Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1893-03-02

round and full, though now and then q
ouaver, o grace note as it were, broke
upon its even tones:
ssKulcan, 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 I 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 more fearlessly. Today,
as you we'll know, was to make the
holy sacrifice to the sum, the sacrifice OF
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 tits with q
cheerful heart I lay the Office down. 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 Iklapel's bosom was
trembling, and Kulcan's figure shook
with the emotion he endeayored to sup
press. For some moments he appeared
unable to reply. Then placing his hand
upon the-old mans shoulder he said:
'sMy 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 a bitter, sarcastic ring.
and the old man replied quickly:
'sOh, Kulcan, you will not ]easn the
lesson / 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
Unlisted into the mysteries and dwelt. in
the higher atmosphere of lofty thought,
do not realize the distance between their
snd our conception Of religion. Among
all the priests to you alone have ! dared
to reveal my inward thoughts and true
beliefs, but it was because I 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 tfue to their obedi-
ence; that It's thus we rule them and not
with reason. or philosophy. IT'S the
tribute they pay to intellect-the tribute
they have paid for countless ages and
must in some form continue to pay"
sBut 'tis time" impulsiyely interrupt
ed Kulcan, ssthat 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 god! Oh, father"
he cried, shuddering, 'can we not devise,
sbefare it is forever too late, some means
to prevent this murder of Aineer'
cit is even now too late" answered
theaged priest coldly. Scan 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,.w 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 our
very existence. Murmurs have already
been heard against us-we are called
idlers and bread eaters of the poor. It is
our only hope, and upon you it will rest
today. Were it only question of my
life or your life alone, l would willingly
die; but we cannot prevent the slaughter
by our deaths.
"Alas, my son" the old mans voice
.softened and quivered), "time brings but
the same tale. Eighty long years ago ].
too, loved a maiden as you, ] know-nay,
start not-love Aimee; yet she was
chosen, and this withered hand plunged
the sacred knife into her throat. Her
eyes were on me as she fell upon my
breast-they are with me now! I killed
her, and when the day was done !
climbed the cliff and wandered out upon
the desert plains which lie about the
city in search of some other land. For
days roamed, returning for water and
food, and then starting anew in other
directions, as you, too, have done, In
spirit of discovery, and finding, as you
have done, that we are alone in the
world-a city in desert-the remnants
of a once great people, j returned to my
duties, and since that day have been
the most jealous in guarding the tradi-
tional customs Of our religion"
"But, my father, we have the power,
if we will, to prevent this horrid sacri-
fee today! Some plausible excuse can
be offered to the credulous people, and
an animal perhaps be substituted for the
beautiful maiden"
"It is too late, even were willing"
replied the aged priest. Gas is the Gus
tom when the feast of the Thirteenth
Year approaches, all prodigies in nature,
in the skies and on the earth, are eagerly
regarded as omens of good or evil. The
birth of the six horned calf has been ac-
cepted by the priests and the people as
an evil sign, and the terrific storm of
last night will have wrought their fears
to a higher pitch. And NOW / will reveal
to you cause of secret uneasiness and
great fear eve.l to me. ;.
"Last nighs, as the storm ragged with
n f11ry have uot often seen, there came