Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-08-22

niade no answer, but followed him as
he led the way down the darkest Of the
winding paths that run between the &C.
dar trees, where it would have been easy
for me to kill him if wished but could
not see how I should be advantaged by
the deed; also, though knew that Mon
tezuma was my enemy, my heart shrank
from the thought of murder. For awhile
or more ho walked on without speaking,
now bGheath tho shadow Of the trees, and
now through open spaces of garden plant
ed with lovely flowers, till at last we came
to the gates of the place where the royal
dead arc said to rest Now, In front OF
these gates was an open space Of turf on
which tho moonlight shone brightly, and
in tho center of this space lay something
white, shaped like n woman. Hero Monte
yuma halted and looked at the gates, then
said:
"These gates opened four days since for
Papantzin, my sister. How long, Won
der, will pass before they open for me?
AS he spoke the white shape upon the
grass, which I had seen and he had not
seen, stirred like an awaking sleeper
AS the snow shape upon tho mountain
had stirred, so this shape stirred; as 1t had
arisen, so this one arose; rs it threw its
arms upward, so this one threw up her
arms. Now Montezuma saw and stood
still trembling and trembled also.
Then the woman-for it was woman
advanced slowly toward US, and as sho
came we saw that she was draped in grave
clothes. Presently she lifted her head, and
the moonlight fell full upon her face.
Now Montcz ina groancd aloud, and
eroaned, for W saw that the face was the
pale, thin face Of the Princess Papantzin
-Papantzin, who had lain for four days
in the grave On she came toward US
gliding like one who walks in her Sleep
till she stopped before the bush In tho
shadow Of which we stood. Now Papant-
gin, or the ghost Of Papantzin, looked at
us with blind eyes-that is, with eyes that
were open and yet did not seem to SEQ.
'sArc you there, Mcntezuma, my broth
er?" she said in the voice of Papantzin.
Surely I feel your presence, though 1
cannot sec you"
Now Montezuma stepped from the shad-
ow and stood face to face with the dead.
''Who are you," be said, who wear the
shape of one dead and arc dressed in the
garments Of the dead?"
II am Papantzin," she answered, land
am risen out of death to bring you mes
sage, Montezuma, my brother. "
E.What message do you bring mc?" he
asked hoarsely.
Il bring you a message OF doom, my
brother Your empire shall fall, and soon
you shall be accompanied TO death by tens
of thousands Of your people. For four
davs have lived among the dead, and
there 7 have seen your false gods, which
are devils There also 1 have seen the
priests which served them and many OF
those who worshiped them plunged into
torment unutterablc Because of the wor-
ship of these demon gods the people OF
Anahuac is destined to destruction. F"
'sHave you no word Of comfort for me,
Papantzin, my sister," he asked.
''None," she answered 'Perchance If
you abandon the worship of the false gods
you may save your soul. Your life you
cannot save, nor the lives of your people. "
Then she turned and passed away into
the shadow of the trees. Iheard her grave
clothes sweep upon the grass.
Now O fury seized Montezuma, and he
raved aloud, saying:
CurScS on you, IdpauGIiu, uy siSoo1
Why then do you come back from the dead
toibring me such evil tidings' Had you
brought hope with you, had you shown
way of escape, then I would have vel
oomed you May you go back into dark
ness, and may the earth lie heavy on your
heart foreverl AS for my gods, my father
worshiped them, and I will worship them
to the end. Aye, if they desert me, at least
Twill never desert them. The gods are
angry because the sacrifices are few upon
their altars; henceforth they shall be dou'
bled Aye, the priests of the gods shall
themselves be sacrificed because they neg
lect their worship"
Thus he ravcd on, after the fashion OF Q
weak man maddcncd with terror, while
his mobiles and attendants who had fol.
lowed at distance clustered about him,
fearful and wondering. At length there
camo an end, for, tearing with his thin
hands at his royal robes and at his hai1
and beard, Montczuma fell and writhed In
a fit upon tho ground. Then they carried
him into the palace, and mono saw him fol
three days and nights.