Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1893-05-26


Il..t.l,. -. Ea~i,l mt" his mind. he
.u1.I a- De- thought # the priests
h,lp.,-- ,.-itl.u. one step and l." was
- ..- i' stood rroil"rIng help t. those
two .aluci ones There was silence
av .. inrn Lila said in a low VOICE:
"Whai can do To- save HIM
"Can You not guessf Have you not
seen these many months that my soul
se,hs Your, that love you as no man
ever luycl:'
She drew away from him with startled
eyes.
"Ah. be- continued. you must know
that wish You to be my wife. When
Quctzal was here did not seek yop, for
knew he was hut dcluding you. Now
h. Is gone: he will never return, and
love You still. faithfully, truly. forever.
Will YOU be mine' Say yes and you
sh..ii br saved and Kulcan also"
And If | say no| she asked.
"Then, said the priest. you will both
die. No power on earth can save you.
Not even Quetzel can help you now. for
he is dead"
mo. not dead" she cried, then closed
her lips and trembled for fear that she
had said too much.
YES, dead; he cannot save you. Give
me your answer now. Can you not see
I how am tortured with love for youy"
"Can you not give me time-until to-
morrow
That will be too late; you must de-
eide now" he answered, his face work.
ing convulsively and his eyes blazing,
FOR he thought he saw signs Of her sub
mission in those downcast eyes.
What does my brother sayY' she
asked. turning to him. shall save you
and myself thus"
'lle has no voice in the matter" Chal.
pa cried savagely. ut is in your hands. "
kulcan looked calmly at him. IF she
/ consents. can you save us? Or can You
even save me? How avert the anger of
the people when they are robbed of their
sacrifice. How appease the priests who
wish to keep the ancient custom intact
Have you the power to do all this and
not suffer-"
AYE and morel My priests will obey
, me. and the people will be only too glad
to abolish the sacrifice"
Then why kill us? Let us 20 and
try to make my sister love you for your
clemency and forbearance rather than
by this dreadful alternative"
mo! This is my answer" cried Leila.
81 would rather die than be loved by
you: rather 90 to the altar than he
touched by you. Yes, rather die by your
hand than be caressed by II. or feel your
dreadful snakes eyes upon my facet
Chalpa recoiled; then with the most
bitter rage IN bis face he sprang to-
ward her. Selling her in his arms. as
Hulcan vainly struggled to break his
bonds, he held her before her brother.
"See, fool. what you have done" he
shrieked. Had you pleaded with her
you and she would have lived and been
honored. Now she is mine, and die you
shall, but not before she knows my hate!
See this fair throat, 80 soft and white!
1t shall feel the knife tomorrow, and
you
His hand was raised to strike the
white throat and bosom when Eric
dashed into the room and sprang to her.
Chalpa fell away from him. releasing
her, and she rushed to Eric's arms. The
priests face blanched to an olive tint, and
his eyes started from their sockets az he
stared at the apparition Of him whose
body lay deep in the flooded tunnel,
where he had thought 1t would lie for
ever undiscovered. He gasped for breath.
His knees smote together. and his lips,
drawn apart over his chattering teeth,
trembled and turned ashen. Eric stood
there looking sternly at him, although
the fright OF the wretch was almost ludi-
crous, and as he covered against the
wall in his terror Eric said:
"Chalcu has brave servant, and yet
he helps him not Chalcu's servant seems
not SO brave as when l last saw him.
Has his god deserted him that he cow
ers before false god? Have his wits
deserted the nimble cheater with the
the dice that he trembles soa He who
fears not to defraud q whole nation
seems to lose his courage before one
man. Coward and fooli thief and traitor
the dogs Of the city shall despise thee
the children shall spit upon thee and
drive thee into the desert, thou serpentr
The words seemed to revive Chalp.
He drew his breath again and began
to move toward the door, with his eyes
6xed upon Eric In AN unreasoning
glare. The latter made no move to
prevent him. thinking him completely
cowed. but the shock Of his appearance
had dethroned Chalpa's reason. 1t was
madness that cleaned in his eye now,
and it was madman's act that next fol.
lowed. As he reached the table in the
center Of the room he seized long iron
knife, and in an instant sprang upon
Eric. Kulcan's cry was Gilberts warn.
ing, for he had turned partly away. and
he drew his revolver instantly. but the
savage lunge made by Chalpa struck the
weapon. and it fell from his grasp.
He saw the maddened eyes, like those
Of a hungry wolf, before him. and he
struck at them. The blow sent the priest
clear across the room. but he was at
Eric before he could gain his weapon.
Another right hander-and one which in
Eric's usual condition Of health would
have finished the battle-took him in the
cheek and sent him to the floor. His
weapon cut into Eric's arm in its fall,
but he did not feel the wound, for his
blood was up. A third time the prizes,
gained his feet and sprang at him. His
cheek had pulled up and his left eye was
partly closed; his teeth ground in frantic
rage. He came at Eric more cautiously.
with more deadly care. and made half
circle before him. Gilbert dared not
stoop for his pistol and stood prepared
TO strike with all his strength, which he
felt was already waning.
Suddenly. as with the practiced box
er IS perception he watched the cleaning
eyes before him. he saw their purpose
change, and then he saw or felt that
| the priest was about To throw the knife.
His hand was raised. and his fingers
lessened their hold upon the blade and
then Erie saw a flash. a loud report rang
through the room, and Chalpa dropped
the knife and fell prone upon his face.
He rose IN moment to his knees in a
cOnvulsive effort and strained every
muscle TO gain his feet. His body swayed
forward thrice: then, with his empty
hands reaching forward with q wild
clutching motion. he fell on his face
again, dead
Jan-ila stood in the doorway with the
smoking rifle in his hand and smile OF
mixed wonder and complacency ON his
face.
you have killed him. cried Eric AS
he placed the now unconscious girl upon
! his bed.