The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1894-10-05


captive and companion, was the first O
kings. And yet thought that saw mer
riment in his eye, mingled with sorrow
Bending forward, l spoke to him in
whisper:
What does all this mean, prince?"
said. Am 1 befoolcd, or am indeed
god?"
"Hush!' no answered, bowling low ant
speaking beneath his breath. 'It means
both good and i'll for you, my friend Teule
Another time will tell you" Then h,
added aloud: Does it please you, o TEE
cat, god Of gods, that we should sit al
meat with you, or will you eat alone9'
1.-The gods like good company, prince, .
I said.
Now, during this talk had discovered
that among those gathered in the hall was
the Princess Otomie. So when we passed
to the low table around which we were tc
sit on cushions hung back, watching
where she would place herself, and then
at once seated myself beside her This
caused some little confusion among the
company, for the place of honor had been
prepared for me at the head of the table,
the seat of Guatemoc being to my right
| and that of his wife, the royal Tecuichpo,
to my left
Your scat is yonder, o Tezcat," she
said blushing beneath her olive skin as
she spoke
"Surely god may sit where he chooses,
royal Otomie," answered "Besides,
added in low voice, what better place
can he find than by the side of the most
lovely goddess on the earth9"
Again she blushed and answered; ALAS
T rroIIocc hIrt pv,1, rto1y al
Listen. If you desire that should be your
companion at our feasts, you must issue
it as a command. None will dare to DISC
hey you, not even Montezuma, my father. 4"
So rose and said in very hating Aztec
to the mobiles who waited on me, 1T Is
my will that my place shall always be set
by the side of the Princess Otomie."
At these words Otomie blushed even
more, and murmur went round among
the guests, while Guatemoc first looked
angry and then laughed. But the mobiles,
my attendants, bowed, and their spokes-
man answered.:
1.-The words of Tezcat shall be obeyed
Let the scat of Otomie, the royal princess
the favored of Tezcat, be placed by the side
Of the god"
Afterward this was always DONE except
when l ate with Montezuma himself.
Moreover, the Princess Otomie became
known throughout the city as the blessed
princess, the favored of Tezcat, I" for so
strong hold had custom and superstition
upon this people that they thought it the
greatest of honors to her, who was among
the first ladies in the land, that he who for
a little space was supposed to hold the
spirit of the soul of the world should deign
to desire her companionship when he ate.
Now the feast went on, and presently
made shift to ask Otomie what all this
might mean
'Alas!" she whispered, "you do not
know, nor dare tell you now. But will
say this, though you who are a god may
sit where you will today an hour shall
come when you must lie where you would
not. Listen. When we have finished eat
ing, say that it is your wish to walk in the
gardens of the palace, and that should
you. Then I may find q chance
to speak,
Accordingly, when the feast was over,
said that I desired to walk in the gardens
with the Princess Otomie, and we went
out and wandered under the solemn trees
that are draped in winding sheet of gray
moss, which, hanging from every bough |
IS though the forest had been decked with |
the white boards of an army of aged men,
waved and rustled sadly in the keen night |
air. But, alas! we might not be alone, for |
after us at a distance Of 90 PAGES followed
Ill my crowd of attendant mobiles, together
With fair dancing girls and minstrels, arm
I'd with their accursed flutes, on which they |
blew in season and out of 1t, dancing as |
hey blew. In vain did I command them
% be silent, telling them that 1t was writ
en- of old that there Is time to play and
lance and a time to cease from dancing,
or in this alone they would not obey me.
Never could be at peace because Of them
hen or thereafter, and not till now did
earn how great treasure is solitude.
Still we were allowed to walk together
lnder the trees, and though the clamor of
music pursued us wherever we went, we
7ere soon deep in talk. Then it was that
learned how dreadful was the fate which
vershadowed me.
Know, O Teule," said Otomie, for she
yould call me by the old name when there
,as none to hear, this is the custom of
ur land-that every year young captive
hould be chosen to be the earthly image
the god Tczcat, who created the world.
MY two things are necessary to this cap
that his blood should be no
lie and that his person should be beauti-
IL and without flaw or blemish. The day ]
lat you came hither, Teule, CHANGED to ]
, the day of choosing new captive to {
the god, and you have been
lOsen because you are both noble and
ore beautiful than any man in Anahuac, !
I'd also because, being of the people of the &
eules, the children of Quetzal, of whom
many rumors have reached us, and I
hose coming my father, Montezuma, 1
eads more than anything in the world, G
was thought by the priests that you may I
ert their anger from us and the anger of
G gods" +
Now Otomie paused as one who has
to say that she can scarcely find
)rds to fit, but, l remembering only what
ID been said, swelled inwardly with the t
use Of my own greatness and because p
is lovely princess had declared that d
rs the most beautiful man in Anahuac, h
who, though was well looking enough,
d never before boon called beautiful" 81
man, woman or child But in this n
Sc, as in many another, pride went be- n
'e fall. p
1t must be spoken, Teule," Otomie
ltinued. ALAS, that it should be I g
10 am fated to tell you. For year n
Il will rule as god in this city of Te- t.
ctitlan, and except for certain ceremonies CT
1t you must undergo and certain arts
ich you must learn none will trouble W
i. Your slightest wish will be law, oN
1 when you smile on any it shall be an
en- of good to them, and they will bless az
1. Even my father, Montezuma, will
at you with reverence as an equal or IL
ne. Every delight shall be yours except
It of marriage, and this will be with In
till tho twelfth month of the year. m
en- the four most beautiful maidens in