Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1893-03-16

through them. He did so, ana started
back in pale terror as he saw the giant,
cathedral spires loom up Immediately
before him; but the wonder of it and
his intense curiosity soon overcame his
fear, and he gazed long and rapturously,
through the cleaning tubes, turning
them in differeut 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 hatchet and handed it to
the Atzlan, he took it with tender, al
most reverent, 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 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
1t 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 suit
able aud convenient disposal, the latter
saw at once that his visitor was blind,
and rose to offer him aid, which was
coufteopsly and with priestly dignity
declined with words of deprecating inn
port. Gilbert stood before the old priest,
and with practiced eye discerned that
he was afflicted with mild form of cat
sract, and he decided thatsits 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 recoy-
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
be instantly comprehended 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 lie was once more to see the
sun, and the trees, and the faces of his
people, and he went away with':a glad
heart 1t was several days before Gil.
bert removed the bandage entirely, and
when, at last, Klapel stood at sunset at
Gilbert.s window, and saw. the glowing
sky and the distant towers, great tears
ran down lis wrinkled cheeks, and he
fell on his knees before the restorer of
his eycsight, with sobs of joy choking
his utterance. Then he offered up a
fervent and touching prayer Of thanks.
his lean, shriveled arms raised toward
heaven. and his wrinkled face working
with emotion.
l1.o RE CONTINUED.