Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1893-05-04
"But why sIay himr she pleaaea.
"He shall be spared if you will. 70


hold his life as well as your own upon
your lips tonightr'
She looked amazed; new fear smote
her. What design had entered this cruel
priests mind? She knew no way to
avert her fate apart from Gilberts
strong hand, and yet he seemed to offer
her safety dependent upon her own will.
Eric had crept softly to the door and
heard every word. An inkling of Chal-
pa,s purpose flashed into his mind; he
smiled as he thought of the priests
helpless position. One step and he was
lost as he stood proffering help to those
two doomed ones. There was silence
awhile; then Leila said in low voice:
"What can do to save him?"
"Can you not guessp Have you not
seen these many months that my soul
seeks yours-that / love you as no man
ever loved?" ;,
She drew away from him with startled
eyes.
"Ah," he continued, ''you must know
that wish you to be my wife. When
Ouetzal was here did not seek you, for
Iknew he was but deluding you. Now
he is gone; he will never return, and l
love YOU still, faithfully, truly, forever.
Will you be mine? Say yes and you
shall be saved and Kulcan ALSO"
"And if l say mo? she asked.
"Then," said the priest, "you will both
die. No power on earth can save you.
NOT even Ouetzel can help you now, for
he issdeadI" f,
"No, not deadp she cried, then closed
her lips and trembled for fear that she
had said too much.
eyes, dead; he cannot save you. Give
me your answer now. Can you not see
how am tortured with love for youf"
"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 say? she
asked, turning to him. "Shall / save you
and myself thus?'
"He has no voice in the matterp Chal-
pa cried savagely. "It is in your hands. "
Kulcan looked calmly at him. eff 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 tor keep the ancient custom intact?
Have you The power to do all this and
not suffer-
"Aye and more! My priests will obey
me, and the people will be only too glad
to abolish the sacrifice"
"Then why kill us? Let us go and
try to make my sister love you for your
clemency and forbearance rather than
by this dreadful alternative"
"No! This is my answerl" cried Lela
ST would rather die than be loved by
you; rather go to the altar than be
touched by you. Yes, rather die by your
hand than be caressed by it, or feel your
dreadful snakes eyes upon my facet"
Chalpa recoiled; then with the most
bitter rage in his face he sprang to-
ward her. Seizing her in his arms, as
Kulcan 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 hatel
See this fair throat, so soft and white!
It 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
bis eyes started from their sockets as he
stared at the apparition of him whose
body lay deep in the flooded tunnel,
where he had thought it would lie for
ever undiscovered. Hegasped 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 tseems
not 80 brave as when I last saw him:
Has his god deserted him that he cow
ers before a false god? Have his wits
deserted the nimble cheater with the
the dice that he trembles SO? He who
fears not to defraud a whole nation
seems to lose his courage before one
man. Coward and fooll 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 Chalpa.
He drew his breath again and began
to move toward the door, with his eyes
fixed 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. KuIcan's cry was Gilbert's 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.
BE saw the maddened eyes, like those
OF 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 priest
L,o ord cTroncr of him H1a