Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-08-29
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devil.
Thus weeping and praying sank into
O half sleep and dreamed that walked on
the hillside near the church path that runs
through the garden Of the lodge ut Ditch
ingham. The whispers of the wind wero
In the trees which clothe the bank Of tho
Vineyard hills, the scent of the sweet Eng
lish flowers was in my nostrils, and tho
! balmy air of June blew upon my brow. 1t
was night In this dream Of mine, and
thought that tho moon shone sweetly on
tho meadows and the river, while from
every side came tho music of the nightin-
gale. But was not thinking Of these de-
| lightful sights and sounds, though they
were present in my mind, for my eyes
watched tho church path which goes up
tho hill at the back Of the house, and my
heart listened for footstep that longett
to hear.
Then there came sound Of singing
from beyond the hill, and the words OF
the song were sad for they told OF one who
| had sailed away and returned no more,
and presently between the apple trees I
saw a white figure on its crest. Slowly 1t
came toward me, and knew that 1t was
Now she ceased to sing but drew on gen.
| tly, and her face seemed very sad. More
over 1t was the face of woman in middle
life, but still most beautiful, moro beauti-
| full indeed than it had been In the bloom
Of youth. She had reached the foot of tho
hill and was turning toward the little gar
den gate, when I came forward from tho
shadow of tho trees and stood before her.
Back she started with cry Of fear, then
grew silent and gazed into my face.
$50 changed, she murmured. Can
| it be tho same? Thomas, is 1t you como
back to me from tho dead, or is this but Il
yisions" and slowly and doubtingly tho
dream wrath stretched out her arms as
though to clasp me.
Then I awokc. awoke, and, 10, before
| me stood fair woman clothed in white,
on whom tho moonlight shonc rs in my
ward me lovingly.
lit Is I, beloved, and no vision," I
cried, springing from my bed and clasp
| ing her to my breast to kiss her. But be-
fore my lips touched hers saw my error,
; for she whom I embraced was not Lily
| Board, my hetrothcd, but Otomic, who
was called my wife. Then 1 knew that
this was the saddcst and most bitter Of
| dreams that had been sent to mock me,
| for all the truth rushed into my mind.
Loosipg my hold of Otomic, l fell back
upon the bed and groaned aloud, and rs
fell saw the flush of shame upon her brow
and breast, for this woman cd me,
| and thus my act and words W. an in
|
prompted thcm Still she spoke gently.
Pardon me, Teulc; came but to watch
and not to wakcn you. l came also that
| may sec you alone before the daybrcak,
hoping that might be OF service or at
the least of comfort to you, for the end
draws near. Say then, in your sleep did
you mistake me for some other woman
dearer and fuirer than I am, that you
would have embraced meF'
II dreamed thnt you were my betrothed,
whom I love, and who Is far across the
sea-" answered heavily. But enough
of love and such matters. What have to
do with them who 60 down into darknessP"
SIN truth, I cannot tell Tculc Still l
have heard wise men say that if love Is to
be found anywhere it is in this same
darkness Of death, that Is light indeed.
Grieve not, for If there is truth in the faith
of which you have told me or in our own,
either on this earth or beyond it, with the
eyes Of the spirit you will sec your dear be-
fore another sun is set and pray that you
may find her faithful to you. Tell me
now, how much does she love your Would
she have lain by your side on the bed of
sacrifice as, had things gone otherwise be-
tween us, Teule, 1t was my hope to dos"
"No," answered; lit Is not the custom
Of our women to kill themselves because
their husbands chance to die"
perhaps they think 1t better to live and
wed again, ;" answered Otomie very quiet
ly, but I saw her eyes flash and her breast
heave in the moonlight as she spoke.
Enough of this foolish talk, said.
'tListen, Otomie. If you had cared for me
truly, surely you would have saved mo
from this dreadful doom or prevailed upon
Guatemoc to save me. You are Monte
zuma's daughter. Could you not havo
brought 1t about during all these months
that he issued his royal mandate, COM
| manding that I should be spared?"
"Do you, then take mo for so poor q
| friend, Teule?" she answered hotly.
Know that for all these months, by day
and by night, have worked and strivcn
| to find means to rescue you. Before he
became prisoner importuned my IA
ther, the emperor, till he ordered mo from
| his presence. have sought to bribe the
| priests. have plotted ways of escape
aye and Guatemoc has helped, for he loves
| you. Had it not been for the coming OF
these accursed Teules and the war that
they levied in the city had surely saved
you, for woman's thought leaps far and
can find path where none seems possible.
But this war has changed everything,
and, moreover, the star readers and d.
yiners of auguries have given prophecy
which seals your fate, for they have
| prophesied that If your blood flows and
your heart is offered at the hour Of noon
tomorrow on the altars of Tezcat our pco-
pie shall be victorious over the Teules and
utterly destroy them. But If the sacrifice
Is celebrated one moment before or after
that propitious hour, then the doom of
| Tenoctitlan Is sealed; also they have de-
clared that you must die, not, according
! to custom, at tho temple Of arms across
the lake, but on the great pyramid before
Uue Culel oUAuuc VI Gllc Sou. <hiA eiiia 40
| known throughout the land. Thousands
of priests arc now offering up prayers that
the sacrifice may be fortunate and u gold
en- ring has been hung over tho stone of
slaughter in such a fashion that tho light
of the sun must strike upon the center of
your breast at the very moment of mid
day For weeks you havo been watched
as jaguar watches its prey, for 1t was
feared that you would escape to tho Tculcs,
and we, your wlres, have been watched
also. At this moment there is Il triple
ring Of guards about the palace, anc
priests arc set without your doors and be-
meath tho window places. Judge, then,
what chance thcrc is Of escape, Tculc.
'.Littlc indeed" 1 said, "and yet l
know road. If kill myself, they cum
not kill me. T."
MAY" sho answered hastily, "what
shall that avail your While you live you
may hope, but once dead you arc dead for
ever; also, if you must die, it is best that
you should die by the hand Of the priest.
| Believe me- though tho end is horrible