Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1886-06-10

OuA dCuuh "oo NNh'N-
Heraclio kept tame vultures to feast
on his flesh, until his lower limbs were |
but dry bones. One day the
tortured man refused to breathe and
ended his miserable life by voluntary |
suffocation.
"The King heard of the cruelty of
his chief counselor, and had him ar
rested. But Hcraclio had such conf
dence in his high position that he did
not dream that harm could befall him.
As he was going across the judicial
chamber he saw his own portrait hang
ing on the wall, with a line traced by
an arrow across it. He started back
filed with fear and establishment. A
capital sentence was indicated in that
He had over-estimated his
power, and had been sentenced to
death. With the fear of death. came
the horrors of remorse. The blood of
the murdered slave seemed. to cry out
against him, and he fled from the pal
ace The guards, not knowing he was
condemned, allowed him to pass He
fled to the mountains. Los Tres Frailes
was first reached, and when he had
concealed himself, he lay down to
sleep. He slept long time-some say
hours, some say days, and some say a
hundred years. When he awoke the
small trees about him had grown old
and died. He was very hungry and
had no food, and no means of provid-
ing any save the tlint-head spear he
had brought with him. He esried
fawn short distance away and gave
chase to it. 1t fled, going down, down,
down into a deep canyon. He seemed
to neither gain nor lose on it. The
chaparral and mesquit bushes disap-
peared, the cactus was left behind, and
on every side there sprang up
strange, unnatural tree. He pursued
the fawn through canyon so dark
that no object but the animal, which
seemed of golden color, could be
seen. After wandering for miles
through the dark canyon, he came out
in broad valley watered by delight
full rivers, and covered with luxuriant
grasses. There was city in the dis
lance, the streets of which were paved
with gold. The spires and roofs glist-
ened SO that he scarce could bear the
light The gates were of pearl, and
before them tall, dark soldiers in shin
ing armor solemnly marched. He had
no thought of the fawn now, but slak-
ing his thirst in the first stream he
came to, started for the Reals Perdi-
dos o Encantados-
"'Alto ahi,' (halt) said the sentry
as he came near the gate. The I'M
fortunate Heraclio came to a stand.
still, for the man handled his shining
lance in such a way that the senor's
courage seemed all of sudden to de-
sert him. who are youP'
"He explained that he was Gener-
al of the army of the King of the AZ
tees, and wanted shelter within the
walls of the city. The sentry who
seemed to know his past history, re-
fused to admit him until he had burned
incense to the gods for the peace of the
man he had so cruelty murdered. The
proud Heraclio refused to do this. He
was sorry he had committed the muir
der, but he could not humiliate him
self in this manner. For days and
weeks he wandered about the valley,
subsisting on grass, and roots, and
herbs, like the cattle-refusing to do
the bidding of the sentry. The sentry
was always at the gate and the walls
were so high that he could not climb
them, or get glimpse of the interior.
From behind those walls came the
sweetest music ear had ever heard.
1t seemed to come from some instru-
ment that foated in the air. Voices
joined in singing songs so sweet as to
almost drive him mad. He was tor
mented at times by flying vultures and
serpents, and the most loathsome ami
mails one ever saw. Through all one
white dove seemed to act as his friend,
and urged him to comply with the de-
mand of the sentry, and enter the gate.
He held out yet awhile, but his torment
was too great and at last he complied,
burning incense to appease the wrath
of the gods. Then as he approached
the gate, the sentry raised his lance in
salute. and the gates of pearl opened
wide for him to enter. He passed
through, accompanied by the dove,
which bidding him follow, spread its
wings and flew to a grove the like Of
which Heraclio had never seen. There
were trees loaded with choice fruits
and flowers, and the air was burdened
with an aroma, the richness of which
can only be imagined. The paths ere
inlaid with gold and diamonds. He
met people with faces and garments
of snow. There were birds of the
brightest plumage in the grove and
they joined in the songs he heard every
where.
'Heraclio was delighted, but no one
spoke to him, and as he approached
they melted away. He wondered a
the cause of all this. CHANGING at hi
hands he saw that they were red.,Bioo5
was dripping from them. The dove
told him that it was the blood of The
Prince he had murdered that was or
his hands, and no one would associat,
with him while it was there. How
can get it OFF, he asked. The dov,
said there was pool in which thu
blood stains could be washed away
Heraclio was taken to the pool. H,
had to press his way through a chap
arral of thorns, infested with serpents
scorpions, Lizards and all sorts of pois
onous reptiles. At times be grew fain
and was on the point of turning back
but the dove urged him on. At last h
came to the pool and found it fount
ain of blood.
How can l be cleansed by bathin,
there?' he asked. The dove assure,
him he would, and after long time h
plunged into the pool. When he cam
out, 10! every thing was changed. Tn
dangerous chaparral had disappeared
and the enchanted city which had bee
receding from him, now seemed me
mentarily drawing nearer. All stain
had disappeared from his hands and h
was now as white as snow. The poe
had become fountain of living water
| Thosa u,b,ta robad naay1a fratb ara