New Ulm review., 1901-12-18
CHECKMATE
A Story of the Bull Ring
In Mexico.
BY AMY MINCHER PARISH


La Fiesta de San Juan was at its
height. Guanajuato was turning out
from it's serpentine streets, close built
and i'll smelling, its hordes of human
fty, from the family Of the Goberna-
dor, handsome, well dressed and mod
ern, down to the swarms of beggars,
with sightless eyes and deformed
limbs, bearing in their bodies the mark
cf Mexico, with her dark past.
The whole movement was toward the
Presa, the upper town, where the aris-
appropriated to itself the better air,
prodigal in sunshine and flowers, clean
Z water and fresh breezes, secure against
the ever present dread of typhus.
Reservoirs supplying the city with
water gave the location it's name, and
now, on the recurrence of his birthday,
st. John, the apostle of healing wa
ters, was to cleanse the city. The
gates were to be opened and the presas
were to empty their flood into the now
nearly dry river bed, carrying with it
in a mad rush to the Lagos the years
accumulation of disease and debris.
The wealth and ultra fashion were
out in carriages. Laughing faces of
dark eyed senoritas dividing the atten-
ton with the picturesque venders of
holiday dulces or sweets, impossible
gyrating monsters, ear splitting whis-
ties and rattling devils boxes, wildcap
little urchins who played cart wheel
and leapfrog or did tricks for centavos.
But the crowning event was to be the
annual bullfight, in which. instead Of
professional matadores. young cabal-
leros, men of high social rank, were to
contend for the honors bestowed by
the fair hand of the queen Of beauty.
Great preparations had been made
for this special function, and long be-
fore the appointed hour the rose gar
landed old amphitheater, where since
the days Of Cortes man and beast had
met in an uninterrupted series Of un-
equal combats, was filed to overflow
ing.
On one side rose tier upon tier of
dark eyed senoritas. closely guarded by
ever watchful senoras; on the other
side young bloeds (haciendados), with
the tightest Of trousers and broadest
of sombreros, heavily loaded with gold
and silver trappings, here and there
one in tailoring from the latest Pari-
sian models. for everything French is
undeniably dear and desirable to the
Mexican heart.
While awaiting the arrival Of the
queen of the fiesta the audience CEN
tered it's attention upon two men in
their midst-Philip Carter. the energet-
ic, elegant American, whose homage to
the royal Isabella during his few
weeks sojourn in Guanajuato had al
ready given him notoriety, and Senor
Enrique Costello. a recognized suitor,
even now playing the bear" for her
favor. .-g .-.
The presence Of the latter. one of the
best of their senores matadores, in the
audience, signifying that he was to
have no part in the fray, was causing
evident comment among his friends.
They could not know how the weary
waiting for signal from his love, the
jealous devotion newly stimulated by
a demon Of jealousy born of Carter's
evident favor with the girl, the very
ardor of his passion had consumed his
strength to such an extent that he
knew better than to trust his future to
hand that trembIed if but in the pres
ence of her he loved,
But the Senorita Isabella's royal
beauty as she now sat enthroned in the
midst Of her maids of attendance, the
lovely face with it's brilliant eyes peep
ing from the meshes Of exquisite lace,
the hand wrought mantilla without
which no queen Of the bu1lfight is
regally arrayed, lips ripe and red as
the heart Of a pomegranate. were fast
arousing in him the desire to bring
upon himself not the mere smile and
victors wreath. the applause of the
audience, but tribute to daring that
should carry with it herself and her
love.
What did she want of the love of
gringo?
Because she had lived in their coun-
uy lew uOuluS ulQ SQe KNOW them
with their heart Of ice? Did she think
her lover tropical enough to warm
home in the north into any semblance
of her country?
He had felt so unnerved, so wearied
with the pacing to and fro in heat and
cold, day and night, in front of her
dwelling, walking where she walked,
waiting where she rested and seeing
the smile that belonged to him by ev-
cry precedent Of their race given to
big Americana, gringo from over the
line!
But jealousy, strong as death in
Mexico, can also give strength.
Two bulls had already been slain,
and the third had dangling from his
shoulders six gayly decorated bande-
rillas, or sharpened goads. Furious and
snorting, he was waiting to attack the
red cloth, this time to his death, when
shout, lost in roar Of fear, sounded
far up and down the city.
man placing. his hands m tho hor