Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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' i rriado no answer, bnt followed him as he lcd the way down thc darkest of tho winding paths that run between tho oe- j dar trees, where it would hnvo been easy I for .mo to kill him if I wished, but I could not seo how I should bc advantaged by j .tho deed; also, though I knew that Mon tezuma was my enemy, my heart shrank from thc thought of murder. For awhile or more ho walked on without speaking, now beneath tho shadow of thc trees, and I now through open spaces of garden plant ed with lovely flowers, till at last we carno to the gates of thc place whero tho royal dead are Bold to rest. Now, In front of theso gates was an open space of turf on which thc moonlight shono brightly, and in tho center of this spaco lay something white, shaped Uko n woman. Hero Monte zuma halted and looked at the gates, then said: "These gates opened four days since for Papantzlu, my sister. How long, I won der, will pass beforo they open for mc?" As he spoke thc white shape upon tho grass, which I had seen and he had not seen, stirred like au awaking sleeper. As the snow shape upon tho mountain had stirred, so this shape stirred; as it had arisen, so this one arose; as it threw its arms upward, so this one threw up her arms. Now Montezuma saw and stood still trembling, and I trembled also. Then the woman-for it was a woman -advanced slowly toward us, and as sho came wc saw that she was draped in grave clothes. Presently she lifted her head, and ! the moonlight fell full upon her face. Now Montez mia groaned aloud, and I groaned, for w e saw that the face was tho | pale, thin faco of the Princess Papantzin j -Papantzin, who had lain for four days in tho grave. On she came toward us, gliding like ono who walks in her 6leep, till she stopped before the bush in tho shadow of which wc stood. Now Papant ein, or the ghost of Papantzin, looked at ?us with blind eyes-that is, with eyes that were open and yet did not seem to 6eo. "Are you there, Montezuma, my broth er?" she said in tho voico of Papantzin. '.Surely I feel your presence, though I cannot see you." Now Montezuma stepped from thc shad ow and stood face to face with the dead. "Whoareyon," he said, "who wear the shape of one dead and aro dressed in tho garments of thc dead?" "I am Papantzin," she answered, "and nm risen out of death to bring you a mes sage, Montezuma, my brother. " "What message do you bring me?" he asked hoarsely. "I bring you a message of doom, my brother. Your empire sholl fall, and soon you shall bc accompanied to death by tens of thousands of your people. For four days I have lived among the dead, and there I have Feen your false gods, which arc devils. There also I have seen the priests which served them and many of those wh?> worshiped them plunged into torment unutterable. Because of the wor ship of these demon gods the people of Annhuae is destined to destruction." "Have you no word of comfort for mt, 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 thc lives of your people." Then she turned and passed away into the shadow of the trees. I heard her grave clothes sweep upon the grass. Now a fury seized Montezuma, and he roved aloud, saying: "Curses on you, Papantzin, my sister! Why then do you come back from tho dead touring mo such evil tidings? Had you brought hope with you, had you shown a woy of escape, then I would have wel -corned you. May you go back into dark ness, and may tho earth lio heavy on your ?heart forever! As for my gods, my father worshiped them, and I will worship them to tho end. Aye, if they desert me, at least I will never desert them. Tho gods are angry becauso tho sacrifices are few upon their altars; henceforth they shall bo dou bled. Aye, the priests of the gods shall themselves be sacrificed becauso they neg lect their worship." Thus he raved on, after thc fashion of o weak man maddened with terror, willie his nobles and attendants, who had fol lowed at a distance, clustered about him, fearful mid wondering. At length there came au end, for, tearing with his thin hands at his royid robes and nt his hair and beard, Montezuma fell and writhed in a flt lipon the ground. Then they carried him into tho palace, and nono saw him for three days and nights. CHAPTER XV. THE HAMXKQ OF THE BRIDES. Now, some months passed beUveen tho dato of my naming os the god Tezcat and thc entry of the Spaniards into Mexico, and during all this spaco tho city was in a ferment. Again and again Montezuma sent embassies to Cortes, bearing with them vast treasures of gold and gems as presents and at tho samo time praying him to withdraw, for this foolish prince did not understand that by displaying so much wealth he flew a lure which must surely bring tho falcon on himself. To these embassadors Cortes returned courte ous answers, together with presents of small value, and that was all. Then tho advance bogan, and tho em peror learned with dismay of tho conquest of the warliko-tribo ofthoTlascalans.who, though they wero Montezuma's bitter and hereditary foes, yet made a stand against the white man. Next carno the tidings that from enemies tho conquered Tlasca ians had becomo tho allies and servants' of the Spaniard, and that thousands of their fiercest warriors were advancing with him ?upon thc sacred city of Cholula. Awhile passed, and it was known that Cholula also had been given to massacre, and that tho holy, or rather thc unholy, gods had been torn from their shrines. Marvelous tales were told of tho Spaniards, of their courago and their might, of the armor that they wore, thc thunder that their Weapons made in battle, and the fierce beasts which they bestrode. Once two beads of white men taken in a skirmish were sent to Montezuma-fierce looking heads, great and hairy, and with them the ?head of a horse. When Montezuma saw ?tbeso.gbastly relics, he almost fainted with fear. Still he caused them to be set up on ,pinnfvcles of tho great temple and proc lamation to bomade that this fate await fed. every invader of tho land. Meanwhilo all'was confusion in his pol icies. Day by day councils were held of tho nobles,?of high priests and of neigh- i boring and friendly kings. Some advised | one-thing, some another, and thc end of it Waa hesitation .and folly. Ah,,had Monte zuma listened . to the voice of that gr* a t man Guatcmoc, Anahuac would not ha\ o Ixjen a Spanish fief today! For Guatcmoc ?prayed him again and yet again to put away his fears and' declaro open war upon tho Toules before it-was too late-to cease ?rom mnking gifts and sending embassies, to gather his countless armies and smite the foo In thc mountain passes. But Montezu ma would answer: "To what end, nephew? How can I Btrnggle against these men when tho gods themselves have declared for them? Surely tho gods can take their own parts if they wish it, and, if they will not, for myself and my own fate I do not care, but alas for my people, alas for the women and tho children, the aged and the weak!" Then ho would cover his face and moan and weep like a child, and Guateinoc would pass from his presence dumb with fury at the folly of so great a king, hut helpless to remedy it, for, like myself, Goa tomoo believed that Montezuma bad been smitten with a madness sent from heaven to bring the land to ruin. The people wore distraught with fear of tho future, but nor the less on that ac count, or perhaps because of lt, they plunged with fervor into pleasures, alter nating them willi religious ceremonies. In those days no feast was neglected, and no altar lacked its victim. Like a river 2$ VETTT ETC. " Tl (?QPY*lGHT.]833.BYTAE.A\n~flPM <^ cnac quicsens its now as ic draws near prcclpico over which it must fall, so people of Mexico, foreseeing ruin, awe as it wore, and lived as they had never ll before. AU day long .the cries of viet came from a hundred temple tops, and night the sounds of revelry wero he aruong tho streets. "Let us cat , dvink," they said, "for tho gods of tho aro upon us, and tomorrow wo dla " ? woroon who hod been held virtuous pro themselves wantons, and men wt names were honest showed therese! knaves, and none cried flo upon them. A oven children, were seen drunken in streets, .which is an abomination ami the Aztecs. the emperor had moved., his househ from - Chapoltepco to the palaco in great square facing tho temple, and t palace was a town in itself, for every ni, more than.1,000 human beings slept neath its roof, not to speak of thc dwr and monsters and tho hundreds of %\ birds and beasts in cages. Here every < I feasted with whom I would, and whe was weary of feasting lt was my custom sally out into tho streets playing on lute, for by now I had in some degree m tered that hateful instrument, dressed shining apparel and attended by a ero of nobles and royal pages. Then tho not would rush from the houses shouting a doing mo reverence, the children pelted with flowers,and thc maidens danced bef me, kissing my hands and feet, till length. I was attended by a mob 1,1 strong. And I also danced and shou' like any villago fool, for I think that kind of mad humer, or perhaps it was 1 drunkenness of worship, entered into I in thoso days; also I sought to forget i griefs; I desired to forget that I was doon to tho sacrifice, and that every day brout me nearer to the red knifo of the priest In thoso days, had it not been for t tender kindness of Otomie, I think tl my heart would have broken or I shot have slain myself. But this great a beauteous lady wr i ever at hand to ch? mo In a thousand ways, and now a again she would let fall 6ome vague woi of hopo that set my pulses bounding, talked much with Otomie, Instructing I in tho matters of my faith and many ot cr things, as I had dono by Marina, wi wo now heard, was the mistress and inti preter of Cortes, the Spanish leader. SI for her part, listened gravely, watchi: mc tho while with her tender eyes, but more, for of all women Otomie was t most modest, as she was the proudest n: most beautiful. So matters wont on u til the Spaniards had left Cholulaon thi rood to Mexico, lt was then that I chane one morning to bc sitting in thc gardci my lute in hand, and having my atten ant nobles and tutors gathered at a i spectful distance behind me. Frc where I sat 1 could see thc entrance to t court in which the emperor met his cou eil daily,and I noted that when the princ had gone thc priests began to come, ai after them a number of very lovely giri attended by women of middle agc. Prc ently Guatcmoc, thc prince, who nc smiled but rarely, came up to mc smllii and asked me if I knew what was dcii yonder. I replied that I knew nothh and cared less, but I supposed that Mout zuma was gathering a peculiar treasure send to his masters, thc Spaniards. "B ware how you speak, Teule, " answer? tho princo haughtily. "Your words mt bo true, and yet, did I not lovo you, ye should ruo them oven though you hold tl spirit of Tezcat Alas, " he added, scam; lng on the ground, "alas, that my uncle madness should make it possible that sue words can be spoken 1 Oh, wero I tho CE peror of Anahuac, in a singlo week tl bead of every Teulo in Cholula shoa deck a pinnacle of yonder templel" "Beware how you speak, prince," I ai Bwered, mocking him, "for there.are tho? who, did they hear, might cause you to ri your words, t?ti?l ono day you may I emperor, and then wo shall seo how ye will deal with tho Teulcs;-at least otho: will seo, though I shall not. But what it now? Docs Montezuma choose ne wives?" "Ho chooses wives, but not for himsel You know, Tcule, that your time grovi 6hort Montezuma and thc priests DUI thoso who must bo given to you to wife. ' ''Given inc to wife!" I said, starting f my feet "To mo whose brido is dcati What have I to do with love or marriage I who in some few short weeks must grac an altar? Ah, Guatcmoc, you say you iov me, and once I saved you. Did you lov me, surely you would save mo now as yo 6woro to do." ''I swore that I would give my lifo fe yours, Toulo, if it lay in my power, an that oath I would keep, for all do not se so high a 6toro on life as you, my friend But I cannot help you. You aro dedicate to tho gods, and did I die a hundred time it would not save you from your fate Nothing can savo you except tho hand c heaven if it wills. Therefore, Teule, mak merry whilo you may and die bravo!; when you must Your caso is no wore than mine and that of many others, fo death awaits us alL Farewell." When he had gono, I rose, and leavlni tho gardens I passed into tho chambe where it was my custom to give audlenc to thoso who wished to look upon the go* I Tezcat, as they called ma Here I ?at upoi my golden couch, inhaling tho fumes o tobacco, and as it chanced I was alone, fo none dared to enter that' room unless '. gavo them lcava presently tho chief o my pagos announced that one would spool with me, and I bent my head, slgnifyin( that tho person should enter, for I wa Weary of my thoughts. Tho pago with drew, and presently a veiled woman scoot before me. I looked at her wondcrtrjf and bade her draw her veil and speak She obeyed, and I 6aw that my visitor wai tho Princess Otomie. Now I rose amazed for it as not usual that she should visit m< thus alone. I guessed, therefore, that sh< had tidings or was following some custon of which I was ignorant. "I pray you bo seated," sho said con fusedly. "'It ?3 not Utting that you should 6tand before mc. " "Whynot, princess?" I answered. "If I had no respect for rank, surely beauty must claim lt" "A truce to words," she replied, with a wave of her slim hand. "I come here, O Tezcat. ac cording to thc ancient custom, because I am charged with a message to you. Thoso whom you shall wed are chosen. I am tho bearer of their names." "Speak on, princess of tho Otomie." ."They are" and 6ho named three ladies whom I knew tc- bo among tho loveliest in thc land. "I thought that there were four," I said, with a bitter lau ph. "Am I to be de frauded of thc fourth?" "There is a fourth," she answered and was silent. "Give mo her name," I cried. ''One has been found, O Tezcat, who hos borne oth er titles than this you give her." Now j I looked ct her questioningly, and she spoke again in a low volca " I, Otomlo, princess of the Otomie, Montezuma's daughter, am the fourth and the first" "You!" I said, sinking kick upon my cushions. "You!" "Yes, L Listen. 1 was chosen by tho priests as tho most lovo ly in tho land, however unworthily. My father, thc emperor, was angry and said that whatever befell I should never bo tho wife of a captive who must die upon the altar of sacrifice. 13ut thc priests answer ed that this was no time for him to claim exception for his blood, now when tho gods were wroth. Was the first lady in thc land tc bo withheld from tho god? they asked. Then my father sighed and said that it should Lc as I willed. And I said with the priests that now, In our sore dis tress, thc proud must humble themselves to thc dust, even to thc marrying of a cap tivo slavo who is named a god and doomed to sacrifice. "So I, princess of the Otomie, have con sented to breona; your wife, O Tezcat, enough perchance had I known all that I read in your eyes this hour I should not have consented. It moy happen that In this shame I hoped to find love if only for j ono short, hour, and that I purposed to vary tno custom or our people and to co:u pletoniy marriage by tho side of the victim on tho altar, as, if I will, I have thc right to do. Eat I see well that I am not wel come, and though it is too lato to go back upon my word havo no fear. There are others, and I shall not trouble you. I have given ray message. Is it your pleas ure that I should go? The solemn cere mony of wedlock will be on the twelfth day from now, O Tczcat. " Now I rose from my seat and took her hand, saying: "I thank you, Otomlo for your noble ness of mind. Had it not been for the comfort and friendship which you and Guatomoc, your cousin, havo given mo I think that ero now I 6hould oe dead. So you desire to comfort mo to tho last lt. seems that you cvon purposed to dio with me. How am I to interpret this, Otomie? In our land a woman would need to love a man after no common fashion bofore sho consented to share such a bed as awaits mo on yonder pyramid. And yet I may scarcely think that you, whom kings havo sued for, can placo your heart so low. How am I to read tho writing of your words, princess of tho Otomlo?" "Read it with your heart," sho whis pered low, and I folt her hand tremble in my own. I looked at her beauty. It was great. I thought of her devotion, a dovotion that did not shrink from tho most horrible of deaths, and a wind of feeling which was akin to love swopt through my soul But even os I lookod and thought I remember ed the English garden and tho English maid from whom I had parted beneath tho beech at Dltchlngham and tho words that wo had spoken then. Doubtless Bhe still lived and was true to ma Whilo I lived should I not keep truo at heart to her? If I must wed these Indian girls, I must wed them, but If onco I told Otomlo I loved her thon I broke my troth, and with nothing less would sho be satisfied. And yet, though I was deeply moved and tho temptation was great, I had not como to this. 14 Bo seated, Otorale, " I said, "and listen to me. You soo this golden token?" And I drew Lily's posy ring from my hand. "And you see thc writing within it." She bent her head, but did not speak, and I saw that there was fear in her eyes. 4'Iwill read yon the words, Otomie," And I translated into tho Azteo tonguo tho quaint couplet: Heart to heart. Though far aparL Then at last she spoke, "What does the writing mean?" 6he said. "I can, only read in pictures, Teulc." "It means, Otomie, that in tho far land | whence I come there is a woman who lo voa | mo and who is my love " "Is ?he your wlfo thon?" "She is not my wife, Otomie, but she ls vowed to mc in marriage, " rlSho is vowed to you in marriage, " sho answered bitterly. "Why, thou, wo are equal, for so am I, Teule. But there is this difference between us-you love her, and mo you do not love. That Js wlu.2 you would make clear to me. Sparc mo moro words. I understand it all. Still it I seems to mo that if I have lost she ls also I in tho path of loss. Great seas roll be tween you and i?ds love of yours, Teulc seas of water, and tho altar of sacrifico, and thc nothingness of death. Now let mc go. Your wife I must be, for there is no escape, but I shall not trouble you over much, and it will soon bc done with. Then you may seek your desire In the houses of thc Stars whither you must wan der, and it is my prayer that you shall win it. "All these months I have been planning to find hope for you, and I thought that I had found it. But it was built upon a false belief, and it is ended. Had you ljoeu able to say from your heart that you loved mc it might have been well for both of us. Should you bo able to say it before thc end it may still be well. But I do not ask you to say it, and beware how you toll mo a lie. I leave you, Teulc, but before I go I will say that I honor you moro in this hour than I have honored you before, be causo you havo dared to speak tho truth to mc, Montezuma'fi daughter, when a Ho had been so easy and so safe. That woman beyond the seas should be grateful to you, but though I"bear her no ill will between me and her there is a struggle to the death. We are strangers to each other, and stran gers we shall remain, but she has touched your hand as I touch,' it now. You link tis together and are our bond of enmity. Farewell, my husband that is to bo. " Then, rising, Otomie cast ber veil about ber foco and passed slowly from the cham ber, leaving me much disturbed. It was a bold deed to have rejected the proffered love of this queen among women, and now that I had dono so ? was not altogeth er glad. Would Lily, I wondered, have offered to descend from such state to cast off tho purple of her royal rank that abu might lio at my side on tho red stone of 6acriilco? Perhaps not. for this fierce fidel ity is only to bo found in women of anoth er breed. Theso daughters of tho sun love wholly wbon thoy love at all and as they love they hate. They ask no priest to con secrate their vows, nor If these becomo hateful w?l they bo bound by them for duty's 6uko. Their own desire is their law, but whilo it rules them they follow it unflinchingly, and If need be they seek its consummation in tho gates of death, or, failing that, forgetfulness. CHAPTER XVI. THE FOUR GODDESSES, ?omo weary timo went by, and at last carno tho day of tho entry into Mexico of Cortes and his conquerors. Now, of all thc doings of thc Spaniards after they oc cupied tho city I do not proposo to speak at length, for theso uro matters of history, and I have my own story to tell. So I 6hall only write of those of them with which I was concerned myself. I did not ECO tho meeting between Montezuma and Cortes, though I saw the emperor ?ot out to it clad Uko Solomon in his glory and surrounded by his nobles. But I am sure of this-that no slave led to tbo sacrifice carried a heavier heart in his breast that that of Montezuma on this unlucky day, for now his folly had ruined him, and I think he knew that he was going to his doom. Afterward, toward evening, I saw the emperor come back in his golden litter and poss over to tho palace built by Asa, his father, that stood opposite to and some 500 paces from his own, facing the western gate of the templo. Presently I heard tho sound of a multitudo shouting, and amid it tho tramp of horses and armed soldiers, and from a scat in my chamber I saw tho Spaniards advance down the great street, and my heart beat at tho sight of Chris tian men. In front, clad in rich armor, rodo their leader, Cortes, a man of middlo sizo, but noble bearing, with thoughtful eyes that noted everything, and after him some few on horseback, but tho most of them on foot, marching his little army of conquerois, staring about them with bold, wondering eyes and jesting to each other In Castillan. They were but a handful, bronzed by the sun and scarred by battle, some of them ill armed and almost in rags, and looking on them I could not but mar vel at thc indomitable courage that had enabled them to pierce their way through hostile thousands, sickness and war, oven to thc homo of Montezuma's power. By tho side of Cortes, holding lils stir rup in her hand, walked a beautiful In dian woman dressed in white robes and By t)ic ittdc of Cartu milked a beautiful indian truman. crowned with fltiwoi*. As she passed the palace she turned her face. I knew her at once. It waa tuv friend Marilin, who had now attained thc gix^itnerfs^JiTcTT^Bc^d sired, and who, notwithstanding all t! evil that she hail brought upon hcr/coui try, looked most happy in it and* in 1? master's love. As thc Spaniards went by I search* their faces one by one, with tho vague ho] of hate, for, though it might well chaw that death had put us out of each other reach, I half thought to soo De Gare among the number of the conqueror Such a quest as theirs, with its promise i blood and gold and to his evil heart shou it bo in his power to join it, and a strani instinot told mo that he was not dca But nelthor dead nor living was ho amor thoso mon who entered Mexico that day. That night I ?aw Guatemoc and askt him how things went. "Well for tho kite that roosts in tl dove's nest," he answered, with a bit* laugh, "but very ill for tho dove Mont zuma, my uncle, has boen cooing yonder, and ho pointed to tho palaco of Asa, Vat the captain of ;ho Teulcs lias cooed in BJ swer, but though he tried to hide it could hear tho hawk's shriek in his p goon'B note. Ero long there will bo men doings in Tenoctitlan. " Ho was right. Within a week Monte* ma was treacherously seized by tho Spai lards and kopt a prisoner in their qua tere, watched day and night by tholr sc diera. Thon carno o vont upon event Cc tain lords on tho coast lands, having kil ed some Spaniards, were summoned I Mexico by thc Instigation of Cortes. Thc carno and were burned alive in tho cour yard of tho palace. Nor was this all, f< Montezuma, their monarch, was forced I witness tho execution with fetters on h ankles. So low had tho emperor of tl Aztecs fallen that ho must boar chains lil a common felon. After this insult 1 swore allegiance to tho King of Spain ar even contrived to capture Cacama,1 tho loi of Tozcuco, by treachery and to deliv? him Into the hands of the Spaniards c whom ho would have made war. To thei also he gave up all tho hoarded gold an treasure of the empire to thc value of hui dreds of thousands of English pounds. A this tho nation bore, for it was stupefle and still obeyed the commands of its ca] tlve king. But when ho suffered tl Spaniards to worship thc true God in or of tho sanctuaries of thc great templo murmur of discontent and sullen fury ros among tho thousands of thc Aztecs. 1 Ulled tho air, it could be heard whereve men were gathered, and Its sound was Uh that of a distant angry' sea. The hour i the breaking of tho tempest was at hand. Now, all this while my life went on ti before, save that I was not allowd to g outside tho walls of thc palaco, for lt wu feared lost I should find sumo means c intercourse with tho Spaniards, who di not know that a man of white blood wc confined thore and doomed to sacrifice also in theso days I saw little of thc prit cess Otomie, tho chief of my destine brides, who slnco our strange lovo scon had avoided me, and when we met G feasts or in the gardens spoke to mo onl on indifferent matters or of the affairs c state. At length came the day of my mai riaga It was, I remember, tho night bc foro the massacre of thc 600 Aztec noble on thc occasion of the festival of Huitzei Ou this my wedding day I was croate with great circumstance and worships Uko a god by tho highest in tho city, wli came in to do mc reverence and burned i/i cense before mc till I was weary of th smell of it, for though such sorrow was o; thc land tho priests would abate no jot c their ceremonies or cruelties, and grca hojx'S were held that I, being of the nice c Teulcs, my sacrifice would avert thcungt of the gcds. At sunset I was cntertaitiei with a splendid feast that lasted two hour or more, and at its end all the compun; rose and shouted as with one voice: "Glory to thee, O Tezcat! Happy ar thou hero on earth, happy mayst thou b In thc houses of the sun. When thou com cst hither, remember that wc dealt well b; thee, giving thee of our best and interccd for us that our sins may bc forgiven. Gio ry to thee, O Tezcat I" Then two of thc chief nobles carno for ward, and taking torches led me to a mag niflcent chamber that I had never seen bc fore. Hore they changed my apparel, in vesting mo in robes which wore still inor< splendid than any that I had worn hither to, being made of the finest embroiders cotton and of tho glittering feathers of thi humming bird. On my head they se wreaths of flowers, and about my noel and wrists emeralds of vast size and value and a sorry popinjay I looked in this attire that seemed moro suited to a woman* ! beauty than to ma When I was arrayed, suddenly the torch cs were extinguished, and for awhilo then was silence. Then in the distance I hean women's voices singing a bridai song thai was beautiful enough after its fashion though I forbear to write it down. Th< singing ceased, and there came a sound o: rustling robes and of low whispering Then a man's voice spoke, saying: "Aro yo there, yo chosen of heaven?" And a woman's voice-I thought lt wa that of Otomie-answored: l'We aro here." "0 maidens of Anahuac, "'Bald tho man speaking from tho darkness, "and you, C Tezcat, god among tho gods, listen to rcn words. Maidens, a great honor has beer dono to you, for by tho very choleo o heaven you havo been endowed with tin names, tho loveliness and tho virtues o: tho four great goddesses and chosen tc abide awhile at the side of this god, youi makor and your master, who has beor, pleased to visit us for a space before he seeks his homo in tho habitations of thc Bun. Seo that you show yourselves wor thy of this houor. Comfort him and cher ish him, that he may forgot his glory ir your kindness, and when he returns tohlf own place may toko with him grateful memories and a good report of your peo ple You have but a little whilo to live at his sido in this lifo, for already, like thoso of a caged hird, tho wings of his spirit beat against tho bars of tho flesh, and soon he will shake himself freo from us and you. Yet if you will it is allowed to ono of you to accompany him to his homo, sharing his flight to tho houses of tho sun. But to all of you, whether you go also or whether you stay to m?urn him during your life days, I say lovo and cher ish him, be tender and gentle toward him, for otherwise ruin shall overtake you hero and hereafter, and you and all of us will be ill spoken of in heaven. And you, O Tezcat, wo pray of you to accept these maidens, who bear tho names and wear tho charms of your celestial cousorts, for there are nono more beautiful or better horn in thc realms of Anahuao, and among them is numbered tho daughter of our king. They aro not perfect indeed, for perfection is known to you In tho heaven ly kingdoms only, si nco theso ladies arc but shadows and symbols of the divino goddesses, your true wives, and hen: there arc no perfect women. Alas, we have none better to offer you, and lt is our hope that when it pleases you to pass hence you will think kindly of tho women of this land and from on high bless them with your blessing, because your memory of these who were called your wives on earth ls pleasant " Tho voice paused, then spoke again: "Women, In your own divine names of XochI, Xllo, Atla and Clixco, and In che name of all thc gods, I wed you to Tezcat, tho creator, to sojourn with him during his stay on earth. Thc god incarnate takes you in marriage whom ho himself created, that tho symbol muy IJC perfect and thc mystery fulfilled. Yet, lest your joy should be too full, look now on that which shall be" As thc volco spoke these words many torches sprang Into flame at the far end of tho great chamber, revealing a dreadful sight, for there, stretched upon a stone of sacrifice, was thc body of a man, but wheth er tho man lived or was modeled In wax I do not know to this hour, though un less ho was painted 1 think that ho must have been fashioned In wax, since his skin shojio white Uko mine. At thc least, his limbs and head were held by fl ve priests, and a sixth stood over him clasping a knife of obsidian In his two hands. It flashed on high, and as lt gleamed thc torches were extinguished. Then came the dull echo of a blow and r. sound ul groans, and nil was still till once more the brides broke out inu> their marriage song -n strange chant, and a wild und sweet, though after what I hud ?uuii /md heard it had little power U> uicvc mu They san;; un lu I ht- darkness ever more loudly lill pwaiT.ily H ringle torch w;u< lit ot the uul m . ho chaiJiU-r, then anetller and another, though I could tu.t ste who lit them, and the i oom v. ns a l.r.ic of ll{;ht Now the altar, lim victim and (he priests were, all gone Thci;* waa. no one left in Tr? *??c5 ?xcGpt niy?cji aila ray ?our brides. They were tall and lovely wom en, all of them clad in white bridal roboB starred over with gems und howers und wearing on their brows the emblems of tho four .goddesses, but Otomlo was the stateliest and most beautiful of the four and seemed in truth a goddess. Ono by one they drew near to rae, smiling and sighing, and kneeling before mo kissed my hand, saying: .'I have been ohosen to be your wife for a ?paco, Tezcat, happy moid that I jean. May thc gods grant that I become pleasing to your sight, so that you may love me as I worship you. , Then she who had spoken would draw back again out of earshot, and the next would take her placo. Last of all came Otomie. She knelt; and Bald tho words, then added In a low voice: 44Having spoken to you as the bride and goddess to the husband and the god Tez cat, now, O Tculc, I speak as the woman to tho mon. You do not love me, Teulo; therefore, li it ls your will, let us be di vorced of our own act who were wed by tho command of others, for so X shall bo spared some shame. These are friends to mo and will not betray us. " And she nod ded toward her companion brides. ''As you will, Otomie," 1 answered briefly. "I thank you for your kindness, Tonie," she said, smiling sadly, and withdrew, making obeisance, looking so stately and so sweet os she went that again my heart was shaken as though with love. Now, from that night till tho dreadful hour oj sacrifico no kiss or tender word passed bo-, tween mo and tho princess of tho Otom?a And yot our friendship and affection grew daily, for we talked much together, and I sought to turn her heart to the true king of heaven. But this was not easy, for, Uko lier futhor Montezuma, Otomio clung to tho gods of her people, though 6ho hat ed tho priests, and, save where the victims were tho foes of her country, shrank from the rites of human sacrifice, which shosald were instituted by the pabas, since In tho carly days there woro no men offer ed on the altars of tho gods, but flowers only. Doily it grew and ripened till, al though I scarcoly know lt, at length In my heart, aftor Lily, I loved her better than any one on earth. As for the other women, though they were gent?o and beau tiful, I soon learned to hato thurn. Still ? feasted and reveled with them, partly since I must., or bring them to a miserable death because thoy failed to please mc, and part ly that 1 might drown my terrors In drink and pleasure, for let lt be remembered that thc days left me on earth wore few, and tho awful ond drew near. Tho duy following tho celebration of my marriage was that of tho shameless mas sacre of (K)0 of tho Aztec nobles by tho or der of thu hidalgo Alvarado, whom Cortes h:ul left In command of thc Spaniards, fur nt this time Cortes was absent on thc ecost lauds, whither he hud gouo to malee war ou Nurvaez, who had been sent tosub duc iiitii by his enemy, Velasquez, tho gover::t:r ;>t Cuba. On i iiis day was celebrated i he feast of j Huitxui. that was held with Kiter ?lice, songs ! and dances In the great court of thc tem ple, that court which was surrounded by a wall carved over with tho writhing shapes of snakes. It chanced that on this morning before ho went to join in tho fes tlvul Guatomoc, thc prince, como to 6ee mc on u visit of ceremonv. TO BF. CONTINUED. Thc Old Hickory Wagons, in compaiable forever, still take the lead everywhere. Ramsey & Bland oaii supply ynu and send you home happy. HUMPHREYS' Dr. Humphrey*' Sp?cifia are scientifically and airefully preiiared Remedies, used for years in private practico and for over thirty years by the people with entire success. Every single Speedie ft special cure for the disease named. They cure without drugglug, pureing or reducing the system and are in fact and deed the Sovereign Remedies of the World. KO. Cl'MN. 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C. M. DEMPSEY, Manager 230 Main St., Columbia, S. C. 1 We are thoroughly and completely equipped for the execution of Job "Work of all kinds, and we are mak ing special rates on Drop us a Postal, giving the number of Tickets you want, and the office for which you are a candidate, and we will have your tickets ready for you when you come to town. Address all orders to THE ADVERTISER, Edgefield, S. C. Important Announcement .TO THE READERS OF THE ADVERTISER, We have made arrangements with the publishers of To supply the consecutive weekly parts of this great serial at Hy 10 CEITS ni Pie Conn Per ||?g The publisher's price is 25 ceDts, but we are determined' to give the readers of the ADVERTISER the same advantages that are ' offered by the large city dailies, and accordingly, at considerable sacrifice on Dur part, we have arranged to supply "OUR OWN COUNTRY," on the above terms. Tlie First Coup will le PiMMed Neil Weeli Loot ont WJ Now save your coupons and dimes, for we have just what you want: "OUR OWN COUNTRY," represented in more than . \ 500 Splendifl and Wonderful Photographs and Descriptions. The grandest and most wonderful thing you ever saw. Published in 20 consecutive numbers for only IO cents each. First number ready next week. Every family in America wants and ju?eds ''OUR OWN COUN TRY," and it is a splendid present to send to your friends across the ocean. It is the Story of Our Country and Its People, h is America Photographed, Reflected, Pictured, and Described from Alaska to Florida and from Main to Texas. It is not all Scenery, nor all Houses and Streets, but it is America as you would see it Reflected in a Mirror. Ever-thin?" in America and America in Everything. 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