The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1893-03-03

6nued the old woman, the people break
forth IN songs of gIadness and make
merry with shouts and fsHsting ali that
day until the sun goes down, but the
god knows, and his servant Intzu knows,
the secret wailings and sorrow in the
houses Of his people, who fear that the
next feast viii take from some dwelling
the light thereof forever"
"But QuetzaBcoah may come today,
grandmotheT.
'Alas, nay Eliza, fear not; the hope
of it long ago faded In my breast"
81 shall watch for him, - said the child,
''and believe he has been waiting for
our Aimee to grow up, and he viii come
and take her. %
Perhaps" said Intzu with heavy
sigh q the food Of memories surged
over her mind; ''bus come, they are
nearly ready"
Then rising, she turned and called to
some one within:
'LelS, my own, we must go. Iklapel
stands prepared to give the signal, and
everything is ready"
In = moment there appeared at the
door 3 girl whose tail figure formed a
dazzling picture against the darkness of
the interior. Bending with stately grace
she caae into the light clad in a cling
ing gowa Of pale blue cotton, which re-
vealed the superb outlines of her form.
Her eyes were q deep blue, and her
goldea hair, tinged with suggestion of
auburn, and her white face upon which
the blue veins showed IN her excitement,
made her seem like vision of some
Nozs0uaan's daughter child of some
SnoWland Of the north. A lovely face,
with grave, serious eyes and mouth of
wondrUus beauty, and yet so strong and
earnest, and withsl showing capacity
for leVins-a passionate mouth, formed
for kisses and tender smiles.
She was very pale and her lips were
compressed with emotion, and there was
look Of Indignation and protest in her
eyes which showed to plainly her
thoughts.
''kust go, grandmother? Can not
remain here2 Oh, cannot witness it!''
''My child" the old woman answered,
sit is so-you must come. No one would
be missed so quickly as you. The city's
ruler Is dead; you, his only daughter,
cannot absent yourself from the great
feast unnoticed. Already they have
seen you, my darling, and many eyes
are upon you. Chalpa now is looking
at us, and he motions US to make haste. :"
Eyes, feel his serpent eyes upon me,
though cannot look upon him. l will
go; twill be but little while"
She covered her hair and forehead
with . white scarf, shielding her eyes
from the sun, and with visible effort at
self control took the hand of the child
Eliza and followed the bent form of the
aged weaver.
AS they took their places old Iklapel
placed the tiara upon his head and the
procession began to move. First came
the body of priests in their white robes,
a hundred or more, chanting low mo
notonous song, followed by eight chiefs
bearing q litter of wood covered with
gold and decked with flowers, in which
sat Aimee, dark skinned girl Of eight
cen, already under the influence of the
potent aitsi-a drink distilled from maize
and forming a picture that sent shud-
ders through Lela's frame.
Then came the four death priests,
swinging censors Of gold and filling the
air with an aromatic scsnt- Their faces
were painted most skillfully to represent
skulls; their heads were shaved, and
their tightly fitting garments were like
wise made to convey the idea of skele-
tons. The effect upon the minds of the
people was CHASTITY and thrilling.
Behind them came the members of the
order Of the Kabilo, an ancient secret
society, to the number of four hundred,
clad IN black, the foremost carrying a
corpse between them. Many of them
led little spotted dogs-a favorite form
Of sacrifice to Chalcu, the serpent, the
dread god Of evil.
Then came the principal families, in
the order of their rank and wealth, with
bearers Of food, drink, flowers and fruits
for sacrifice at the different affairs,
which wers located at intervals all
around the great court. The populace
followed, in less order and with more or
less disputing, and stretched out the
long parade until the rear nearly touched
the leaders and all could see thu entire
ceremonies.
When OEdsr had been attained they
moved slowly and with great solem-
nifty toward huge heap of wood upon
which had been cast the sweepings of
the houses, old utensils and clothing,
baskets and fishing nets-in fact every
thing that would be renewed yearly in
the household. This was ignited with q
| brand from the sacred fire by Kulcan,
who, covered with small bells and attired
in q gorgeous feather robe, marched
E1iGh ~ ia advance, with much show OF
pOmp, the priests chanting solemnly.
The procession moved on to a large
stone altar, upon which rested the figure
Of . woman, most hideously carved
bearing in her arms maize and Other
| fruits. This was Ixcan-leox, the goddess
| of maize. To her was sacrificed bread and
pinon nuts and all manner of produce
of the fields, brought in baskets and Laid
around the altar. -Four chiefs stood a
the corners and held aloft a red cord
under which all who had purified them
selves by fasting and dreaming were
permitted to enter. Before Ixcan-leo1
| they burned little balls of incense, eacf
casting his ball into the braziers of gold
while the people prayed silently, kneel
ing, for good and bounteous crops.
| Then they moved onward to the ALTA
of Am, the sacred stone, the emblem o
| life, some holding it to be but the ancien
symbol of the sun god himself. 1t wa
simply an upright conical stone stand
ing upon pedestal; before it, In a grea
fire, they sacrificed sheep and rabbits
also wounding themselves and dropping