy!
We could not see him in the park with
out feeling an infinite pity for him. In
the course of time came to see a tanner
of wild~beasts put lamb into the cage
of lion. 1t made like impression upon
me when I saw Gasparito Toledano
walking with his uncle. We could not
understand how it was that that unfor-
tunate boy could keep up his appetite
and regularly maintain his vital func-
tons, why he did not grow sick at heart
or die consumed by a slow fever. When
ever a few days passed without his ap-
pearing in the park we all felt our hearts
agitated by the same doubt. HE must
have been devoured at last" And when
finally in some place we came across
him sound and well we all were both
surprised and pleased. But we were
certain that some day or other he would
end in becoming victim to some san
culinary caprice of Polifemo.
The strange thing about the case was
that in his animated face Gasparito
fol- Of fbnca 10 Of
and depression that should have been the
only things visible therein. On the con-
trary, his eyes were always beaming with
q cordial JOY that left us stupefied. When
he went with his uncle, he stepped with
the greatest freedom. smiling, happy.
skipping at times; at others either his
audacity or his innocence reaching so far
that he would make grimaces at US be-
hind the coionel's back. 1t had the same
agonizing effect upon us as if we had
seen him dancing upon the vane of the
cathedral tower.
"Gasp-a-a-r"
The air vibrated with the roar and trans
mitted it to the confines of the park. Not
one Of us there could keep the color il
our cheeks. Gasparito alone gave heed
as were it the voice of a siren.
what is it, uncle?" sf
And he ran to him, executing on the
way some complicated dancing step.
Besides this nephew, the monster was
the possessor of dog that had to live
In the same unhappy state, although he
also gave no evidence Of it. He was a
beautiful Dane of a blush color, big.
light of movement, vigorous, and he an
swered to the name of Muley. doubtless
In recollection of some unlucky Moor
sacrificed by his master. Muley, like
Gasparito, lived subject to the power of
Polifemo the same as If in the lap Of
an odalisque. Graceful. sportive, friendly,
incapable of deceit, he was, while offend
ing nobody, the least fearsome and the
most affable dog of the many | have
known in the course of my life.
With these attributes 1t is not to be
wondered that all of us children should
have been captivated with him. Always
when it was possible for US to do it with
out danger Of the colonel remarking we
disputed with each other for the honor
Of treating him with bread. biscuit,
cheese and other tidbits that our man.
mas gave us for luncheon. Muley ac-
ceptcd everything with undisguised pleas
ure and gave us unmistakahle proofs Of
sympathy and recognition. But finally.
that it may be seen to what degree of
nobility and disinterestedness reached
the sentiments Of this memorable canine,
and that he may serve as a lasting exam
pie for dogs and men. will say that his
greatest affection was not shown for
those who gave him the most.
There used to play with us occa sionally
Gin the provinces and in those days So
cial classes did not exist among children)
a poor little fellow from the hospice
named Andres. who could not give him
anything, for he had nothing to give.
Very well: the preferences of Muley were
for him. The liveliest tail waggings. the
highest and most vehement gambolings.
were dedicated to Andres in neglect Of
the others. What an example for any
deputy of the majority party!
Did Muley divine that that destitute
child, always silent and sad. had more
need of his affection than ourselves? I
do not know. but so it seemed TO be.
For his part Andresito had come to
conceive a genuine passion for the ami
NAL. When we found ourselves playing
together in the most distant part of the
park. pitching quoits or playing "chapas,"
and Muley happened to present himself
unexpectedly. he would know at once
how to call Andres aside and would stay
with him for a long time. as if he had
some secret to communicate. The colos
sal silhouette of Polifemo would be dis
cernible afar among the trees.
But these 1eeting interviews. full Of
apprehension. were all too insufficient for
the founding. Like a genuine lover. he
was anxious to rejoice in the presence
of his idol protractedly and alone.
NJ, -
bic intrepidity he bore the dog from our
presence away to the hospice. which in
Oviedo is called la inclusa. and did not
return till an hour had passed. He came
back radiant with happiness. Muley
likewise looked superlatively pleased. By
good fortune the colonel had not left the
paseo and had not observed the deserticn
of his dog.
These escapades repeated themselves
from one afternoon to another. The
friendship Of Andresito and Muley con-
tinued to cement itself.
But the founding was not satisfied
even yet. There terminated in his mind
the idea of carrying off Muley to sleep
with him ut the inclusa-
Being an aid to the cook, he slept in one
of the corridors beside the chamber Of
that functionary on a bed of cornstalks
One afternoon he conducted the dog away
to the hospice and did not come back.
What a delicious night for the unhappy
child! He had never in his life known
other caresses than those Of Muley. First
the masters and then the cook had al
ways talked to him with rod In hand
Boy and dog slept embraced like two
lovers. Along toward daylight the child
Rnlt hn urft nP II Al,
cook had given him on the back with a
stick the evening before. He pulled down
his shirt.
Look, Muley," he said, in low voice,
showing the bruise.
The dog, more compassionate than the
man, licked the livid flesh of the boy.
As soon as they opened the door An
dres let the dog go. Muley ran to the
house of his master. but in the afternoon
he was back in the park again, disposed
to follow Andresito. They slept together
again that night and the night after and
the next one also. But bliss is brief in
this world. Andresito was happy on the
brink of q precipice.
One afternoon when we were all to-
gether in a close group playing buttons
We heard behind US two formidable
stampings.
Get up! Get up"'
Every head turned as IL moved by one
spring. Before us there doomed the
cyclopean figure of Colonel Toledano.
(which of you is the rogue who carries
off my dog every night, l would like to
know"
Sepulchral silence in the assembly.
Terror held us clamped, rigid, as il we
were turned TO sticks.
Once more sounded the trumpet of the
last judgment.
'Whn is the thief2 Who Is the handit2