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

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They felt that the evil goa had raIlen
and bowed before his master, and that
his dread reign was ended.
A Asingle glance convinced Gilbert that
the disaster to the evil deity was the re-
suit of lack of, care in the construction
Of the masonry of the pedestal. The fire
which burned upon it before the image
had in some manner weakened the
plaster that held the stones. together, and
the weighty idol had forced them apart
at very opportune moment. It did not
need very bright intellect to see the
force of the event and the impression it
had left, as well as the beneficial result
to all concerned. One of their idols, and
by all odds the most hideous, was pros
trate, and although he had no very
strong religious scruples, and wished to
establish no particular form Of worship,
be felt that it was good beginning.
Already, as he walked about, he had
begun to plan means of elevating the
people and rendering their condition
more in. accordance with the times in
which they dwelt.
Here he stood, q man of the telephone
phonograph-electric era, among apeo-
pie Of the stone age, his mind stored full
Of scientific and mechanical facts, the
simplest Of which. would be a miracle to
these crude yet evidently intelligent
barbayians. he perceived that they had
books. letters and records perhaps, yet
they ground their meal by hand while q
swift stream was flowing by their door
and wasting its valuable power unno-
ticed.
Here was occupation and amusement
at once; he had no ties to bind him to
the outer world, and he could, he
thought, at any rate return thither when
he desired at any time; he had no near
relatives to mourn his absence or seek
for him in his retirement. Then, too,
he could write book about these peo-
pie after he had learned their language,
traditions and social conditions. The
prospect began to be pleasant; he saw
the future city with its water wheels
turning merrily, grinding the yellow
corn and pumping the water up into the
irrigating channels and pipes-aye, and
his mind roved on until he saw electric
lights, telephone wires and newspaper
offices. Then the reaction came, and he
laughed to himself at his folly. But he
saw that there were not even chimneys
to the houses, nor glass to the windows.
and he resolved to place them there.
All this time he had held Eltza's little
hand, and she had walked with him. In
truth, the child had unwittingly led him
to the different images and other points
of interest, for she, too, was alone today,
and desired to see,. before her grand
mother began to search for her, all the
! new and strange sights which her short
stature prevented her from observing
when in the procession. The people by
! tt',is time had ceased to gather around
l.s SS;vo. ana ttey surveyed them from a
,iis s:ma. l'aey recognized their Wis
i::.ocs &C. u tcG see everything in his new
.@aa>5::. {. u 9TH delicate tact they re-
in&G ts,s@ pressing their attentions
= ,.ai. fact, many Of them had
l.is(.. =o tneir houses, confd dent, that
ii.e 22D:. ID remain with them, and
:ll;sss sh..Y ssauld see him on the morrow
I'D i. :, y days thereafter
!i-a.cf.I. i'd 8 few of the other priests
nal sc::le,~sd him at respectful dis
tance, more, from a7nattral ignorance of
their. proper duties, under the circum.
stances, than from curiosity.
This thought occurred to Gilbert, and
he dismissed them with polite gesture
which was readily understood and ac-
howledged.
The others, too, took the hint, and he
was left with the child, standing before
the altar of Chalchuitli, the goddess Of
love, the Atzlan Venus.
It stood at the corner Of projecting
building, and was buried in flowers; its
yellow face shining out with satisfied
and apparently intoxicated leer which
made Gilbert smile.
The child, too, smiled, and said some
thing in her own language, pointing to
the idol and then to Gilbert, who, ap-
pretending, shook his head merrily,
whereat the child laughed again.
Her ringing laughter caught the ear
Of one who had been eagerly searching
for her for an hour. 1t was Leila, who,
unaware that Eliza was with the
stranger, came quickly around the cor
ner with glad cry.
Erect, lovely, her fair hair blowing in
gracious ripples: from her. broad, noble
forehead; she was truly asight to make
mans heart stir within him. At the
sight of Gilbert she stopped shors, stand
ing as though about to turn and fee.
She had not seen his face until this mo-
ment, and as his eyes met hers, full Of
surprise and admiration q warm blush
rushed into her cheeks and neck, her
bosom showed its. heaving beneath the
thin gown, and her eyes, 10 scfdy ten
der at all times; fell: beneath his gaze.
he removed his hat, and With bow
of deepest respect and homage tosuch
wondrous beauty aud grace presented
the child, saying, Pardon me it Ehsye
prevented her, returning to you, bat hen:
company was so agreeable had COM
pletely forgotten the time"
Wasted words. Yet how 'sweetly the
music of his voice, so low and tender,
fell upon ber ears in that,lnknown gods
tongue!
She trembled with new, strange
fear, and hastily, with downcast eyes,
reached forth her hand for Eltza's; but
in doing SO it brushed against his with q
velyety touch that sent q rushing thrill
through the bodies Of each, touching
their two hearts cores with an electric
contact.
She raised her eyes to his with one
straight, pure glance, and taking the
child's hand hurried away, leaving him
standing there, with his sombrero in his
hand, in day dream.
CHAPTER y.