The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-09-12
i 1nns5ny to the spanlards anu

me here. i mus5Iy 70 Jne Span1aroS anu
trust to their mercy. "
''To the mercy Of that man with the
sword9 Say, Teu1e, who is he?''
s.He is that Spaniard of whom have
spoken to you, Oto1nie. he is my mortal
enemy, whom have followed across the
seas
''And now you would put yourself into
his power. Truly, you are foolish, Teule. J"
lit is better to fall into the hands of
Christian men than into those of your
priests answered.
"Have no fear, y she said. 1.-The priests
are harmless for you. You have escaped
them, and there's an end. Few have ever
come alive from their clutches before, and
he who does so is a wizard indeed For
he rest, think that your God is stronger
than our gods, for surely he must have
cast his mantle over us when we lay yon-
der on the stone. Ah, Teule, to what have
you brought me that I should live to
doubt my gods! Aye, and to call upon the
foes of my country for succor in your need!
Believe me, had not done it for my own
sake, since I would have died with your
kiss upon my lips and ycur word OF love
echoing in my ears, who now must live
knowing that these joys have passed from
me'
'sHow so?" answered. What have
said have said. Otomie, you would
have died with me, and you saved my life
By your wit in calling on the Spanlards.
Henceforth it is yours, for there IS no
other woman in the world SO tender and so
brave, and / say it again, Otomie, my
wife, I love you. Our blood has mingled
ON the stone of sacrifice, and there We
have kissed. Let these be our marriage
rites. Perhaps have not long to live, but
till die am yours Otomie, my wife. "
Thus spoke from the fullness OF my
heart, for my strength and courage were
shattered. Horror and Loneliness had
taken hold of me. But two things were
left to me in the world-my trust in Prov
idence and the love of this woman, who
bed dared so much for me. Therefore l
forgot my troth and clung to her as
child to its mother. Doubtless it was
wrong, but viii be bold to say that few
men so placed would have acted other
wise. Moreover, could not take back
the fateful words that I had spoken on
the stone of sacrifice. When said them,
I was expecting death indeed, but to re-
nounce them now that its shadow was
lifted from me, If only for little while,
would have been the act Of a coward For
good or evil had given myself to Monte
zuma's daughter, and must abide by 1t
or be ehamed. Still such was the noble
ness Of this Indian lady that even then she
would not take me at my word For
little while she stood smiling sadly and
drawing lock of her long hair through
the hollow of her hand. Then she spoke:
''You are not yourself, Teule, and
should be base indeed If made so solemn
q compact with one who does not know
what he sells Yonder on the altar and
in moment of death you said that you
loved me, and doubtless it was strue
But now you have come back to life, and
say, lord, who set that golden ring upon
YOUR hand, and what is written in its cir
cles Yet even if the words are true that
you have spoken and you love me little,
there is one across the sea whom you love
better.
''That could bear, formy heart is fixed
on you alone among men, and at the least
you. would be kind to me, and ! should
move inthe sunlight Of your presence. But
having known the light cannot live to
wander in the darkness. You do not un-
derstand Ifear that H-if we were wed
YOU would weary Of me as men do, and
that memory would grow too strong for
you. Then by and by it might be possible
for you to find your way back across the
waters to your own land and your own
love, and so you would desert me, Teule.
This is what could not bear, Teule- l
can forego you now, aye, and remain your
friend. But cannot be put aside like
dancing girl, the companion OF month,
I, Montezuma's daughter, a lady OF my
own land. Should you wed me, it must
be for life, Teule, and that is perhaps more
than you would wish to promise, though
you could kiss me on yonder stone, and
there is blood fellowship between us, I" and
she glanced at the red stain in the linen
robe that covered the wound upon her side.
land now, Teule, leave you awhile,
that may f1rd Guatemoc, If be still lives,
and others who, now that the strength OF
the priests is shattered, have power to pro-
tect YOU and advance you to honor. Think
then on all that I have said and do not be
hasty to decide. Or would you make an
end at once and fly to the white men if
can find a means Of escape?'
ct am too weary to fly anywhere, (" an
swered, 'seven If could. Moreover, for
get. Ny enemy is among the Spaniards,
he whom T have sworn to kill; therefore
his friends are my foes, and his foes my
friends. will not fly, Otomie. u
'.There you arc wise, % she said, "for If
you come among the Teules that man will
murder you. By fair means OF foul he will
murder you within day; / saw it in his
eyes. Now rest while seek your safety,
if there Is any safety in this blood stained
land
CHAPTER Xxx.
THOMAS IS MARRIED.
Otomie turned and went. Watched the
Golden curtains close behind her. Then /
sank back upon the couch and instantly
was lost in sleep, for was faint and weak
and so dazed with weariness that at the
time scarcely knew what had happened
or the purpose Of our talk. Afterward,
however, it came back to me. must have