The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-12-10

The SACRTFIcIAb STONE.
these hospitable people. / saw the imperious
Montezuma seized and hurried away through
the streets TO our quarters. The months
dragged by
The populace were surging in angry waves
against the walls Of the palace wherein we were.
They cried out for MOutCZuma. An imposing
figure appeared upon the baitlomonts. heard
the voice of the king rs he besougLt tho indul-
Eence OF his people for the foreigners. They
answered with howls OF rage. They cursed aud
stoned him, and he fell.
As ] Gazcd upon these scenes felt myself
seized hy the arm and swung round aud round
in a bewildcr.ng circle, and then was released
and fell down, down. until i lost conscious
ness.
An enormous pyramidal temple lOOmed up
before me in the golden sunshine. i arose
YEARLY aud toiled up the white steps. found
myself at the top looking out over the country.
Saw three great causeWays leading 10 the city
the first from itZapalapan, the second from
TIacupa. the third from Tcpeaquilla. Through
the openings in the causeways ! saw the soft
waters Of the lake ebb and flow. Crowds Of
canoes skinned over the limpid waters. The
air was unstrred aud the sun mercilessy
poured its rays upon the fostering earth.
Across the immense hall into which now
turned my gaze were twosione affairs draped ia
many-hued cloth. Upon these stood horrible
idols. One the right was HuitziliPochtl, tho
/ god OF war, with m0BstrOus broad face and
] bulging eyes. lie was covered with gold and
/ pearls aud immense serpcnts, studded also with
\ gold aud pearls coiied about his hide0Us shape.
ia one hand he held a bow, IN the other a
/ bunch OF arrows BY his side smaller idol held
/ a shield Of gold. Strung around Huitzlopochtl's
neck were figures in imitation Of human faces.
I and these were set with blus-stones. Pans OF
copal- incense and tho heads Of five Indians rs
\ burnt offerings were placed before him.
The eyes Of Tetzcatiipuca. the god Of hell,
were Of tetzcat, the rejecting glass Of Mexico.
4 Devils with serpeHis' tails wound circular wise
around his body. Six human hearts were Of
/ fered him.
From the center Of the yaultcd ceiling was
suspended an enormous dTum-the drum OF
/ hell-made OF the skin Of a monster serpent.
/ The walls and door OF the temple were we'll
nigh black with blood. About the room were
| placed stones on which persisted the miserable
victims OF the sacrifice. / saw ali distinctly.
A muTmur as OF running water broke into
roar as a procession entered the hall headed by
| gray bearded priests in robes Of white bOrdered
with black Their faces were daubed with pig
mcnt, their mouths painted white Six minis
tiers of ceremony presided, the chief Of whom
was clad in rich crimson garments aud wore a
a crown topped with plumes.
Following the. soldiers the excited crowd
poured into the hall and filed IL 10 the walls
As / watched, beautiful woman, shrieknR
resisting pleading, was brought in by the SOL
dicrs She was being dragged 10 a fearful
death. Seized by her wrists by two priests she
was forced 10 the sacrihcal stone. She stood
with one foot on the stone looking up with
such despair in her face as cut my soul. Her
dark beauty. coutTastsd with the horrible
Visages Of the white-T ROBBED figures, made pic
ture that heated my blood aud nearly drove
me mad.
With a stride the chief priest reached the
woman. HIS hand was GA her throat. his knife
raised 10 tear out her heart. Oh the look upon
her face i rushed forward drawing my
sword aud stood before the sacriiUial stone.
Asi0uudcd, all turned their eyes on mo-a
7 crushing blow from behind, noise Of fall
ing waters, q sickening pain, and with the wild
chant Of the priests in my ears and the face Of
the woman Ina my brain, awOke as thought.
Rising, / staggered 10 the mirror. At the
? sight reflected therein j cried aloud. My lips
! were drawn and bluish-white, tho skin was
} stretched aud yellow like parchment, aud the
, eyebalis were bioOd-red.
1 turned away. threw myself down and slept.
When ! awoke ] left the house aud wandered
in the moonlit streets long time. Gradually
the misls settled. was returning 10 tho world
D Of reason. i went home. The next morning
felt as one returned from n long journey.
The last scene OF my dream was .delibly
D imprinted on my mental eye IL / could but
: put on canvas that Aztec sacrificed
s This Is the story of the picture. ! succeeded
Q beyond my most feTvent hope. 1 rcveled in
my success. j was fascinated in the contem.
piation Of the painting that had made me
famous
. The face of tho woman Of my dream was al
D ways before me. Little by little a change came
over IT, Despair went and ia its place Ap
, pesred sweet hope tranquil beauty. aud then
Ia the eyes shone glorious love. Hour after
hour studied this transition. DO you won
Il became at 1 gan
= myself up alone with this fantasy visible OnlJ
o 10 meE The sensitive lips moved TO utter
r sweet words, 10 call me. Ii would fade away
with the eyes bidding me follow-whcnce
The face grew clearer, bat ! behed IL only al
}. intervals aud for few moments at a time.
q thought heard the lips say; Come TO me.
d dwell in land no modern hath known.
i have been waiting long time. have wear
led siuce thou left me. Come 10 me; Low,
C thee still" What did il moan2 Had my sou
. been linked with hers in the past agcs2
d unused deeply. Still the lips called me-
n Now her face was sad and disappointed. Sh,
4 presented herself, but only when willed il
x fearful reproach fell from her eyes. Then sh
j. ceased 10 come even at my desire. ] suiicre,
u intensely when found | had no power TO cal
e her back. 1 loved-I wOrshiped her! Was
3 10 have her no mOrel
n Finally, unable 10 bear longer the auguisl
$. which her failure 10 come 10 mo produced,
o determined TO 90 away and seek this fond spiri
to spend my life, If need be, in the pursuit O
1. my ideal. Aud that night she roappearod. He
: beautiful face was transported with delight
q NO longer was she a fantasy. Her fragran
&c breath, like some strange. sweet scent Of tn
10 past was warm upon my cheek. The music 0
'e her voice stirred my heart to ecstasy. She wa
real. Yes, would follow.
ye Now ] am a wauderer Where j know no
Jf j shall 1nd her whose coming is joy, whose al
s. sence pain and intense longing. But that
a. shall end her know. Ny friend, farewell
" Adolphe.
lr On every Saturday afternoon at the hour Z
q. a little gray-haire man, whose age might
70 guessed TO be 90, bnt which is exactly AZ. en-
y ters the gallery where hangs "The All &C Sacr
70 fee" ii sits opposite the brilliant painting
ID long time. As the afternoon light wanes. warn
Ia Ing him that ho must go. ho rises and gaz,
wBtfuiiy at the picture, II he would solve Il
ID ! secret. Ny poor AdOlphe," he murmurs,