The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1893-05-18

camera and other articles WHICH ne A
lief, ai the top Of the cliff. Motoh'hs
Ku!can TO follow him, he went down "
the court and out beyond the city, ana
led the way up the clfT path.
Kulcan followed him. with Tear III
his heart that the stranger was iea"ins
him AWAY 10 some remote CLINE OF
heavenly dwelling. he knew not wha''
but he feared equally 10 dlsobey.
uwas a long, hard climb. More than
tive hours elapsed before they reached
the top. and Gilbert found II far more
difficult task than the descent hah oeen'
On arriving at the spot where the oai-
looms slight cargo had h4en thrown out
h. selected such articles as would mol dc
liable To injury at the hands OF the m
Experienced Atzlan, such as the neid-
glasses, quadrant, etc, and gave tneIi
to him 10 carry. He took them with
saperstitio1s and very apparent rear
and miseiving. but was reassured at tae
sight of Gilbert's smiling face. The las-
ter carefully carried the camera ana
Photographic plates, the case Of surgical
implements. the barometer and 'hc 1T
tie battery with the electric light wrap
ping them in the blanket for safety, ami
again led the way, Kulcan following
with pleasurable alacrity.
Gilbert was rejoiced when they arrived
ut the temple without an accident 10
their precious freight and deposited 1t
upon the floor in safety. He noticed
Kulcan's curious gaze wander over the
glittering objects with awe and specula-
ton, and taking the fieldglasseS held
them up and motioned to him TO look
through them. He did so, and started
back in pale terror as he saw the giant
cathedral spires loom mp Immediately
before him; but the wonder of ii and
his intense curiosity soon overcame his
fear, and he gaZed long and rapturously
through the cleaning tubes, turning
them in different directions in simple,
childlike amazement.
When Gilbert, who had observed the
stone implements in the city, and sur
| missed rightly that iron was unknown,
slipped the chamois covering from the
| polished steel Ratchet and handed it to
| the Atzlan, lie took it with tender, al
most reyerent, touch, for he recognized,
| from its shape, its use and purpose. His
eyes moistened as he felt the marvellous
keenness of its edge, but he did not
realize its true value until Gilbert, with
one quick stroke, severed a piece of
| cedar firewood at least three inches
thick and rapidly split it into pieces.
| He gasped with astOnishment, which
| grew into positive terror, as Gilbert
| lighted the wood with match and held
it aloft while it burned. Gilbert showed
| him several more such wonders, and it
was afternoon before Kulcan left him,
and repairing to Iklapel related the
marvellous doings of the god. The old
priest listened with smiles and mods,
| for he felt that the younger must
acknowledge the force of his prophetic
utterances of the previous day, and then
went himself to Gilbert's lofty lodging.
Entering the room as Gilbert was
busted in arranging his effects in a suit
able and convenient disposal, the latter
saw at once that Lis visitor was blind,
| and rose to offer him aid, which was
courteously and with priestly dignity
declined with words of deprecating i'm
port. Gilbert stood before the old priest,
and with practiced eye discerned that
aract, and he decided that its removal
would be his first care
Seating the old man he gently touched
his eyelids, and the aged priest realized
that the god was about to exert his
| power. Gilbert took some chloroform
from his little medicine case and applied
it with his handkerchief While the
priest was under its deathlike influence
he deftly and rapidly removed the dire
hindrance to his eyesight ere he recov-
| cred consciousness and bound the hand
kerchief over his eyes to exclude the
now fading light of day.
When the old man recovered he strug-
| gled to his feet, and feeling the bandage
attempted to push it from off his eyes,
but Gilbert gently restrained him, and
he instantly omprehended his meaning;
he knew that something had been done
to restore his vision, for he could see
light through the folds of the linen. and
he felt that he was once more to see the
sun, and the trees, and the faces of his
people. and he went away with glad
| heart 1t was several days before Gill
bert removed the bandage entirely, and
when, at last, Iklapel stood at sunset at
Gllbert's window, and saw the glowing
sky and the distant towers, great tears
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 q
fervent and touching prayer of thanks.
| his lean, shriveled 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 a groun
or priests at the entrance to the temple.
calling them by name from a distance
In order to show them the miracle the
god had wrought, there was great re-.
9olclng, Tor the venerable priest was
loved by them all. Since the death of
kulcan's father, who had been the gov
ernor, 1klapel had exercised supreme
authority in the city by virtue of his
pr1estly Office. The Office of governor
which the early historians Of Mexico
contounded with that of king In the case
OF Montezama, was an elective and not
hereditary dignity, the incumbent being
chosen by the council of chiefs at stated
periods.
The governor had been dead for nearly
ayear, and although his son was favor
ably regarded by the council the cleo
tlon had repeatedly been postponed bv
the Vaccinations 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 IkIaners
anictlon was blow to Chalpa's ambi-
tion, as it enabled the old priest TO min
gle among the chiefs and help Kulcan,s
candidacy, and his was the only face
wnlch showed no pleasure when Iklapel
appeared.
The news of his cure soon snre.d