Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-09-05
CHAPTER Xxx.
THOMAS IS MARRIED.

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Otomie turned and went. watched the
cnlden curtains close behind her. Then
sank back upon the couch and instantly
was lost In sleep, for was faint and weak
and 30 dszed with woariness that at the
time scarcely knew what had happened
or the purpose Of our talk. Afterward,
however, IL came back to me. I must have
slept for many hours, for when awoke 1t
was far into the night. 1t was night but
not dark, for through the barred window
places camethe sound Of tumult and fight
Ing and red rays Of light cast by the flames
Of burning houses. One Of these windows
was above my couch, and standing on tho
bed seized the sill with my hands. With
much pain, because Of the flesh wound In
lny side, I drew myself up till I could look
through the bars. Then I saw that the
Spaniards, not content with the capture of
the teocaln, had made night attack and
set fire to hundreds Of houses In the city.
The glare Of the flames was that Of lurid
day, and by 1t could see the white men
retreating to their quarters, pursued by
thousands Of Aztecs, who hung upon their
1Anks, shooting at them with stones and
Arrows.
Now I dropped down from the window
place and began to think as to what
should do, for again my mind was waver-
Ing. Should desert Otomie and escape
70 the Spaniards, II 1t were possible, tax
Ing my ohsnce Of death at the hands Of De
Garoiai Or should stay among the
Aztecs, II they would give me shelter, and
wed Otnmiep There was third choice
indeed-to stay with them and leave Oto-
mile alone, though it would be difficult to
do this and keep my honor. One thing I
understood-if married Otomie it must
DO at her own price, for thcn must be-
come an Indian and give over all hope OF
returning to England and to my betrothed
OF this indeed there was little chance.
Still, while life remained to me, 1t might
come about If was free. But once my
hands were tied by this marriage 1t could
never be during Otomie's lifetime, and so
fur as Lily Board was concerned should
be dead. How could be thus faithless to
her memory and my troth, and on the
other hand, how could discard tho wom
an who had riskcd all for me- and who, to
speak truth, had grown so dear to me,
though there was one yet dearer9
While sat musing on the couch the
curtain was drawn, and q man entered
bearing torch 1t was Guatcmoc as he
had como from the fray, which, except for
Its harvest of burning houses, was finished
for that night. The plumcs were shorn
from his head, his golden armor was
hacked by the Spanish swords, and ho
bled from shot wound in the neck.
"Greeting, Teulo," he said. Certainly
I never thought to sec you alive tonight,
or myself either, for that matter. But 1t
Is o strange world, and now, II never bo-
fore in Tenoctitlan, those things happen
for which we look the least. But I hayo
no time for words. came to summon
you before tho council"
''What is to be my fatoP" I asked
"To be dragged back to Tho stone OF sacrl-
aset"
"Nay, have no fear OF that But for
ahs rest cannot say. In an hour you
may be dead or great among us, II any OF
% can be called great in these days OF
uhame. Otomie has worked well for you
among the princes and the counselors, so
rhe says, and If you have heart you
should be grateful to her, for 1t seems to
me that few women have loved man 80
much. AS for me, have been employed
elsewhere, and he glanced at his rent
ermor, "but 1 will lift up my voice for
you. Nov come, friend, for the torch
burns low. BY this time you must be
we'll seasoned in dangers One moro or
less will matter as little to you as TO me.
Then ! rose and followed him into tho
great cedar paneled hall whore thnt very
morning I had received alteration rs 8
god. Now was god no longer, but q
prisoner on trial for his lifo. Upon tho
dais wherc I had stood in tho hour of my
podhead wero rnthered thosa Of tho princes