Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1893-04-06

OUTLOOK WITH supreme SATISFACTION. Ills
iron works were some distance from the
city-down in.the canyon-where he had
discovered the remains of ancient smelt-
Ing furnaces forgotten long ages since
and almost buried in the debris Of the
shaly cliffs. Remains like these have
since been discovered in other parts Of
the region and show the facilities which
the prehistoric races possessed for smelt-
ing and casting ores. The Atzlans had
traditions only of the times when their
forefathers mined and worked their ores.
He had built as nearly perfect Besse-
mer furnace as he could with his mate
rails, and it promised great results.
He had erected stone dwelling for
himself outside the city walls in wood
ed spot facing the river. On the ap-
proach of autumn he moved into it with
all his belongings. 1t had three rooms,
with modern freplaces, and windows
with glass of poor quality, but home
product. The walls were hung with the
great, gorgeously colored Atzlan blan-
kets, and furs covered the antique pave
ment of the foor-a treasure rifled from
an old portion of the city.
Iklapel had long before assigned to
him body servant named Jan-ila, a
dark, active lad Of twenty, Ainee's only
brother, who cared for his wants with
pious zeal. Jan-1a-or "Johnnie," as
Eric was fond of calling hirn-slept in
one of the smaller rooms, his master in
another, while the larger apartment
served as a general Office, dining and
council room. Jan was so apt pupil that
he outstripped both Kulcan and Iklapel
in his knowledge of mechanics, arts and
language under Eric's tuition, and of
modern ideas he was most eager i'm
biber.
All of Gilbert's reforms and improve
ments had been accomplished without
in any manner usurping the functions
which Iklapel exercised pending the
election of new governor. He had al
most entirely left his priestly duties to
,Kulcan, who performed them with a
laxity born of increasing distrust Of the
efficacy of the religion of his fathers.
This the crafty Chalpa had observed, and
he used it as apretext for fomenting the
fears of the priests. He. painted in;
strong, feryid colors, and With potent
logic, the decay of tb cienk fsitfhi
the downfall of priesa q. the sloss
Of their fat livings. ed sghtuRon
their fears ut every ota~- unity BY
these forceful pleas that he bad already
formed fairly strong following:
Familiarity with Eric had lessened
their awe while it had increased theil
admiration of him. They were, already
willing to abandon their belief in his
divinity, and were beginning to realize
that instead of being from another
world he was 4 man like themselves.
The events which now occurred aided
;Chalpa's plans and strengthened his po-
sition Us u candidate for the governor
ship. Both Iklapel and Kulcan were
aware Of agrowing a feeling among the
priests in favor of Chalpa's candidacy,
but they did not believe that he could
gain adherents enough to affect the re-
suit of the election, which was to occur
in the early spring. a week before the
feast of the Katun. Eric and Iklapel had
determined to divest this feast of its
horrible. sacrifcial. murderous char
acter, and the old priests powers were
all bent in this direction while he left
the electioneering to Kulcan.
|. All of the younger priests could be
counted upon to favor his advanced
views, but only few of the elder could
be expected to depart from q tine hon
orsd and powerfully potent religious
custom. While only few of them had
witnessed the last Katun feast, ffty-two
years before, yet the barbaric rite had
many firm adherents. The subject had
been approached at great tribal meetings
in the circular estufas, but it had been
handled so carefully that even Iklapel
could form no opinion of the strength OF
the new movement.
[To BE Continued