Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-28
CHAPTER XLIII.
In the Ring

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, it seerned-of
IL automobiles and carriages were before
us; and the Gloria was stopped by the
stopping of Others in front shout rang up
to the sky from behind the high walls of the
bull ring. 1t was the welcome which the pub
lie gave their King and his bride as they APP
peared in the royal box. We were too late
to intercept Carmona; for as the royalties
had taken their places he was certain to be
already in his, with his fiancee by his side
Covered with dust, all but spent with fatigue,
for moment l did not hear what Dick was
saying, although was conscious that he spoke
Z" 1t will be two hours before the King and
Queen leave their box and lesser folks can
move" he said 90 am not going to have
you sitting here in the heat and dust"
g. must wait till they come out, l answered
DULY. It's the only way"
mo, it isn't. l told you Pillar had sent me
is in the shade all right, and You are going to
have it.
But you?" 1 said. Pillar would never
"She would never forgive me if l didn't
hand it over to you. But I'll get in somehow.
1t can cost me fifty dollars if it likes to slip
past policeman; but guess the price won't
stop me. don't mind if l stand up in the
passageway.'
Ropes was to stay with the car and wait
until we came again. Before that time my
fate would be decided. Nothing could keep
me from meeting Monica now; and nothing
should keep her from me- if she loved me. If
motif after all | had been dreaming, -why,
she would be the Duchess of Carmona to-
morrow
Under horses noses, between backs and
bonnets of motors, We edged our way through
the dense crowd of vehicles and people massed
together on the baking plain outside the bull
ring The circle which had been cleared for
ROYALTY had filled again now, like a sand bank
which has caved in upon itself; but the spec
tace on the other side of those steep brown
walls had begun, and the main entrance was
comparatively clear.
Mechanically my ewes took in the splendid
scene as they searched for Monica; and, find
ing her. for a time saw nothing else. She was
in a box near the royalties, and sat between
her mother and the Duchess, with Carmona
and some man whom l did not know behind
them. She was in white dress and white
mantilla, with pink and white mdiWd1sons IN
her hair; and her face was pathetlcally pale
in its frame of falling lace. In her hand was a
fan with which to shut out such horrors OF
the fight as none but Spanish women born
and bred dare trust themselves to see. My
place was distant and far below; yet my eyes
were keen, and it seemed to me that she looked
thin and frail, though very beautiful. Ii tor
an instant since Dick broke the news to me
had doubted the loyalty of her heart, the
sight of her sad young face would have driven
doubt away. | was more than ever certain
that in promising to marry Carmona she
thought to save me from punishment threat
ened by HIM.
Neither he nor she guessed that was near;
but where did she believe me to be? Perhaps
Carmona had said that for her sake he had let
me fly from danger after stabbing him in the
cathedral, by hurrying back to England.
The Duke was leaning forward to speak to
her. She did not look up at him, but let her
ewes listessly travel over the vast audience
thought they fingered on Number g, draped
with lowered shawls of Andausia, and crowded
with pretty women. Suddenly she blushed
and turned away. l looked where she had
looked, and knew what had brought the blood
to her cheeks Pillar, in rose color, with
white mantilla and the orthodox mdlnidfSons
of pink and crimson was gazing up at the Car
mona box, an imploring expression on her
face. Pillar too was pale and thin. | realized
more and more that nearly six weeks had been
struck out of my life.
Each of the three coaches had in its turn
stopped under the royal box. while a ducal
patron presented his cavalier to the young
King and his bride. Now the ring was being
cleared as the magnificent amateur picadors
mounted their horses, which had been led
round by squres in the quaint dress of 1880.
One of four dignihed algnacils in black velvet
and lace dotted his plumed hat to the King as
president of the fight, asking the key of the
bulls cell. Down it flashed, while the music
stopped as if awed into silence, and the dlgndcH
spurred his stallion across the arena to fling
to the janitor of the bull cells the key he had