, 1902-03-31
The Last EsIdtE.iia,
BY GARoFFI.

~ DabF JILL III No.t
My neighbor, Soledad Jimenez, an
Andalucian with black hair and fash
ing eyes. is the beauty Of the street.
Her husband. Jose, serves under the
orders Of the first swordsman OF the
Plaza de Madrid. and this afternoon
there is a bull fight. Jose arrived yes
terday from Malaga; lie is an honest
fellow. modest and sympathetic. who
thinks a great deal OF his wife and Of
the two pretty children who add such
happines to his humble home. II he
tries very hard and undergoes many
hal dships and takes many risks with
the bull, II is in order to bring a little
comfort and warmth to that nest of
love that just now in the winter is
very cold: perhaps 1t is because of
the fatigues that he endures that he is
known among his comrades by the
alias Of "Senor Fatigas."
SoledaC went to the station very
early this morning and when. Just
after daylight, l opened my window.
there appeared much rejoicing in the
house Of the bull-fighter. She, seat
ed by the balcony, was hastily patch
ing the red and yellow cloaks that
here and there showed black stains Of
blood, hardly dry; the children were
playing with the ribbons of a rosette;
of blue silk with it's trimming Of
black cord. Soledad was singing, and
from time to time. said something to
her husband. who was changing his
clothing in the next room; two turtle
doves in a divided cage were wooing
each other pa%ssionately and a crested
canary, constant companion Of the
Andalucian. was pouring out its full
throated song.
did they applaud you a great
deal?" asked Soledad of Jose.
"A great deal, child of my soul;
more than | deserved"
And you didn't have any accident?"
Nothing of the sort. One Of the
Dukes bulls desired to knock me
down when I decorated him, but l left
him with the desire, because l didn't
stay there"
"Ay, Pepe! What joy it would be
" you would only 20 into some other
business"
There's no use talking about it.;
I'm no; good for anything else and by
keeping Oh at the bull-fghting I will
be able 10 provide all the things that
We want SO much"
AS the street is so narrow, 1 lost
no detail OF the dialogue. Jose finish
ed his toilet and came out into the
parlor; he kissed his wife on the fore
head :cd remarkably embraced his
lchildrcn. Soledad gave her husband
la glance of great love, and said In a
very sad voice:
Yesterday l was ill again. 1 hate
SO to have those attacks; it makes
me so sad to think that"
Josd's face became clouded:
you shall call the doctor to-day,
ISoledad. You occupy yourself too
much with thinking of me, dearest
one; but this cannot continue and
Unjust be remedied at once no matter
what 1t costs. After all, the year will
not go SO badly with us; more than
sixty fights will be almost certain to
make me a matador.
.
Three o'clock In the afternoon.
The street seems almost deserted;
the shops are closed. 1t is a street
where workingmen live and-it is
Sunday. jose has just finished dress
ing; a shirt, white as snow shows all
the beauties of embroidery and running
that the hands of Soledad know how
to give it; the numerous folds Of the
crimson sash hide his graceful waist.
To-day joss will wear a new costume,
green and silver. The younger child
has possessed herself of his velvet cap
and, standing before the mirror, il
putting 1t on and OF. an action which
produces a strange effect on that lit
tie blonde head with its long silky
curls.
Soledad 10 impatient; the big clock,
the one ornament Of the almost unfur-
nished room. Is about to strike four.
Suddenly an unrepressed frown on her
face, she comes to the balcony; an