Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-05-14

ny H. RIDER Haoe4RD.
to
Copyrighted. 1894. by H. Rider Hasgard
CHAPTER L
HOW THE PLOT FAILED.

q
year, was born in village among the
mountains that lie between the little
towns of Pichaucalco and Tiapa- OF
zll that district my father was the
hereditary caciquc, and the Indians
there loved him much.
When l was lad perhaps nine years
old troubles arose in the country and
any father was made q prisoner. / 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,
md took something from his hand.
Then my father called rae to him and
kissed me, and with his own fingers for
IL few moments he hung about my neck
that thing which the priest had taken
from him, only to remove it again and
give it to Ignatio for safe keeping, say
ing: "Sec that the boy hasGt, and its
story with it, when he comes of age"
Now my father kissed me again,
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
md threw his body into the hole that
they had dug to receive it.
After this my godfather, cousin and
Eaamesallc took me and my mother to the
little town of Tiapa, of which he was
priest, but she died of a broken heart.
When l was about fifteen years of
age, of a sudden q desire took hold of
sne to become priest.
On the morrow l went into my god.
fathers room, and told him of my de-
sire. He listened to me attentively, and
answered: 4 would that it might be
so, my son, holding, as / do, that the
things of the world to come outweigh
those of the present earth ten thou
'sandfold, but it cannot be, for reasons
shat you shall learn when you are
colder. Then, when my trust is ended,
you may make your choice, and, if you
still wish it, become q priest"
gave more years passed away, during
which time | grew strong and active,
and skilled in all manly exercises, and
studied much under the teachings of my
godfather, who sent even to Spain to
buy me books.
at length, on my twentieth birthday,
my 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:
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 q little child,
and tell you of your descent and other
Rnatters-
are of royal and ancient blood, for your
xssrefather was none other than Qua
51aEnoc, the last of the Aztec emperors,
>Nifsrn the Spaniards murdered, which
= descent can prove to you by means of
old writings and pcdigrees: also it is
idzn@xvn and attested among the Indians,
,Essso, even now, do not forget the stock
whence SDranr their kings"
-'Then. by right, l am emperor of
Mexico" said, proudly, for in my folly
it seemed fine thing to be sprang
from men who once had worn a crown.
e&Al2Si E.y son." the old priest an
sworod, sadly, lin 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
that il will earn you reverence among
the Indians, it is but a barren honor
which you inherit with your blood.
Yet there is one thing that has come
down to you from your ancestor. Qua
temOc, and the InOnarchs who ruled be-
fore him. Perchance you remember
that on the night before he died your
father sat al amulet upon your neck,
add, removing it again, gave it to me to
keep. Here is that amulet
And he handed ne trinlzet made of
che 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, unless he had one half before him,
could initiate the other. This charm
was bored through so as TO be worn
upon n chain, and engraved upon its
surface were some hieroclyphics and
the outline of half human face.
''What is it?" asked.
The old priest shrugged his shoulders
and answered:
GA 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 it 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 a 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 talisrnan, you will be head of it.
as your ancestors were before you.
though, SO far as 1 can learn, it has
brought them but little luck.