The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1893-04-28

crash of hammers upon anvils filed the
air with cheerful din, and the great,
dim room, with it's cobwebbed rafters
black with the smoke of ages, was peo-
pied with grimy figures hurrying here
and there in the glare of the FORCES. In
quisitive, curious Atzlans crowded about
the doors, wrapped in their blankets and
furs, and cheered their fellow citizens,
who worked not for wages. but for the
benefit of their kind, under the tutelage
of the strange vi5itant from the skies.
Great things were prophesied for Atzlan
in the coming spring by the gossips Of
the city.
One cold night Eric sat at his rude
table, while Jan-ila lay stretched on a
pile of furs before the fire, with his back
to it, like lean dog, when Iklapel en-
tered the door. The old priest was en-
veloped in a colored blanket. and as he
removed his fur head covering and seat
ed himself upon one of the benches by
the wall he said:
s'The geese fly fast and thick to the
north. The spring will come early"
sit will be welcome" replied Eric.
''Aye, and by none more joyfully than
me-" answered Iklapel.
''Yet it will be stormy" spoke up JAN
liza; ''more stormy than ever spring was
before in Attain"
GLOW do you know that?" asked Eric,
with gentle smile. "Where did you
| gain your weather wisdom?'
81 have heard much he answered,
sitting up, ''and have held my tongue
because it is not meet that boy should
speak BEIGE his father, but know that
| Chalpa fears SIat there will be no Katun,
and he talks daily to the priests and
sometimes to others as well. He is plot
ting mischief, for he walks abroad at
night, wolf that he is. All, he distrusts
me, and yet Jan-ila, the water rat, has
crept near enough many and many a
time to hear his words of hate and
treacheryI remember the look his face
wore on the day you saved my sister,
aud know he hates and fears our Quet-
zal. Why l know not, except that he
hates all things good and loves darkness.
''Today as l was hunting along the
cliffs heard voices, and walking softly
in the light snow came close to one OF
the old homes up there where no one
dwells The voices were within, loud
and angry. heard Chalpa speak. He
said that unless we had sacrifice we
could hold no Katun feast; that he who
opposed the Katun sacrifice was a foe tt
Atzlan and should die. Then there was
disputing, but he silenced it and de
clared that the new governor must be O
the old religion-a believer in the dealt
gift and all old rites. He claimed tina
he had many votes among the peopl
and the priests and could be elected, bu
! CT Io cfiIro6 nm to
claim their desire for d great, glOriOu
Katun, with a beautiful victim.
ssOh, his words made my flesh cree
and my blood to boil. l longed 70
QuetzaI's thunder death that kills ala
off, but held my peace and crept be
hind the rocks, for they began to com
forth. There were twenty in there
Agzai, Bella, Quastit, Rakki-pisk, Bart
zel-ai and Geia, the hunchback, wer
} among them-the Oldest of our fathers
and they silently went down in tn
twilight like murderers-
Upon closer questioning Jan-ila, who's
: memory was very remarkable, repeate
: the debate verbatim, and it was seriou
? enough to cause Iklapel and Eric to loo
3 grave and anxious.
=, sWhat can we do?' the latter il
l quired.
: Old IklapeI gazed into the fire for SCI
T erai minutes, then answered:
g 81 am in doubt, my brother. 1t is tc
d soon to announce our plans or proclaim
s our views to the people. They are NJ
: ready yet. But Chalpa Is gaining groun'
e l can see that, and he can cause MS muc
It trouble. know not what to do
kill him!'' cried Jan-ila, looking
e Eric. .'KilI him as you did the snail
d and the great beast in the woods! The
d he Will no longer trouble you.
l. In the midst of his speech Jan-i
Is started and sprang noiselessly to Il
d door. He peered up and down, aero
70 the moonlit space between the house al
d the river, and turning to those with
d whispered:
s. 81 heard a sound Some one was u
n +ening at tho door.
Ell As he spoke Eric saw shadow pa
Of the window IN the other side Iklap
had heard nothing, but Jan-ila was co
c. WINGED that some one had feen spyin
lg and that one he believed Il be ChalI
Sc himself. IkIapeI soon rose to go, sayin
~ SIS is near to midnight, and old ms
ut teed more sleep than young ones.
as And wrapping his blanket tlgnL
d, about him started forth, declining "a
rs has offer of his company
Ie- CTo BE coSrHuErI