The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1893-02-24

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while. AS the sky grew brighter and
redder with the dawn he seemed to feel
1t and know that the day was approach
ing, for he raped sharply several times
! upon the roof, as if in summons to an
other person.
In moment second figure appeared,
coming up through a trapdoor, and
stood before him in respectful, yet
easy and familiar attitude. Then as the
aged Iklapel tottered it sprang to his
side and lovingly passed a strong arm
about him, leading him to stone seat
beside the altar and placing him ten
derby upon it. The old man reached
ont his hand, feeling for that of the
younger man, and placing it against his
breast he held it there in silence After
awhile he spoke, and his voice was
round and full, though now and then
quaYer, grace note as it were, broke
upon its even tones:
''Kulcan, my son, the beating of my
heart grows feeble, and this day, the
greatest, most sacred in the year, may
be my last. For a hundred and two
years have seen the sun rise over the
red cliffs, but tomorrow l may not see
it. Thus ! feel that now, while my
strength remains IN me, l should leave
You my last words of instruction and
advice. You will succeed me as high
priest, and there is no one more worthy,
] no one to whom I would leave the cares
and the honors of my sacred Office more
willingly nor moro fearlessly. To-Day,
as you we'll know, was to make the
holy sacrifice to the sun, the sacrifice of
1.-The Thirteenth Year, yet my strength
fails me, and you, my son, shall perform
the sacred rite. No one but myself for
eighty-fve years has shed the blood of
the virgin sacrifice, and yet It's with
cheerful heart lay the Office Gown. At
noon put on the holy robe, and, as you
alone have been instructed, perform the
rite that our people may be held to-
gether and their religion be preserved
The hand against IklapeIs bosom was
trembling, and Kulcan's figure shook
with the emotion he endeavored to sup
press. For some moments he appeared
unable to reply Then placing his hand
upon the old mans shoulder he said:
"My father, you tell me to perform
the rite that our people may be held to
gether and their religion preserved.
Why not say that the sun god may be
merciful to us and preserve our peoples?
His voice had bitter, sarcastic ring
and the old man replied quickly:
''Oh, Kulcan, you will not learn the
lesson I have striven so diligently to
teach. Know that the people are not as
we are and cannot be lifted to the level
of Our knowledge. You, who have been
initiated into the mysteries and dwelt in
the higher atmosphere of lofty thought,
. l a. I0nfr HOW
and our conception of religion. Among
all the priests to you alone have l dared
to reveal my inward thoughts and true
beliefs, but it was because l saw in you,
as in the dead governor, your father, the
spirit of philosophic reason, as well as
the tact to bow to popular prejudice in
religious matters. have spoken to you
as to my own soul. You know that
despise the images of the god and wor-
ship him, as have taught you, without
fires or feasts or sacrifices; but you know
that the people require these signs and
symbols to keep them true to their obedi-
ence; that tits thus we rule them and not
with reason or philosophy IT'S the
tribute they pay to intellect-the tribute
they have paid fer countless ages and
must in some form continue to pay"
s'But It's time, impulsively interrupt
cd Kulcan, s'that they were brought to
see that these cruel, inhuman sacrifices
should be abolished. Something, know
not what, tells me that we are beyond
and above them now, and that the people
themselves will welcome the change and
rejoice that their children no longer may
be thrown to the senseless image of the
fierce, bloodthirsty sun gOdl Oh, father,
he cried. shuddering, ''can we not devise,
before it is forever too late, some means
to prevent this murder of Ainee?"
at is even now too late" answered
the aged priest coldly. "Can you not see
with what feverish impotence the peo-
pie await the light of this day? They
know their children are safe now that
the lot has fallen on the girl Aimee, and
they thirst for the spectacle for which
they have waited thirteen years. Today
they believe Quetzalcoatl, with his dove
upon his hand, will return, as on this
day for ages they have looked for him.
In vain will they look; he will not re-
turn, but they must have their sacrifice.
or their wrath will turn upon the priests
and we shall perish. Upon it rests cur
very existence. Murmurs have already
been heard against us-we are called
idlers and bread eaters of the poor. 1t is
our only hope, and upon you it will rest
today. Were it only d question Of my
life or your life alone, would willingly
die; but we cannot prevent the slauohte-
by our deaths.
} ''Alas, my son" (the old mans voice
softened and quiveredl, thine bring but
the same tale. Eighty long years ago L.
too, loved maiden as you. know nay.
start not-love Aimee; yet she WIS
: chosen, and this withered hand plunged
: the sacred knife into her threat. Her
eyes were on me as she fell upon my
breast-they are with he now! killed
her, and when the day was done |
climbed the cliff and wandered cut upon
! the desert plains which lie abou; the
city in search of some other la2d. For
) days roamed, returning for water and
, food, and then starting anew III other
! directions. as you. too, have done, in ii
} spirit Of discovery. and finding. as You
: have done, that we are alone in the
, world-a city in a desert-the remnants
OF once great people, returned to my
futies and since that Clay have been