The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-09-28
J THE CAUSE Of II ALL.
A Story of Old Mexico.
BYFREDERICE FOOTE THOMPSON.

"The trouble began long ago. 1t did
not begin on the day of the fight, as they
say. 1t began years ago, when Reato and
Jose were little boys and before Jose
went to the town to live. 1t was due to
the jealousy which Jose had for Reato.
My boy may have been at fault some
times. No one is all perfect. But the
main fault lay with Jose. He was jeaI-
GUS because he was not SO big and strong
as Reato, and, later, when they grew old
er, he was Jealous of Reato's good looks.
1t was that which caused it all at last,
for it was that which first caused Reato
to win the favor of Estafanie.
Even if l, his father. do say it, there
Is no handsomer or Drawer youth in the
mountains than Reato. And Reato has
enjoyed the good things which have come
to Inc. When he went to the town to
take care of my business. there was no
one who could surpass him.
$50 it was that he attracted the atten-
ton of Estafanie when he passed the
home Of her father. She saw him, and
from the first she favored him. Reato
did not know her then. but he saw her
at the window. and her beauty aroused
the love within him. He did not leave
the town until he found out who she
was, and when he was told that she was
the daughter of the alcalde he was in no
way disheartencd, for he knew that my
position was such that he was the equal
Of the alcalde's daughter.
From that time Reato went into town
much. He frequenied the homes Of
those he knew and who were known to
me, and there he met Estafanie. In n
little time it was plain that the love he
felt for the girl was returned by her, and.
though nothing had been said, / knew
that the time of the wedding was not
far off, for l had spoken with the al
calde and had found that he was willing
that his daughter should marry my son.
But at that time came the first sign Of
the trouble which is ending now, for
what we did not know at first soon be-
came plain, and that was that Jose also
desired the girl for his wife. He had
known her ever since he had gone to the
town from the mountains, and. though he
had said nothing. he had made up his
mind that she should be his. So when
Reato came and found favor in her eyes
the old anger and jealousy were reused
stronger than ever in Jose.
MATTERS stood in this wise for some
time. Reato had made up his mind to
say nothing to Estafanie until after the
great bullfGht in holy week. He had
been made el capitun of the banderilleros
for the great fight. That. you know, is q
high honor for a youth like Reato, for
among the banderilleros under him were
men who had served as toreadors and
who had much reputation in the districts
from which they came. But Reato.
though he has never yet been a toreador.
had won u name for himself as ban
derillero by the daring he had always
shown when he was in the ring. So they
made him el captain.
"All this only stirred up the more the
bad feeling in Jose's heart. There was
no chance for him to win honor and glory
in the great fight. for he had never fought
In the ring and his nature WIS one that
made him resort more to subtle tricks
than to open fights.
Eat last came the day of the great
fight and of the trouble which followed.
The benches were filled long before even
the little fights, for every one was anxious
to have n good place from which to see
the great event. We from the mountains
were there More than 200 of us had
places together, for we had come to-
gether and purchased our seats at the
same time 1t was all by chance or by
the plan of the good God, for the fact
that we all sat together was the only
thing that saved the life of Reato.
IL don't know how the little fights came
out We paid no attention to them. and
what came afterward made us forget
what little we did see. At last came the
great fight. The bull was one of the
finest | ever saw. He was n monster
and gray one. specially selected. for
you know that gray ones fight the best.
"As they opened the door Of his pen
and he came into the ring, Reato. at the
head of his banderilleros, stood opposite.
The bull paved the earth and looked
around. Reato advanced and waved his
crimson cloak. Haunting 1t even into the
bulls eyes. Then the great beast Sprang
for him, hut Rcato was quick and lcapcd
to one side and as the bull sprang past
him planted two of the barbed darts in
his shoulder.
at was the first blow of the fight, and
the crowd in the benches cheered, and
we from the mountains cheered most OF
all.
'The other banderilleros came forward
to attack the bull in their turn. but Rcato
ordered them hacL. for he was not yet
through. This was where he made a mis-
take, for it reused the jealousy Of some
Of the bandrrillcros, and the townspcoplc
took their side, for they are always jeal'
Gus of us from the mountains.
again Reato advanced against the
bull, and again. after he had anGered him
until it seemed as though the great beast
was insane, did he drive more darts in
the great gray sides. But he did not dc
this without much danger to himself. for
he let the bull charge so close to him that
as he finally lcapcd to one side the horns
OF the crazc,l animal caught his jacket Al
the shoulder and tore it clear to the edge
"Again and again did Reato face the
bull, and each time he escaped after hi
had driven more of his little spears into
the animals sides. The glory which
they had planned to win for themselve.
was all gone to Reato.
cat last Reato had so exhausted the
great bull that the toreador was called
in quickly, for it was plain that unles:
he came then he would have little to do
Rcato had SO exhausted the animal tina
there was little left, and instead Of thu
fight being one between the toreador ant
the bull it had really been one between
the captain of the banderilleros and th'
bull.
"Finally the toraldor came. He lie
his horSe be Gored by the bull, though Ii
need not have done it. and then plunget
his sword to the hilt ip the great beast
neck. 1t was good stroke, and 1t de
served the praise and applause that !
brought.
"But with the end of the fight came tn