The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1895-12-07
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CHAPTER l.
HOW THE PLOT FAILED.

HOW III q PLOT FALLEN
I, Ignatio, the writer of this history,
being now man in my sixty-second
year, was born i'll a village among the
mountains that lie between the little
towns Of Pichaucalco and Tiapa. OF
hereditary cacique, and the Indians
there loved him much.
When I was lad perhaps nine years
old trouble; arose III the country and
my father was made a prisoner. l re-
member that he was shut up in dirty
place, SO hot that it was difficult to
breathe, and that there were some
drunken Mexican soldiers outside the
door, who now and again threatened to
make an end of us Indian dogs.
NY godfather, the priest Ignatio, con-
fessed my father in a corner of the cell,
and took something from his hand.
Then my father called me to him and
kissed me, and with his own fingers for
few moments he hung about my neck
that thing which the priest had taken
from him, only to remove it again ana
give it to Ignatio for safe keeping say
ing: ''See that the boy has it, and its
story with it, when he comes of age"
blessing me in the name of God, and as
he did so great tears ran down his face
Then the priest Ignatio took me away,
and never saw my father any more,
for the soldiers shot him next morning
and threw his body into the hole that
they had dug to receive it.
After this my godfather, cousin and
namesake took me and my mother to
the little town of Tiapa, of which he
was priest, but she soon. died of
broken heart
When I was about fifteen years Of
age, of sudden desire took hold of
me to become priest.
On the morrow went into my god
fathers room, and told him of my de-
sire. He listened to me attentively; and
answered: II would that it might be
SO, my son, holding, AL do, that the
things of the world to come outweigh
those of the present earth ten thou
sandfold. but it cannot be, for reasons
that you shall learn when you are
older Then, when my trust Is ended,
YOU may make your choice, and, if you
still wish it, become priest.
!. Five Pc wears passed away, during
which grew strong and active,
and 81! ~ manly exercises, and
studied Ran, r. the teachings of my
godfather, who sent even to Spain to
buy me books.
At length, on my twentieth birthday,
nv godfather, who was now grown very
old and feeble, called me into his cham
Der, and, having locked the door. he
spoke to me thus:
"My son. the time has come when l
must deliver to you the last messages
of your beloved father, my cousin and
best friend who was murdered by the
soldiers when you were little child,
and tell you of your descent and other
matters.
"First, then, you must know that you
are of roval and ancient blood, for your
forefather was none other than Qua
temoc. the last of the Aztec emperors,
whom the Spaniards murdered, which
descc can prove to you by means OF
old writings and pedigrees: also it is
!. ,own and attested among the Indians,
who, even now, do not for t the stock
whence sprang their kings
''Then, by right, am emperor of
Mexico" said, proudly, for in my folly
it seemed fine thing to be sprang
from men who once had worn 9 crown.
''Alas! my son." the old priest an
swered, sadly, Gin this world might is
the only right, and the Spaniards ended
that of your forefathers long ago by
the aid of torture and the moose. Save
u
Indians, it is but barren honor
\ lch you inherit with your blood.
Yet there is one thing that has come
down to you from your ancestor, Qua
temoc, and the monarchs who ruled be-
fore him. Perchance you remember
that on the night before he died your
father sat an amulet upon your neck,
and, removing it again, gave it to me to
keep. Here is that amulet
And he handed me a trinket made OF
the half of heart-shaped emerald,
smooth with wear but unpublished, that
if Joined to its missing section would
have been large as a doves egg. This
stone was not broken, but cut from the
top to the bottom, the line of the cut
ting being so cunningly sawn that no
one, unlese he had one half before him,
could initiate the other. This. charm
was bored through so as 20 be worn
upon a chain, and engraved upon its
surface were some hieroglyphics and
the outline of half a human face.
what is it?" asked.
The old priest shrugged his shoulders
and answered.:
IA relic that had to do with their
wicked heather magic and rites, sup
pose. I know little about it except that
your father told me that 1t was the
most valued possession Of the Aztec
kings, and that the natives believe that
when the two halves Of this stone came
together the men of white blood shall
be driven from Central America, and
that an Indian emperor shall rule from
sea to sea-"
"And where is the other half,
father?"
II am priest, and therefore your
father told me little of the matter. since
it is not lawful that should belong to
secret societies. Still, some such society
exists and, in virtue of the ownership of
that talisman, you will be head of it,
as your ancestors were before you,
though, SO far. as. ! can learn, it has
brought them but little luck.
II know no more about it, but
will give yon letters to a certain Indian
who lives in the district of which your
father was cacique, and, When you
show him the stone. doub tless he will
initiate You into its mysteries, though
! counsel you to have nothing to do
with them. 81 81 !. s
Listen, 1gnatio. my son. you are
rich man; how rich cannot tell you,
but for many generations your fore
fathers have hidden up treasure FOR m !.
object which will explain, and the
gold will be handed over to you BY those
Of your clan in whose keeping It is.
It was because Of this treasure that
your father and your great GRANDPA
sither were done to death with many
Others. since the rumor Of it came to-
the ears of those who ruled in Mexico.
who. when they, could come TO- i. by
no her means. torlnent led and killed