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: Viv (g & 0f at cl) m an mb 8?MTBK WATCHMAN, JCat?blished April, I860. le Just and Fear not-Let all the Ends thou Aims't at, be thy Country's, thy God's land Truth's." THE TRDE SO?THKON, EgtablUhed Jone, 1366 Consolidated Aug. 2,1881. SUMTER, S. 0., WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1894. New Series-Vol. X1T. No. 6. Publishjd Sroy Yad&esd&y, Two Dollars per ano om-io advaoce. Contra?is for. three.montas, or JoDger will be made afc red?teed^mipli? ! ?*? All communications which subserve private interests will be charged for as advertisements. Obituaries and tributes of respect will be ebargSTfor.*"'*"^* * ' ?V TMS AiTTMOK. CH?PTEB VII. On the day after the return of Cortes to Mexico, before the hour of dawn, I was awakened from my uneasy slumbers by the whistling cries of thousands of war? riors and the sound of atabais and durums. Hurrying to my post of outlook on the little pyramid, where Otomie joined me, I saw that the whole people were gathered for war. So far as the eye could reach, in square, market place and street, they were massed in thousands and tens of thousands. Borne were armed with slings, some with bows and arrows, others with javelins tip pad with copper and the clubs set with spikes of obsidian that is called maqua, and yet others, citizens of the poorer sort, j vrtth stakes hardened in the fire. The bod? ies af some were covered with' golden coats of mail, crested with hair and fashioned like the heads of pumas, snakes or wolves; others wore escauplls or coats of quilted but the most of them were naked jinsf On the ' >, and eren cia the top of ' the te?catli of sacrifice, were bands of men whose part it was to rain missiles into the, Spanish quarters. It waa>," strange:/ sight W'see in that red sunrise and one never to be forgotten, as the light flashed from temples and palace * walls onto the feather garments and gay banners, the points of countless spears and the armor of the Spaniards, who hurried to and. fro behind their battlements mak? ing ready their defense. As soon as the sun was up ja priest blew ft shrill note upon a shell, which was an? swered by a trumpet call from the Spanish o^iarters.'' -Then!; with a shriek of rage, the thousands of the" Aztecs rushed to the attack, and the air grew clark'with mis? siles. Instantly a wavering line of fire and smoke, followed by a sound as of thun? der, broke from .the walls of the palace of Aza, and the charging warriors fell like autumn leaves beneath the cannon and arquebus balls of the Christians. For a 'moment they wavered, and a great groan went up to heaven, but I saw Gua after him. Now they were beneath the wall of the palace, and the assault began. The Aztecs fought furiously. Time upon time they strove to climb the wall, piling up the bodies of the dead to servo them as! ladders, and time upon time they were re? pulsed with cruel loss. Failing in this, they set themselves to battering it down with 'Seary beams, but when the breach was made and they clustered in it like herded sheep the cannon opened fire on them, tearing long lanes through their mass and leaving them dead by scores. Then they took to the shooting of flaming arrows, and by this means fired the out? works, but the palace was of stone and would not burn. Thus for 12 long hours the struggle raged unceasingly till the sudden fall of darkness put an end toit, and the only sight to be seen was the flare of countless torches carried by those who sought out the dead, and tho only sounds to he heard were the voices of women lamenting and the groans of the dying. On the morrow the fight ibroke out again at dawn, when Cortes sallied forth with tile greater part of his soldiers and some thousands of his Tlascalan allies. At first I thought that , he aimed, bis attack at Montezuma's palace, and a? breath of hope went through me, since then it might be? come possible for me to escape in the con? fusion. But- this was not so, his object being toxset fire to the booses, from the flat rooCj ut which numberless missiles were halted hourly upon his followers. The chai^.wasdesperate, and it succeeded, for the Indians COA Jd not withstand thc shock ofc?cz*?men any more, than their naked fffcins could turn the Spaniards steeSppSwp?ry* scores of bouses were in flames, api" thick columns of smoke rolled; up like tb ose that float from the mouth of Popo. But many of those who rode and ran from the gates of Axa did not come back thither, for the Aztees clung to the legs of the horses and dragged their riders away living. That very ?lay these captives were sacri? ficed on the altar of Huitzel and in the sight of their comrades, and with them a horse was offered up, which had been tak? en alive, and was borne ard dragged yr^tU infinite labor up the steep sides of the pyr? amid. Indeed never had the sacrifices been so many as during these days of combat. All day long the altars ran red, and all day long the cries of the victims rang in my ears as the maddened priests went about their work, for thus they sought to please the gods who should give them victory over the Teules. Even at night the sacrifices continued by the light of the sacred fires that fron below gave those who wrought them the appearance of devils flitting through the flames of hell and inflicting its torments on the damned, much as they are depicted in the "Doom" painting of the resurrec? tion of tho dead that is over tho chancel arch in this church of Ditchingham. And hour by hour through tho darkness a voice called out threats and warnings to the Spaniards, saying: "Huitzel is hungry for your blood, ye Teules. Ye shall surely fol? low where ye have seen your fellows go. The cages are ready, the knives are sharp and the irons are hot for the torture. Pre? pare ye, Teules, for though ye slay many ye^cannotji'scape. " \-TKSB-C?? -SEruggt?w?nlf ojtt ?ay? after "Say till thousands of the Aztecs were dead and the Spaniards were well nigh worn bat with hunger, war and wounds, for they could not r^st a single hour. At length one rooming when Sie assault waa at its hottest' Montezuma himself lappeared upon the central tower of the palace clad in splendid robes and wearing the diadem. Before him stood heralds bearing golden .wands, and about bim were the nobles who attended him in bis captivity and a guard of Spaniards. He stretched out his hand, and suddenly the fighting was staid and a silence fell upon the place; even the wounded ceased from their groaning. Then ile addressed the multitude. What he said I was too far off to hear, though 1 learned Its purport afterward. He prayed bis peo? ple to cease from war, for the Spaniards Were his friends;; and "guests and would presently leave the city of Tenoctklan. SThen these cowardly words had passed his ps, a fury took his subjects, who for long ^eaxs had worshiped him as a Rod. and a shriek rent the air that seemed to say two words only: I "Woman! Traitor!" | U |;. ? Then I saw an arrow rush upward and strike the emperor, and after' the arrow a shower of stones, so that he fell down tip? ton the tower roof. 1 Now a voice cried: \* We; have slain bur king! Montezuma is dead!" And instant? ly, with a dreadful wailing, the multitude fled this way and that, so that presently no living man could be seen where there had been thousands. } I turned to comfort Otomie, who was watching by my side and had seen her royal father fall, and led her weeping into the palace. Herc we met Guatemoc, the prince, and his mien was fierce and wild. He was-fully armed and carried a bow in his hand. ;>. .^/MioutPCTTrui jipad V ' l asted. . . "I neither know'nor care," he answer? ed, with a savage laugh, then added: **Now <m^1me? Otomkv my cousin, for lt was my arrow that smote him down, this king who has become a woman and a traitor, false to his manhood and his coun - **I cannot curs? you, Guatemoc, for file gods have smitten my father with a mad? ness as you smote him with your arrow, and it is best that he should die, both for j bia own sake and for that of bis people Still, Guatemoc, I am sure of this-that your crime will not go unpunished, and that in payment for this sacrilege you shattyourself come toa shameful death." ?*Ifcmay%e so^>csaio>?kaatemoc, **but at .least I shall not die betraying my trust, " and he. went. Kow I must tell that, a? I believed, this - .was my last day on earth, for on the mor? row my year of godhead expired, and I, Thomas Wingfield, should be led out to saer^ce,^ yptbw^th^n^i^^ali r the '??^aud.^hefe^r ^s??nu^orcr^ H?? a cloud, the ceremonies cf religion and its feasts were still celebrated strictly, more strictly even than before. Thus on this night a festival was held iii my honor, and 2 must sit at the feast crowned with.flow? ers and surrounded by my wives, while those nobles who remained alive in the city did me homage, and with them Cuit lahua, who, if Montezuma were dead, would now be emperor. It was a dreary meal enough, for I could scarcely be gay, though I strove to drown my woes in drink, and, as for the guests, they had little jollity left in them. Hun? dreds of their relative were dead and with them thousands of the people. Tho Span? iards sti'l held their own in the fortress, and thai day^bey had seen their emperor. one: of ?e&*?wn number, and above ail they felt that doom was upon themselves. What wonder that they vrere net merry? Indeed ito funeral feast could nave been more sad, for flowers and wino and fair women do not make pleasure, and after all it was a funeral feast-foi- me. At length it came to an end, and I fled to my own apartments, whither my three wives followed me, for Otomie did not come, calling me most happy and blessed who tomorrow should bo with myself that is, with my own godhead, in heaven. But I did not call them blessed, for, rising in wrath, I drove them away, saying that I had but one comfort left, and it was that wherever I might go I should leave them behind. Then I cast myself upon the cushions of my bed and mourned in my fear and bit? terness of heart. This was the end of the I cost myself upon thc cushions of my bed. vengeance which I had sworn to wreak on Do Garcia, that I myself must havo my heart torn from my breast and offered to a devil. Thus weeping and praying I sank into a half sleep and dreamed that I walked on the hillside near the church path that runs through thc garden of thc lodge at Ditch ingham. Thc whispers of the wind were in the trees which clothe the bank of the Vineyard hills, tho scent of the sweet Eng? lish flowers was in my nostrils, and thc baln*y ur of June blew upon my brow. It ?as night in this dream of mine, and I thought that the moon shone sweetly on the meadows and the river, while from every sido came the music of the nightin? gale But I was not thinking of these de? lightful, sights and sounds, though they were present in my mind, for my eyes watched tho church path which goes up the hill at the back of thc house, and my heart listened for a footstep that I longed to hear. Then there came a sound of singing from beyond the hill, and the words of the song were sad, for they told of one who had sailed away and returned no more, and presently between the apple trees I saw a white figure on its crest. Slowly it came toward me, and I knew that it was she for whom I waited-Lily, my beloved. Now she ceased to sing, but drew on gen? tly, and her face seemed very sad. More? over, it was the face of a woman in middle life, but still most beautiful, more beauti? ful indeed than it had been in thc bloom of youth. She had reached the foot of the hill and was turning toward thc little gar? den gate, when I came forward from the shadow of thc trees and stood l>cfore her. Back she started with a cry of fear, then grew silent and gazed into my face. ~~Tt5? chan ged, ~.?fte niurnTuxecL "( ? it bc the same? Thomas, is it you ec , back to me from the dead, or is this br ! vision?" and slowly and doubtingly dream wraith stretched out her arms though to clasp me. Then I awoke.. I awoke, and, lo, bel me stood a fair woman clothed in wh on whom the moonlight shone as in : dream, and her arms were stretched ward me lovingly. "It is L beloved, and no vision,' cried, springing from my bed and cia lng her to my breast to kiss her. But fore my lips touched hers I saw my en for she whom I embraced was not I Bozard, my betrothed, but Otomie, w was called my wife. Then I knew tl this was the saddest and most bittei dreams that had been sent to mock z for all the truth rushed into my mi] Loosing my hold of Otomie, I fell bc upon the bed and groaned aloud, and a fell I saw the flush of shame upon her br and breast, for this woman loved x and thus my act and words were an : suit to her, who could guess well wi prompted them. Still she spoke gently ' 'Pardon me, Teule; I came but to wat and not to waken you. I came also tl I may see you alone before the day bref hoping that I might be of service or the least of comfort to you, for the e draws near. Say then, in your eleen c you mistake me for some otber worn dearer and fairer than I am, that y would have embraced me?" * 4I dreamed that you were my betroth* whom I love, .and who is far across t sea," I answered heavily. "But enou of love and such matters. What have I do with them who go down into darkness 4'In truth, I cannot tell, Teule. Stil] have heard wise men say that if love is be found anywhere it is in this sax darkness of death, that ls light indee Grieve not, for if there is truth in the fal of which you have told me or in our ow either on this earth or beyond it, with t eyes of the spirit you will see your dear t fore another sun is set, and I pray that y may find her faithful to you. Tell i now, how-much does she love you? Won she have lain by your side on the bed sacrifice as, had things gone otherwise t tween us, Teule, it was my hope to do?' 4 4No, ' ' I answered; 4'it ls not the custo of our women to kill themselves beean their husbands chance to die. " 4 'Perhaps they think it better to live ai wed again," answered Otomie very qui? ly, but I saw her eyes flash and her brea heave in the moonlight as she spoke "Enough of this foolish talk," I sal "Listen, Otomie. If you had cared for n truly, surely you would have saved n from this dreadful doom or prevailed upc Guate m oe to save me. You are Mont zuma's daughter. . Could you not ha1 brought it about during all these monti that he issued his royal mandate, con man ding that I should be spared?"' 44Do you, then take mc for sd poor friend, Teule?" she answered hotl; "Know that for all these months, by di and by night, I have worked and strive to find a means to rescue you. Before 1 became a prisoner I importuned my fi th er, the emperor, till he ordered me fro] his presence. I have sougL to bribe tl priests. I have plotted ways of escape aye, and Guatemoc has helped, for hclov< you. Had it not been for the coming c these accursed Teules and the war thi they levied "in tho city I had ' surely save you, for a woman's thought leaps far an can find a path where none seems possibh But this war has changed everything and, moreover, the star readers and d vine'rs of auguries have given a prophoc which seals your fate, for they hav prophesied that if your blood flows an your heart is offered at the hour of nco tomorrow on the altars of Tezcat our pee pie shall be victorious over the Teules an utterly destroy them But if the sacrifie is celebrated one moment before or af te that propitious hour, then .the doom c Ten oe titian is sealed; also they have dc dared that you must die, not. accord! n to custom, at the temple of arms acres the lake, but on the great pyramid befor the chief statue of the god. All this i known throughout the land Thousand of priests are now offering up prayers tha the sacrifice may be fortunate, and a gold en ring has been hung over the stone o slaughter in such a fashion that the ligh of the sun must strike upon the center o your breast at the very moment of mid day. For weeks you have been watcha as a jaguar watches its prey, for it wa feared that you would escape to the Teules and we, your wives, have been watch? also. At this moment there is a triph ring of guards about the palace, anc priests are set without your doors and be neath the window places. Judge, then what chance there is of escape, Teule." "Little indeed," I said, "and yet ] know a road. If I kill myself, they can not kill me." **Nay," she answered hastily, "whal shall that avail you? While you live you may hope, but. once dead you are dead for? ever, also, if you must die, it is best thal you should die by the hand of the priest. Believe me, though tho end is horrible, " and she shuddered, "it is almost painless, so they say, and very swift. They will not torture you. That we have saved you, Guatemoc and I, though at first they wished thus to honor the god more particu? larly on this great day. 44O Teule," Otomie went on, seating herself by mo on the bed and taking my hand, "think no more of these brief ter? rors, but look beyond them Is it so hard a thing to die, and swiftly? We all must die, today or tonight or the next day, it matters little when, and your faith, like ours, teaches that beyond the grave is end? less blessedness. Think then, my friend, tomorrow you will have passed far from this strife and turmoil; the struggle and the sorrows and the daily fears for the fu? ture that make the soul sick will be over for you; you will bo taken to your peace, where no or.e shall disturb you forever. There you will find that mother whom you have told me of, and who loved you, and there perhaps one will join you who loves you better than your mother, mayhap even I may meet you there, friend," and she looked at me strangely. "The road that you aro doomed to walk is dark in? deed, but surely it must be well trodden, and there is light shining beyond it. So be a man, my friend, and do not grieve. Rejoice rather that at so early an age you havo done with woes and doubts and como to thc gates of joy; that you have passed the thorny, unwaterod wilderness and see tho smiling lakes and gardens, and among them the temples bf your eternal city. 4'And now farewell. Wc meet no more till tho hour of sacrifice, for we women who masquerade as wives must accompany you to the first platforms of thc temple. Farewell, dear friend, and think upon wv words; "Whether ~tK?y "axe acceptable To you or no, I am sure of this-that both for the sake of your own honor and because I ask it of you you will die bravely as though the eyes of your own people were watching all." And, bending suddenly, Otomie kissed me on the forehead gently as a sister might and was gone. CHAPTER XVliL TEE KISS OF LOVE. At length the day dawned. Presently there was a sound of music, and, accom? panied by certain artists, my pages entered, bearing with them apparel'more gorgeous than any that I had worn hitherto. First, these pages having stripped me of my robes, the artists painted all my body in hideous designs of red and white and blue till I resembled a flag, not even sparing my face and Hps, which they colored with carmine hues. Over my heart also they drew a scarlet ring with much care and measurement. Then they did up my hair, that now hung upon my shoulders, after ' the fashion in which it was worn by gen? erals among the Indians, tying it on the top of my head with an embroidered rib? bon red in color, and placed a plume of cock's feathers above it. Next, having ar? rayed my body in gorgeous vestments not unlike those used by popish priests at the celebration of the mass, tiley set golden earrings in my ears, golden bracelets on my wrists and ankles, and round my neck a collar bf priceless emeralds. On my breast also they hung a great gem that gleamed like moonlit water, and beneath my chin a false beard made from pink sea shells. Then, having twined me round with wreaths of flowers till I thought of the Maypole on Bungay common, they rested from their labors, filled with admi? ration at their handiwork. Now the music sounded again, and they gave me two lutes, one of which I must hold in either hand, and conducted me to the great hall of the palace. Here a num? ber of people of rank were gathered, all dressed in festal attire, and here also on dais tb which I was led stood my four wives clad in the rich dresses of the four goddesses Xochi, Xilo, Atla and Clixto, after whom they were named for the days of their wifehood, Atia"being the Princess Otomie. When I had taken my place upon the dais, my wives came forward one by one, and kissing me on the brow offered me sweetmeats and meal cakes.in golden platters and cocoa and mescal in golden cups. Of the mescal I drank, for it is a spirit, and I needed inward comfort, but the other dainties I could not touch. These ceremonies being finished, there was silence for awhile, till presently a band of filthy priests entered at the far end of the chamber, clad in their scarlet sacrificial robes. Blood was on them ev erywhere; their long locks were matted with it; their hands were red with it; even their fierce eyes seemed full of it They advanced up the chamber till' they stood before the daisi Then suddenly the head priest lifted up his hands, crying aloud: "Adore the immortal god, ye. people," and all those gathered there prostrated themselves, shouting: u We adore tho god!" Thrice che priest cried aloud, and thrice they answered him thus, prostrating themselves at every answer. Then they rose again, and the priest addressed me. say? ing: "Forgive us, O Tezcat, that we cannot honor you as it is meet, for our sovereign should havo .been hero to worship you with us. But you know, O Tezcat, how sore is the strait of your servants, who must wage war in their own city against those who blasphemo you and your broth? er gods. You know that our beloved em? peror lies wounded, a prisoner in their un? holy hands. When we have gratified your longing to pass beyond the skies, O Tez? cat, and when in your earthly person you have taught us the lesson that human prosperity is but a shadow which flees away, in memory of our love for you in? tercede for us, we beseech you, that we may smite these wicked ones and honor you and them by the rite of their own sacrifice, O Tezcat, you have dwelt with us but a little while, and now you will not suffer that we hold you longer from your glory, for your eyes have longed to see this happy day, and it is come at last We have loved you, Tezcat and minister? ed to you. Grant in return that wo may see you in your splendor, we who are your little children, and till we come watch well over our earthly welfare and that of the people among whom you have design? ed to sojourn." Having spoken some such words as these, that at times could scarcely be heard because of the sobbing of the people and of my wives who wept loudly, except Otomie alone, this villainous priest made a sign, and once more the music sounded. Then he and his band placed themselves about me, my wives, the goddesses, going before and after, and led me down thc hall and on to the gateways of the palace, which were thrown wide for us to pass. Looking round me with a stony wonder, for in this my last hour nothing seemed to escape my notice, I saw that a strange play was being played about us. Some hun? dreds of paces away the attack on the pal? ace of Axa, where the Spaniards were in? trenched, raged with fury. Bands of war? riors were attempting to scale the walls and being driven back hythe deadly fire of the Spaniards and the pikes and clubs of the Tlascalan allies, while from the roofs of such of the neighboring houses as remained unburned, and more especially from the platform of the great teocalli, on which I must presently give up thc ghost, arrows, javelins and stones were poured by thousands into tho courtyards and outer works of the Spanish quarters. Five hundred yards away or so raged this struggle to thc death, but about mc, around the gates of Montezuma's palace on the hither side of the square, was a different scene. Here were gathered a vast crowd, among them many women and children, waiting to seo mc die. They came with flowers in their hands, with the sound of music and joyous cries, and when they saw me they set up such a shout of wei como that it almost drowned the thun? der of tho guns and thc angry roar of bat? tle. Now and again an ill aimed cannon ball would plow through them, killing some and wounding others, but the rest took no heed, only crying tho more: "Wel? come, Tezcat, and farewell Blessings on you, our deliverer; wclcomo and farewell!" We went slowly through tho press, tread? ing ou a path of flowers, till we carno across the courtyard to the base of tho pyramid. Here at the outer gate there was a halt because of thc multitude of peo? ple, and wliile wc waited a warrior thrust his way through thc crowd and bowed be? fore me. Glancing up, I saw that it was Guatemoc. "Teule,:*lie whispered tome, "Heave my charge yonder/' and he nodded to? ward the force who strove to break a way into the palace of Axa, "to bid yon fara? well. Doubtless we shall meet again ere long. Believe me, Teule, I would have helped you if I could, but it cannot be. I wish that I might change places with you. My friend, farewell Twice you have saved my life, but yours I cannot save." "Farewell, Guatemoc," I answered. "Heaven prosper you, for you are a true man." Then we passed on. At the foot of the pyramid the procession was formed, and here one of my wives bade me adieu after weeping on my neck, though I did not weep on hers. Now, the road to the summit of the teocalli winds round and round the pyramid, every mountain higher as it winds, and along this road we went in solemn state. At each turn wc halted, and another wife bade me a last goodby, or one of my instru? ments of music, which I did not grieve to see the last of, or some article of my strange attire was taken from me. At length, after an hour's march, for . our progress was'slow, we reached the flat top of the pyramid that is approached by a great stair, a space larger than the area of the churchyard here at Ditchingham, and unfenced at its lofty edge. Here on this dizzy place stood the temples of Huitzel and Tezcat, soaring structures of stone and wood, within which were placed the horrid effigies of the gods, and dreadful chambers stained with sacrifice. Here, too, were the holy fires that bumed eter? nally, the sacrificial stones, the implements of torment and the huge drum of snakes' skins, but for the rest the 6pot was bare. It was bare, but not empty, for on that side which looked toward the Spanish quarters were stationed some hundreds of men, who hurled missiles into their camp without ceasing. On the other side were gathered a concourse of priests awaiting the ceremony of my death. Below thc great square, fringed about with burnt out houses, was crowded with thousands of people, some of them engaged in com? bat with the Spaniards, but the larger j part collected there to witness my murder. Now, we reached the top of the pyramid, two hours before zridday, for there were still many rites to be carried out ere the moment of sacrifice. First I was led into the' sanctuary of Tezcat, the god 'whose ? name I bore. Here was his statue or idol, fashioned in black marble and covered with golden ornaments. In the hands of this idol was a shield of burnished gold on which its jeweled eyes were fixed, reading there, as his priests fabled, all that passed upon the earth he had created. Before him also Was a plato of gold, which with mut? tered invocations the head priest cleansed as I watched, rubbing it with his long and matted locks. This done he held it to my lips that I might breathe on it, and I turned faint and sick, .for I knew that it was being made ready to receive my heart, which I felt beating in my breast. Now, what further ceremonies were to j be carried out in this unholy place I do ' not know, for at that moment a great I tumult arose in thc square beneath, and I was hurried from the sanctuary hythe priests. Then I perceived this: ' Galled to madness by ?hc storm of" missiles rained upon them from its crest, the Spaniards were attacking thc teocalli. Already they were pouring across the courtyard in large companies, led by Cortes himself, and with them came many hundreds of their allies, the Unseal ans. On thc other hand, i some thousands of thc Aztecs were rush? ing to the foot of the first stairway to give the white men battle there. Five minutes passed, and thc fighs grew fierce. Again and again, covered by tho fire of the ar? quebusiers, thc Spaniards, charged the I Aztecs, but their horses slapping upon the stone pavement at length they dismount? ed and continued the fray on foot. Slow? ly and with great slaughter the Indians were pushed back, and the Spaniards gain? ed a footing on the first stairway. But hun? dreds of warriors still crowded thc lofty j winding road, and hundreds more held the top, and it was plain that if the Spaniards won through at all the task would bc a ' hard one. Still a fierce hope smote me like a blow when I saw what was toward If the Spaniards took the temple, there would be no sacrifice. No sacrifice could be offered till midday, so Otomie had told me, and that was not for hard upon two hours. It came to this, then-if the Span? iards were victorious within two hours, there was a chance for me; if not, I must die. Now, when I was led out of the sanctu? ary of Tezcat I wondered because the Princess Otomie, or rather the Goddess A tia, as she was then called, was standing among the chief priests and disputing with them, for I had seen her bow her head at the door of the holy place and thought that it was in token of farewell, seeing that she was the last of the four ' women to leave me. Of what she disputed I could not hear because of the din of bat [ tie, but the argument was keen, and it seemed to me that the priests were some? what dismayed at her words and yet had ! a fierce joy in them. It appeared also that she won her cause, for presently they bowed in obeisance to ber, and turning slowly she swept to my side with a pecul? iar majesty of gait that even then I noted. Glancing up at her face also, I saw that it was alight as though with a great and holy ! purpose, and, moreover, that she looked j like some happy bride passing to her hus- I band's arms. "Why are you not gone, Otomie?" I said "Now it is too late. The.Spaniards surround the teocalli, and you will be killed or taken prisoner. " "I await the end, whatever it may be, " she answered briefly, and we spoke no more for awhile, but watched the progress of the fray, which was fierce indeed. Grimly the Aztec warriors fought before the symbols of their gods and in the sight of the vast concourse of people who crowd? ed the square beneath and stared at thc struggle in silence. They hurled them? selves upon tho Spanish swords, they gripped the Spaniards with their hands, and screaming with_rago dragged them to ' Highest of all in leavening Po* Ro>l ABSOLV? the steep 'sides of "the roadway, proposing to cast them over. Sometimes they suc? ceeded, anda hall of men clinging together would roll down the slope and be dashed to pieces on thc stone flooring of the court? yard, a Spaniard being in the center of thc ball But do what they would, like some vast and writhing snake, still the long ar? ray of Teules, clad in their glittering mail, plowed its way upward through the storm of spears and arrows. Minute by minute and step by step they crept on, fighting as men fight who know the fate that awaits the desecrators of thc gods of A^b"***, fighting for life and honor and safety from the stone of sacrifice. Thus an hour went by, and the Span? iards were half way up the pyramid, louder and louder grew the fearful sounds of battle, the Spaniards cheered and called on their patron saints to aid them, the Aztecs yelled like wild beasts, the priests screamed invocations to their gods and cries of encouragement to their warriors, while above all rose the rattle of the arquebuses, the roar of the cannon and the fearful note of the great drum of snake's skin, on which a half naked priest beat madly. Only the multitudes below never moved nor shouted. They stood silent, gazing upward, and I could see the sunlight flash on the thousands of their staring eyes. Now, all this while I was standing near the stone of sacrifice, with Otomie at my side. Bound me were a ring of priests, and over the stone was fixed a square of black cloth supported upon four poles, which were set in sockets in the pave? ment. In the center of this black cloth was sewed a golden funnel, measuring 6 inches or so across at its mouth, and the sunbeams passing through this funnel fell in a bright patch the size of an apple upon the space of pavement that was shaded by the cloth. As tie sun moved in the heav? ens, so did this ring of light creep across the shadow till at length it climbed the stone sacrifice and lay upon its edge. Then, at a sign from the head priest, bis ministers laid hold of me and plucked what was left of my fine clothes from me as cruel boys pluck a living bird till I stood naked except for the paint upon my body and a cloth about my loins. Now I knew that my hour had come, and, strange to tell, for the first timo this day courage entered into me, and I rejoiced to think that soon I should have done with my tormentors. Turning to Otomie, I be? gan to bid her farewell ina clear voice, when to my amaze I saw that as I had been served so she was being served, fort her splendid robes were being torn off her, and she stood before me arrayed in noth? ing except her beauty, her flowing hair; and a broklered smock. "Do not wonder, Teule, " she said in a low voice, answering the question my tongue refused to frame. "I am your wife, and yonder is our marriage bed, the first and last. Though, you do not love me, ! today I die your death and at your side, asl haye the right to do. I could not; save you, Teule, but at least I can die with you." At the moment I made no answer, for I was stricken silent by my wonder, and be? fore leonid find my tongue the priests had cast me down, and for the second time I lay upon the stone of doom. As they held me a yell fiercer and longer than any which had gone before told" that thc Spaniards had got foot upon the h-st stair of the as? cent Scarcely had my body been set upon the center of the great stone when that of Otomie was laid beside it, so close that our sides touched, for I must he in the middle of the stone, and there was no great place for her. Then, thc moment of sacri? fice not being come, the priests made us fast with cords which they knotted to cop? per rings in the pavement and turned to watch the progress of the fray. . For some minutes we lay thus side by side, and as we lay a great wonder and gratitude grew in my heart, wonder that a woman could be so brave, gratitude for the love she gaye me, sealing it with her lifeblood, because Otomie loved me so well that she desired to die thus at my side rather than to live on in greatness and honor without me Of a sudden, in a mo I For some min utcs we lay th us side by side. ment while I thought of this marvel, a new light shone upon my heart, and it was changed toward her. I felt that no wom? an could ever be so dear to me as this glo ; rious woman-no, not even my betrothed I felt-nay, who can say what I did feel? But I know this-that the tears rushed io my eyes and ran down my painted face, i and I turned my head to look at her. She was lying as much upon her left side as her bands would allow; her long hair fell from the stone to the paving, where it lay in masses, and her face was toward me. So close was it indeed that there was not an inch between our lips. "Otomie," I whispered, "listen tome. I love you, Otomie." Now I saw her breast heave beneath thc bands and the color come upon her brow. "Then I am repaid," she answered, and our lips clung together in a kiss, tho first, and, as we thought thc last. Yes. there we kissed, on the stone of sacrifice, be? neath the knife of the priest and the shadow of death, and if there has been a stranger lovo scene in the world I have never heard its story. "Oh, I am repaid," she said again. "I would gladly die a score of deaths to win this moment Indeed I pray that I may die before you take back your words, for, rer.-Latest U.S.Gov't Report ?EY PURE