San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-02-17

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ran down his wrinkled cheeks, and he
fell on his knees before the restorer of
his eyesight, with sobs of joy choking
| his utterance. Then he offered up a
fervent and touching prayer of thanks,
his lean, shrixeled arms raised toward
| heaven. and his wrinkled face working
with emotion.
When he rose and walked down the
broad incline with none of his former
hesitation and appeared before group
! of priests at the entrance to the temple,
[ calling them by name from a distance
in order to snow them the miracle the
god had wrought, there was great re-
joicing, for the venerable priest was
loved by them all. Since the death of
Kulcan's father, who had been the gov
ernor, Iklapel had exercised supreme
authority in the city by virtue of his
priestly office. The office of governor.
which the early historians of Mexico
COMPOUNDED with that of king in the case
of Montezuma, was an elective and not
hereditary dignity, the incumbent being
chosen by the council of chiefs at stated
peIlOuS.
The governor had been dead for nearly
year, and although his son was favor
ably regarded by the council the cleo
ton had rereatedly been postponed by
the machinations of Chalpa, who al
though not possessed of sufficient politi-
cal strength to gain the office himself
caused the delay in the hope of increas-
ing his influence and ultimately defeat
ing Kulcan. The removal of Iklapel's
affection was a blow to Chalpas amb,-
ton, as it enabled the old priest to min
gle among the chiefs and help Kulcan's
candidacy, nd his was the only face
which showed no pleasure when Iklapel
appeared.
The news of his cure soon spread
through the city, and crowds surrounded
him as he went about with hearty con-
CALCULATIONS.
In his walks about the city and out
side its precincts Gilbert found a great
variety of cultivated plants. Cotton and
maize, he observed, were the staples,
while there was produced goodly guam
tity of peas, beans, turnips, onions, to-
matOes, rhubarb, currants, Strawberries,
gOOseberries and flax and wild tobacco,
all denOting the fecundity of the region.
1t was while wandering about fev
days after his arrival that he again
caught a glimpse of the beautiful face
that so filled his thoughts, and it was
truly in the hope of Seeing Leila once
more that he took occasion to walk about
the city SO often.
Late one afternoon he stood watching
a basket maker hacking upon thick
piece of willow with his blunt stone
knife, making little progress until Gill
bert stepped up to him, and taking his
pocketknife cut the wand through with
one stroke. While he was enjoying the
surprise depicted upon the mans face a
voice, soft and musical, broke upon the
air in tender song. So sweet was the
melody and so full of sincere feeling
that Gilbert seemed to know its mean
ing, although of course he knew not the
words. 1t was long afterward that he
translated its simple wording and set
the sad and plaintive air down in mu-
steal terms:
What care we if the year grows old
And autumn's days are fleeing byp
The fire Of love will neer grow cold;
Its ashes in our hearts ne'er lie
To choke its flame. to choke its flame.
The racing hours bear not away
One atom Of our deep. true love;
Still flowing on, in night or day.
1t bears us on its stream Away,
Always the same, always the same.
The voice came from window almost
above his head, but he could see nothing
from where he stood. He walked away
to a distance, and turning just as the
song died away he saw her lovely face
for a moment as she looked down into
the green court.
Their eyes met for an instant, and the
blood rushed into her cheeks as she drew
herself quickly back. He stood looking
toward the window for awhile, then
turned and slowly walked away. She
was watching him from behind a shell
tering growth of window plants, when
her brother Kulcan entered the room,
and following her gaze saw Gilbert
crossing the court. He walked to the
window and stood there until Gilbert,
Obeying an uncomfortable impulse,
turned, and seeing Kulcan he waved his
hand to him. He realized that the fair
girl was Kulcan's sister, and he resolved
to see her frequently, for she had pro
duced upon him an impression and ex-
cited emotions both new and strange.
He wandered about the city with his
thoughts full of her and her sweet face
coming ever before him as he unused
for an hour or more, recalling her look
! and the expression upon her face, her
csrncnfrl cnt.r.i u 20 and Er.r1rn until Il