The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-09-12

WOULD OO CI1S WlllCS uOS5, Ss1iO ou4eAes1oes-
''Bethmk you, you are princess OF the Otto
mie and one of our masters daughters. 1t
is to you that we look to bring back the
mountain clans of the Otomie, Of whom
you are chieftainess, from their unholy al
lance with the accursed Tlascalans, the
slaves of the Teu1es. Is not your life too
precious to be set on such q stake as this
foreigners faith, for learn, Otomie, if he
proves false your rank shall not help you?"
''I know it ALL" she replied quietly.
Foreigner OF not I love this man, and !
will answer for him with my blood More
over, look to him to assist me to win
back the people Of the Otomie to their al
legiance But let him speak for himself,
my lord. It may happen that he has no
desire to take me in marriage.
Cuitlahua smiled grimly and said,
:sWhen the choice lies between the breast
of death and those fair arms of yours,
niece, it is easy to guess his answer. Still
speak, Teule, and swiftly
'.I have little to say, lord. If the Prin-
cess Oton1ie is willing to wed me, I am
willing to wed her" answered, and thus
in the moment of my danger all my doubts
and scruples vanished AS Cuitlahua had
said, it was easy to guess the choice OF one
set between death and Otomie.
She heard and looked at me warningly
saying in low voice: Remember our
words, Teule In such marriage you re-
nounce your past and give me your fu-
ture''
II remember, % answered, and while
spoke there came before my eyes vision
of Lily's face as it had been when bade
her farewell This, then, was the end OF
the vows that 1 had sworn. Cuitlahua
looked at me with glance which seemed
to search my heart and said:
IT hear your words, Teule You,
white wanderer, are graciously willing to
take this princess to wife and by her to be
lifted high among the great lords OF this
land. But, say, how can we trust your II
you fail us, your wife dies indeed, but that
may be naught to you.'
1T am ready to swear allegiance, an
swered. ST hate the Spaniards, and among
them is my bitterest enemy whom fol-
lowed across the sea to kin-the man who
stroye to murder me this very day. can
say no more If you doubt my words, it
were best to make an end Of me. Already
have suffered much at the hands Of your
people. It matters little if die or live. >
'tBoldly spoken, Teule. Now, lords, 1
ask your Judgment. Shall this man be
aiyen to Otomie as husband and be sworn
| as one of us, or shall he be killed instant
"? You know the matter. If he can be
trusted, as Guatemoc and Otomie believe,
! he will be worth an army to us, for he IS
acquainted with the language, the Gus
toms the weapons and the modes of war
fare of these white devils whom the gods
have let loose upon Us II, on the other
hand, he is not to be trusted, and it is hard
! for us to put faith in one Of his blood, he
may do Us much injury, for In the end he
will escape to the Teules and betray our
counsels and our strength or the lack of
it. It is for you to judge, lords. :"
Now the counselors consulted together,
land some said one thing and some anoth-
er, for they were not by any means of
| mind in the matter. At length, growing
weary. Cuitlahua called on them to put
| the question to the vote, and this they did
by lifting of hands. First those who
were in favor Of my death held up their
| hands, then those who thought it would be
| wise to spare me- There were 26 counsel
ors present, not counting Cuitlahua, and
of these 13 voted for my execution, and IL
were for saving me alive.
NOW it seems that must give a cast
ing VOTE" said Cuitlahua when the tale
had been rendered, and my blood turned
cold at his words, for had seen that his
! mind was set against me. Then 1T was
that Otomie broke in, saying:
"Your pardon, my uncle, but before you
speak I have word to say. You need my
services, do you not, for if the people OF
| the Osomic will listen to any and suffer
themselves to be led from their evil path
it is to me? Ny mother was by birth their
chicftainess, the last of a long line, and
am her only child. Moreover, my father
is their emperor Therefore my life is OF
no small worth now in this time of trou-
BILE, for though I am nothing in myself
yet it may chance that can bring $4,000
warriors to your standard. The priests
knew this on yonder pyramid, and when
I claimed my right to lie at the side of the
Teule they gainsaid me, nor would they
suffer it, though they hungered for the
royal blood, till I called down the yenge-
ance of the gods upon them. Now, my
| uncle anC you. lotus, Ieil YOU ILLS. GAeas
yonder man if you will, but know that
then you must find another than me to
lure the Otomie from their rebellion, for
then complete what I began today and
follow him to the grave. -
She ceased, and murmur Of amazelnent
went round the chamber, for none had
looked to find such love and courage in
this lady's heart. Only Cuitlahua grew
angry.
"Disloyal girl he said, ''do you dare
to set your lover before your country:
Shame upon you, shameless daughte--' OF
our king! Why, it is in the blood-as the
father is, so is the daughter. Did not Mon
tezuma forsake his people and choose to
lie among these Teules, the false children
Of Quetzal? And now this Otomie follows
in his path Tell US how is it, woman,
that you and your lover alone escaped
from the teocalli yonder when all the rest
were killed. Are you then in league with
these Teules? say to you, niece, that If
things were otherwise and I had my way
you should win your desire indeed, for you
should be slain at this mans side and
| 1r;tbiD +ho bo,,r ,, And no ceacn7 for lack