The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1893-04-28

was delicious, perfect, and for long
time it was regarded by the people as
almost sacred, but the steady outpour
from the mill soon familiarized them
with the product of its machinery, and
as it entirely abolished the use of the
laborious mortars and grinding stones
it made the lives of the women less toll
some. This made him more of a favor
tie than ever among the women, and old
Bari. the wife of Listah, idolized him.
Shescame with her grain to the mill fire.
uuently and praised Eric's good deeds
to the men in charge until they tired of
her garrulity.
Listah had disappeared and secluded
himself in order to fast, pray and be-
come ''epsu," or purified, by isolation
from mankind, but where ne had gon'4
was mystery that perpleEcd these two
Young men. Bari used enough meal Tor
two, and they believed she was supply
ing her husband with food, yes they
could not de-ect her taking it to him. 1t
was the custom to tempt, annoy and
disturb any ''epsu" seeker in order to
test his strength, and they desired to
discover his whereabouts, but they
failed, for garrulous as she was she
could hold her tongue when she wished.
1t was while they were. plying her
with vexatious questioning that they
were overheard by Gilbert, who was
surprised to find that Listah had taken
up his VOW as soon as he had laid away
his crutches, and drawing the old wom-
an aside he asked her to tell him where
her husband was hiding, promising to
keep her secret carefully. Bari looked
at him with knowing smile and re-
Piled:
"Ouetzal knows full well where his
servant Listah hides, waiting for the
day that is to come when he will be
needed. Why ask me, the old woman
when he knows his servant is under his
feet, down in the dark halls beneath us,
becoming purified and perfect? l take
food to him from your mill every night
| but he has not seen the sun for many
days"
From this Eric readily OWNED that
old Listah had taken refuge in the un
foreground passages that were so gen
orally avoided by the people. He won
dered if Iklapel was aware of the priest
retreat, but he came to the conclusion
that Listah had probably discovered
some opening in one of the remote pas
| sages and remained near his base o.
daily supplies. He had certainly chosen
a most secluded place to perform hl'
vows, and he hoped he would be undls
turbed.
l have said that Eric and his assistant
were the only active workers in AtzlaI
during the long summer days. Ever.
hour had its duties, and his labers KEEP
him awake far into the night. He wa
compiling an Atzlan dictionary, study
ing the ancient records, making col
lection of the fauna and for1of the can
Won, making sketches of the people ant
their costumes, with notes upon thei
habits and customs; teaching Leila AM
Eliza the English language and the az
of reading and writing during interval
in his regular occupations of furnac
building, mining, milling and curln
the few ills of generally healthy popr
lace.
He wore the Atzlan costume, for hi
, own clothes had long ago become rag
and he felt himself as thorough an Att
, Ian as any man in the city, and when
, saw the autumn come again and tn
{ harvest feasts were held he felt all til
/ Joy of a native. The people were mol
' lively; they held games and weird danc'
every day, which interested him intens
; ~ in their esoteric significance, and Il
. prospect was very satisfactory to hi
: and to Leila and Iklapel. That his cor
. ing had been of immense benefit to Il
j people he could. see, and he felt swel
J, ing of pride at the fact which was on
: quelIed by the thought of what he cou
o have accomplished with better facilitie
b He felt no desire to return to civihz'
= life; he was willing to devote sever
; years to the work of converting this CT
of the stone age into modern boroul
+ with all its improvements. With III
d as his servant everything was possibl
t and in q few days iron would be fort