The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-08-22

then or thereafter, ana nOG Cl1 uoW o1u
learn how great a treasure is solitude.
Still we were allowed to walk together
under the trees, and though the clamor OF
music pursued us wherever we went, we
were soon deep in talk. Then it was that
I learned how dreadful was the fate which
overshadowed me.
know, o Teule,' said Otomie, for she
would call me by the old name when there
was none to hear, this is the custom OF
our rland-thatseveTyy young captive
should be. chosen to be the earthly image
Of the god Tezcat, who created the world
On1y twothings are necessary to this cap
tiye-namely, that his blood should be no.
BILE and that his person should be beaut1-
full and without flaw or blemish. The day
that You came hither, Teu1e, chanced to
be the day of choosing new captive to
personate the god, and you have been
chosen because you are both noble ana
more beautiful than any man in Anahuac,
and also because, being OF the people OF the
Teules, the children Of Quetzal, of whom
so many rumors have reached us, and
whose coming my father, Montezuma,
breads more than anything in the world,
it was thought by the priests that You may
avert their anger from us and the anger OF
the gods. -
Now Otomie paused as one who has
something to say that she can scarcely find
words, to ft, but, / remembering only what
had been said, swelled inwardly with the
sense Of my own greatness and because
this lovely princess had declared that
was the most beautiful man in Anahuac,
/, who though was well looking enough,
had never before been called beautiful
by man, woman or child But in this
case, as in many another, pride went be-
fore fall.
'.It must be spoken, Teule," Otomie
continued. 'sAlas that it should be l
who am fated to tell you. For year
you will rule as god in this city OF Te-
noctitlan, and except for certain ceremonies
that you must undergo and certain arts
which you must learn none will trouble
you Your slightest wish Will be a law,
and when you smile on any it shall be an
omen of good to them, and they will bless
you. Even my father, Montezuma, will
treat you with reverence as an equal or
more. Every delight shall be yours except
that of marriage, and this will be with
held till the twelfth month of the year.
Then tie fom.most beautiful, naidens in
the land will BE given to youas brides. %
s'And who will choose them?" asked.
.sNay, I know not, Teule, who do not
meddle in such mysteries" " she, answered
hurried1y. Sometimes the god is Judge,
and sometimes the priests judge for him.
It is as it may chance. Listen now to the
end of my tale, and you viii surely forget
SrSI
with your wives, and this month you will
pass in feasting at all the noblest houses
Ia the city. On the last day OF the month,
however, you will be placed in a royal
barge, and, together with your wives, pad
died across the lake to a place that IS
named Melting of Metals. Thence you
will be led to the teocali, named House Of
Weapons, where your wives will bid fare
well to you forever, and there, Teule-alas,
that must say it!-you are doomed to be
offered as a sacrifice to the god whose spir-
it you hold, the great god Tezcat, for your
heart will be torn from your body, and
your head will be struck from your shoul-
ders and set upon the stake that is known
as post of heads. %
Now, when heard this dreadful doom,
groaned aloud, and my knees trembled
| SO that almost fell to the ground. Then
q great fury seized me, and forgetting my
fathers counsel I blasphemed the gods OF
that country and the people who worship
ed them, first in the Aztec and Maya lam
guages, then, when my knowledge OF these
tongues failed me, in Spanish and good
English. But Otomic, who heard some Of
my words AID guessed more, was seized
with fear and lifted her hands, saying:
Curse not the awful gods, beseech
you, lest some terrible thing befan you at
once. II you are overheard, it will be
thought that you have an evil spirit and
not good one, and then you must die
now and by torment. At the least the
! gods, who are everywhere, will hear you. "
'tLet them hear" I answered ''They
are false gods, and that country is accursed
which worships the!4. They are doomed,
say, and all their worshipers are doomed
Nay, care not if am heard-as well die
nowsby torment as live a year in the tor
ment of approaching death But shall
not die alone. All the sea Of blood that
your priests have shed cries out for venge-
ance to the true God, and he will avenge. "
Thus raved on, being mad with fear
and impotent anger, while the Princess
Oto1nie stood terrified and amazed at my
blasphemies, and the flutes piped and the
dancers danced behind us. And as raved
saw that the mind of Otomie wandered
from my words, for she was staring to-
ward the cast like one who sees vision
Then looked also toward the east and
saw the SKY was alight there, for from
| the edge of the horizon to the highest parts
of heaven spread fan of pale and fearful
light powdered over with sparks of fire,
the handle of the fan resting on the earth,
| as it were, while its wings covered the
eastern sky. Now ceased my cursing and
stood transfxed, and as I stood cry OF
terror arose from all the precincts of the
palace. and people poured from every door
to gaze upon the portent that farcd and
blazed in the east Presently Montezuna
himself came out, attended by his great
lords, and in that ghastly light saw that
| his lips worked and his hands writhed
over each other. Nor was the miracle done
with, for anon from the clear sky that
hung over the city descended ball OF fire,
which seemed to rest upon the points OF
the lofty temple in the great square, light.