Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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"My speech with you, princess, an< Teulo, your outlawed husband, sha] short and sharp, " ho began roughly, whilo hence you carno hither to see army to aid Cuitlahua, emperor of the tees, In his strugglo with tho Teules sons of Quetzal. That army was ? you agair ?t tho wishes of many of us you wo.' tr* er tho council by tho hom your words, and wo who urged cautic even an alliance with tho white men children of God, were overruled. You i hence, and 20,000 men, tho flower of people, followed you to Tenoctitlan. W aro they now? I will tell you. ? 200 of them have crept back home, the fly to and fro through tho air in the zards of tho zaphilotcs or crouch or earth in the bellies of jackals. Death them ali, and you led them to their dei Is it, then, much that wo should seek lives of you two in payment for those OOO of our sons, our husbands and ou there? But wo do even ask this. Hen side mo stand embassadors from Malin tho captain of tho Teules, who reached city but an hour ago. This is tho derr that they bring from Mallnche, and ii own words: " 'Deliver back to me Otomie, daughter of Montezuma, and the renej of her paramour, who is known as Te and who has fled from tho justice drj his crimes, and it shall bc well with ; people of the Otomie. Hide chem or re to deliver them, and tho fate of the Cit Pines shall bo as tho fate of Tenootlt queen of tho valley. Choose, then, betjv my lovo and my wrath, people of tho < mle. If you obey, tho past shall be forgi1 and my yoke will be light upon you you refuse, your city shall be stamped and your very namo wiped out of the ords of the world. ' "Say, messengers of tho Mallnche, not theso the words of Mallnche?" '"They aro his very words, Max tia," i tho spokesman of tho embassy. Now again thero was a tumult am tho people, and voices crlod, "Glvo tl up; give them to Mallnche as a peace of ing. '1 Otomlo stood forward to speak, i it died away, for all desired to hear words. Then sho spoke: "It seems, people of the Otomie, thi am on trial beforo my own vassals, i my husband with me. Well, I will pl our causo as well as a woman may, i having the power you 6hall judge betw us and Maxtla and his allies, Malincho ? tho Tlascalans. What is our offense? is that wo canto hither by tho command Cuitlahua to seek your aid in his war w tho Teules. What did I tell you then? told you that if iho peoplo of Anahi would not stand together against tho wi men they must bo broken ono by one, 1 tho sticks of an unbound fagot, and c into tho flames. Did I speak lies? Ni I spoke the truth, for through the treas of her tribes, and chiefly through the tr son of tho Tlascalans, Anahuac is fal] and Tenoctitlan is a ruin sown with de like a field with corn. " "It is true," cried a volca "Yes, peoplo of the Otomie, it ?3 tn but I say that hod all tho warriors of t nations of Anahuac played tho part tl your sons played tho talo had run otb wiso. They aro dead, and because of th death you would deliver us to our foes a yours, but I, for one, do not mourn th? though among their number aro many my kin. Nay, be not wroth, but liste It ls better that they should lie dead honor, having earned for themselves wreath of fame and an immortal dwell!: in tho houses of tho sun, than that th should live to bo slaves, which, it seen is your desiro, people of the Otomie. The is no false word in what I said to yo Now tho sticks that Malincho has used beat out tho brains of Guatemoo shall broken and burned to cook the pot of ti. Teules. Already theso falso children a his slaves. Havo you not heard his coi mand, that the tribes, his allies, shall 1 bor in the quarries and tho street's till t] glorious city ho has burned rises afrei upon the face of thc waters? Will you n hasten to tafe") yoursharo in tho work, pe plo of the 0"omie, tho work that knows i rest and no reward except tho lash of tl overseer and -.ho curso of tho Teulc? Sur ly you will hasten, peoplo of the mom tains! Your hands are shaped to tho spat and tho trowel, not to tho bow and tl spear, and lt will bo sweeter to toll to c tho will and swell tho wealth of Mallncl in the sun of the valley or tho shadow < tho mino than to bide hero free upon yoi hills, whero as yet no foe hasset his foot! Again sho paused, and a murmur ( doubt and unrest went through tho thot sands who listened. Maztla stepped foi ward and would have spoken, but the pee pie shouted him down, crying: " Otomie Otomie! Let us hear the words of Otc mle." "I thank you, my peoplo," she said "for I have still much to tell you. Ou crime is, then, that we drew an army afte us to fight against the Teules. And hoi did we draw this army? Did I comm am you to muster your array? Nay, I set ou my case, and I said 'Now choose.' Yoi chose, and of your own free will you dis patched thoso glorious companies that nov aro dead. My crlmo is, therefore, that yoi choso wrongly, as you say; but, aa I etil hold, most rightly, and because of tb.li crlmo I and my hushand are to be given a a peace offering to tho Teules. Listen. Le mo tell you something of those wars h which wo havo fought before you give n to tho Teules and our mouths are sllen forever. Whero shall I begin? I know not Stay: I boro a child-had he lived hewoult have been your prince today. That chih I saw starvo to death before my eyes; incl by inch and day by day I saw him starvo Dut it is nothing. Who am I that I shoulc complain because I have lost my son, wher so many of your sons aro dead and theb blood is required at my hands? Lister again," and sho wont on to tell In burn lng words of tho horrors of the siege, of thc cruelties of tho Spaniards and ol tho bravery of tho men of the Otomie whom I had commanded. For a full hom sho spoko thus, whilo all that vast audience hung upon her words; also sho told of the part that I played in tho struggle and ol tho deeds which I had done, and now and again some soldier in thc crowd who served under me, and who had escaped the famine and tho massacre, cried out: ' 'It is true. Wo saw it with our eyes. " "And so," sho said, "at last it was fin ished, at last Tenoctitlan was a ruin, and my cousin and my king, tho glorious Gua tomoc, lay a prisoner in tho hands of Ma lincho, and with my husband Teule, my sister, I myself and many another. Ma lincho sworo that ho would treat Guate moo and his following with all honor. Do you know how ho treated him? Within a few days Guatcmoc, our king, -was scated in the chair of torment while slaves burned him with hot irons to causo him to declaro thebiding place of tho treasure of Monte zuma! Aye, you may well cry 'Shamo upon him!' You shall cry it yet moro loudly beforo I have done, for know that Guatemoc did not suffer alone. Ono lies there who suffered with him and spoko no word, and I also, your princess, was doom ed to torment. Wc escaped when death was ut our door, for I told my husband that tho people of the Otomio had true hearts and would slicker us in our sorrow, and for his sake I, Otomie, disguised my self in tho robe of a wanton and fled with him hither. Could I havo known what I should live to seo and hear, could I have dreamed that you would recelvo us thus, I had died a hundred deaths beforo I came to stand and plead for pity at your hands. \ "Oh, my people, I beseech of you, mako no terms with the false Teule, but remain bold and freo. Your necks arc not fitted to thc yoke of tho slave; your sons and daughters are of too high a blood to serve tho foreigner in his needs and pleasures. Defy Mallnche. Somo of our race aro dead, but many thousands remain. Hero In your mountain nest you can beat back every Tculo in Anahuac, as in bygone years the false Tlascalans "beat hack..the. A^fics. TK?n the" TTascalans were" free;; How they oro a race of Berfa. Say, will you share j their serfdom t My people, my people, t-hiTilr not that I plead for myself or even for the husband who is more dear to me than aught save honor. Do you Indeed dream that we will suffer you to hand us, living to these dogs of Tlascalans, whom Malinohe insults you by Bending as his messengers?" "Look," and she walked to where the spear that had been hurled at her lay upon the pavement and lifted lt, "here ls a means of death that some friend has sent us, and if you will not listen to my pleading you shall see it used before your eves. Then, if you will, you may send our bodies to Malinohe as a peace offering. But for your own sakes I plead with you. Defy Ma linche, and if you must die at last die as freemen and not as slaves of the Teule. Behold now his tender mercies and Bee the lot that,shall be yours If you take another counsel, the counsel of Maxtla, " and com ing to the litter on which I lay she rent my robes from me, leaving me almost naked to the waist, and unwound the bandages from my wounded limb, then lifted me up so that I rested upon my sound foot ''Look!" she cried in a piercing voice, and pointing to the scars and unhealed wounds upon my face and leg. ''Look on the work of Teule and the Tlasoalan; see how the foe is dealt with who surrenders to them. Yield if you will, desert us If you will, but I say that then your own bodies shall be marked in a like fashion till not an ounce of gold is left that can minister to the greed of the Teule, or a man or a malden who can labor to satisfy his indo lence" Then she ceased, and letting me Bink gently to the ground, for X could not stand alone, she stood over me, the spear In her Sand, as though waiting to plunge it to my heart should tho people still demand our surrender to the messengers of Cortes. For one instant there was silence; then of a sudden the clamor and the tu remit broke out again ten times more furiously than at first. But lt was no longer alxnod at us. Otomlo had conquered. Her noble words, her beauty, the tale of our sorrows and the sight of my torments bad done their work, end the heart of the people was filled with fury against the Teules who had destroyed their army and the Tlascalans that had aided them. Never did tho wit and eloquence of a woman cause a swifter change. They screamed and tore their robes and shook their weap ons in the air. Maxtla strove to speak, but they pulled him down, and presently ho was flying for nis lifo, '"lien they turned upon the TiiscVn onvoys and beat them with stioks, crying: "This is our answer to Mallnche. Run, you dogs, and take itl" till they were driv en from the town. Now at length tho turmoil ceased, and somo of tho great chiefs came forward, and kissing the hand of Otomlo said: "Princess, we, your children, will guard you to the death, for you have put another heart into us. You are right It is better to die free than to live as slaves. " "See, my husband, " said Otomlo, "I was not mistaken when I told you that my people wero loyal and true. But now we must make ready for war, for they have gone too far to turn back, and when this tiding comes to the ears of Malinche he will be like a puma robbed of her young. Now let us rest I am very weary. ' "Otomlo," I answered, "there has lived no greater woman than you upon this earth." "I cannot tell, husband," she said, smil ing. "If I have won your praise and safe ty, lt ia enough for me." CHAPTER XXIX. THE END OF GHATEMOC. Now for awhile we dwelt in quiet at the City of Pines, and by slow degrees and with much suffering I recovered from tho wounds that the cruel hand of De Garcia haxl inflicted upon me. But wo knew that this peace could not last, and the people of tho Otomie knew lt also, for had they not scourged the envoys of Mallnche out of the gates of their cltyf Many of them were now sorry that this had been done, but lt was done, and they must reap as they had sown. So they made ready for war, and Otomie weis the president of their councils, in which I shared. At length came nows that a force of 50 Spaniards, with 5,000 Tlascalan allies, were advancing on the city to destroy us. Then I took command of tho tribesmen of the Otomie-there wero 10,000 or more of them, all well armed after their own fashion-and ad vanced out of the city till I was two-thirds of tho way down tho gorge which leads to lt. But I did not bring all my army down this gorge, since thero was no room for them to fight there, and I had another plan. I sent some 7,000 men round the mountains, of which tho secret paths were well known to them, bidding them climb to the crest of the precipices that bordered either side of the gorge, and there, at cer tain places where the cliff ls sheer and more than 1,000 feet in height, to make a great provision of stones. I The rest of my army, excepting 600 i whom I kept with me, I armed with DOWS and throwing spears and stationed them in ambush in convenient places where tho sides of the cliff were broken and in .such fashion that rocks from above could not bo rolled on them. Then I sent trusty men as spies to warn me of the approach of the Spaniards and others whose mission it was to offer themselves to them as guides. Now, I thought my plan good, and every thing looked well, and yet it missed fail ure but by a very little, for Maxtla, our enemy and the friend of the Spaniards, was in my camp-indeed I had brought him with mo that I might watch him ar d he had not been idle. For when tho Spaniards were half a day's march from tho mouth of the defile I one of those men whom I had told off to watch their advance came to me and mada it known that Maxtla had bribed him to ? g i to the leader of tho Spaniards and dis close to him tho plan of tho am buscada This man had taken tho bribe and started ; on his errand of treachery, but his heart fr .liol him, and returning ho told mo nil. Then I caused Maxtla to bo seized, and be fore nightfall ho had paid tho price ot his wickedness. On tho morning after his death th? [ Spanish array entered tho pass. Half war down lt I met them with my 500 men ana engaged them, but suffered them to drive us back with some loss. As they followed they grow bolder, and wo fled faster till at length wo flew down tho defile, followed by tho Spanish horse. Now, somo three fur longs from its mouth that leads to the City ol' Pines this pass tums and narrows, and hero tho cliffs aro so sheer and high that ? twilight reigns at the foot of them. Down tho narrow way wo ran in nourn ing rout, and after us carno tho Spaniards shouting on their saints and Hushed with victory. But scarcely had wo turned th? corner when thoy sang anoihor song, for those who wero watching 1.000 foot abor? ni} gave tho signal, and down from on high carno a rain of stone? and bowlders thai darkened thc air and crashed among thom. I crushing ninny of them. On they struggled, seeing a wider way In front where tho cliffs sloped, and per- ! haps half of them won through. But here tho archers were walting, and now, in tho placo of stones, arrows were hailed upon them till at longth, utterly bewildered I r.nd unable to strike a blow In their own defense, they turned to fly toward tho open country. This finished tha fight, for now we assailed their flank, and nn.ee more tho rocks th uiulen'(1 on them from ahoye, and the end of lt was that those who remained af the Spaniards and their Indian allies ?rare driven in niter rout buck to tho plain beyond tho pass of Pines. After this Iwttlc th? Spaniards troubled ns no mere iv.r tunny yours except by threats, ami numc grew great among ihe peopl Otninle. One r-'i '? r>vt'w4 from death, and I afterwu:?l ; - Ju?? his WjHTty. From "hiinT Inquired of tho doings of' Dc Garcia or Sarceda and learned that he was still in tho service of Cortes, but that Marina had been true to her word and had brought dis grace upon him because ho had threatened to put Otomie to thc torture Moreover, Cortes was angry with him because of our escape, the burden of which Marina had laid upon his shoulders, hinting that ho had taken a bribe to suffer us to pass tho gate Of the 14 years of my life which followed the defeat of the Spaniards I can speak briefly, for, compared to the time that had gono before, they were years of quiet. In them children were born to me and Oto mie-thxeo sons-and these children were my great joy, for I loved them dearly, and they loved ma Indeed, except for the strain of their mother's blood, they were English and not Indian, for I christened thom all and taught them our English tongue and faith, and their mien and eyes were more English than Indian, though their skins were dark. But I had no luck with these dear children of mino any more than I have had with that which Lily boro mo. Two of them died-ono from a fever that all my skill would not avail to cure, and another by a fall from a lofty cedar tree, which ho climbed searohing for a kite's nest. Thus of tho three of them-sinoe I do not 6peak now of that infant, my firstborn, who perished In the siege-there remained to me only the eldest and best beloved, of whom I must tell hereafter. For the rest, jointly with Otomie I was named caziquo of the City of Pines at a great council that was held after I had de stroyed tho Spaniards and their allies, and as suoh we had wide though not absolute power. By the exorcise of this powor in the end I suoceedod in abolishing the hor rible rites of human sacrifico, though, bo cause of this, a large number of tho outly ing tribes fell away from our rule, and the enmity of the priests was excited against me. Tho last sacrifice, except one only, the most terrible of them all, of which I will tell afterward, that was ever celebrated on the teocalli in front of the palace took place after tho defeat of the Spaniards in thepaaa. when I had dwelt three years in the City of Pines and two sons had been born to me there, secret messengers arrived that were to be sent by the friends of Gua temoc, who had survived thc torture and was still a prisoner in thc hands of Cortes. Prom these messengers we learned that Cortes was about to start upon an expedi tion to the gulf of Honduras, across the country that ls now known as Yucatan, taking Guatemoc and other Aztec nobles with him, for he feared to leave them be hind. We heard also that there was much murmuring among the conquered tribes o Anahuac because of tho cruelties and ex tortions of the Spaniards, and many thought that tho hour hnd come when a rising against them might be carried to a successful issue. This was the prayer of those who sent the envoys-that I should raise a force of Otcmies and travel with it across thc coun try to Yucatan, and therewith others who would bo gathered wait a favorable op portunity to throw myself upon thc Span iards when they were entangled in thc forests and swamps, putting them to thc sword and releasing Gua tem oe Such was tho first purposo of tho plot, though, it had many othor9 of which it is useless to speak, seeing that they came to nothing. When thc mcssago had been delivered, I shook my head 6adly, for I could sec no hopo in such a scheme, but thc chief of thc messengers roso and lcd mo aside, saying that he had a word for my car. "Guatcmoc sends these words," he said. " kI hear that you, my brother, arc .'ree and Gafo with my cousin Otomio in thc moun tains of tho Otomie. I, alas, linger in the prisons of tho Tculcs Uko a crippled eagle In a cago. My brother, if it is in your power to help mo, do so, I conjure you, by the memory of our ancient friendship and of all that wo havo suffered together. Then a time may still come when I shall rule again in Anahuac, and you shall sit at my side.1 " I heard, and my heart was stirred, for then, as to this hour, I loved Guatemoc as a brother. "Go back," I said, "and find means to tell Gua tom oo that if I can save bim I will, "Go back," I said. though I havo small hopes that way. Still let him look for mo in the forests of Yuca tan." Now, when Otomio heard of this prom ise of mine sho was vexed, for she said that it was foolish and would only end In my losing my life. Still, having given it, sho hold with me that lt must bo carried out, and tho end of it was that I raised 500 men, and with them set out upon my long and toUsomo march, which I timed so as bo meet Cortes in the passes of Yucatan. At the last moment Otomio wished to ac company roo, but I forbado lt, pointing out that she could loavo neither of her chil dren, and we parted with bitter grief for the first tima Of all tho hardships that I underwent I will not write. For 2*4 months wo strug gled on across mountains and rivers and through swamps and forests till at last w? reached a mighty deserted city that is called Palenque by tho Indians of thoso parts, which has been uninhabited for many generations. This city is tho most marvelous placo that I havo seen in all my travels, though muoh of it is hidden in bush, for wherever tho traveler wanders there ho finds vast palaces of marble, car ven within and without, and sculptured teocallis and the huge images of grinning gods. Often have I wondered what na tion was 6trong enough to build such a capital, and who were tho kings that dwelt In lt. But these aro secrets belonging to tho past, and they cannot bo answered till somo learned man has found tho key to tho 6tono symbols and writings with which tho walls of tho buildings are cov ered over. In this city I hid with my men, though lt was no easy task to persuade them to tako up their habitation among so many ghosts of tho departed, not to speak of tho ?olsomo fevers and tho wild beasts and snakes that haunted lt, for I had Informa tion that tho Spaniards would pass through tho swamp that Iles between the ruins and the river, and there I hoped to ambush them. But on tho eighth day of my hid ing I loamed from spies that Cortes had orossed tho groat river higher up and was cutting his way through tho forest, for nf swamps ho had passed moro than enough. So I hurried also to tho river, intending to cross lt. But all that day and all that night it rained as it can rain nowhere else In the world that I havo seen, till at last wo waded on our road kneo deep In water, and when wo carno to thc ford of tho river lt was to find a wide, roaring flood that no man could pass in anything less frail than a Yarmouth herring boat. So there on tho bank wo must stay in misery, suf fering many ills from fever, lack nf fowl and plentltudo of water, till ut length the stream ran down. Threo days and nights wo waited there, and on tho fourth morning I mado shift to cross, losing four men by drowning In tho passage. Onco over, T hld my force in tho bush and reeds and crept forward with six men only to seo If I could discover anything of tho whereabouts of thc Span iards. Within an hour I struck tho trail fhaf they had cut through tho forest and fellowed it cautiously. Presently wo came io ? spot wljero tho forest was thin, and here Cortes had camped, fur there was boat left In tho ashes of lils fires, and among thom lay tho body of an Indian who had ,dlod from sickness. Not r,0 yard* from this camp stood a hugo culba, a tree that has Q habit of growth not unlike that of and white' Darked natl win morcase moto in bulk in 20 years than any oak mny in 100. Indeed I never yet saw an oak tree so largo as this ceiba of which I write, either in girth or in its spread of top, unless lt be tho Kirby oak or tho tree that is called tho King of Scotp, which grows at Broome, that is tho next parish to this of Ditching ham, In Norfolk. On this ceiba tree many zaphilotes or vultures wero perched, and as we crept toward it I saw what lt was they carno to seek, for from the lowest branches of tho ceiba thrco corpses swung in tho breeze. "Hero are tho Spaniards' ' foot prints," I said. "Let us look at thom," and wo passed beneath the shadow of the tree. As I came, a zaphiloto alighted on the head of the body that hung nearest to mo, and its weight or the wafting of the fowl's wing caused tho dead man to turn round so that ho carno faco to facn with mo. I looked, started back, then looked again and sank to the earth groaning, for hero was ho whom I had come to 6eek and save, my brother, Guatemoc, tho last em peror of Anahuac. Here he hung in the dim and desolate forest, dead by the death of a thief, whilo the vulture shrieked upon his head. I 6at bewildered and horror stricken, and as I sat I remembered the proud sign of Aztec royalty, a bird of prey clasping an adder in its claw. There be fore mo was tho last of the stock, and, be hold, a bird of prey gripped his hair in its talons, a fitting emblem indeed of the fall of Anahuac and tho kings of Anahnscl I sprang to my feet, with an nair., and lifting tho bow I held I sent an arrow through tho vulture, and it fell to the earth fluttering and screaming. Then I bade those with me to cut down tho corpses of Guatemoc and of tho prince of Tacubaand another noble who hung with him and hollow a deep grave beneath the tree. There I laid them, and thoro I left them to sleep forever in its melancholy shadow, I and thus for the last time I saw G na tem oe, I my brother, whom I came far to save and found ready for burial by the Spaniard. Then I turned my faco homeward, for now Anahuac had no king to rescue, bub lt chanced that before I wont I caught a Tlascalan who could speak Spanish, and who had deserted from tho army of Cortes because of tho hardships that ho suffered in tholr toilsome march. This man was present at tho murder of Guatemoc and his companions and heard tho emperor's last words. It seems that some knavo had betrayed to Cortes that an attempt would bo mudo to rescue tho prince, and that thereon Cortes commanded that he should be hung. It seoms also that Guate moc mot his death as ho had mot the mis fortunes of his lifo-proudly and without fear. These woro his last words: l'I did ill, Malincho, when I hold my hand from taking my own lifo boforo I surrendered myself to you. Then my heart told mo that all your promises wero false, and it has not lied to mo. I wclcomo my death,, for I have lived to know shamo and defeat and torture and to seo my peoplo tho slaves of thc Toulc, but still 1 say that God win reward you for this dood. ' ' Then they murdered him rn tho midst of a great silence. And so farewell to Guatemoc, the most brave, tho best and the noblest Indian that ever breathed, and may tho shadow of his tormcntlngs and shameful end lie docp up on tho famo of Cortes for so long as tho names of both of them are remembered among moni For two moro months I Journoyed homo ward, and at length I reached tho City of Pines woll, though wearied, and having lost only 40 mon by various misadvonturcs, to find Otomio in good health and over joyed to know mo safe whom sho thought nover to sec again. But when I told her what was tho end of her cousin Guatomoo sho grieved bitterly, both for his sako and becauso tho last hope of thc Aztecs was gone, and she would not be comforted for many days. CHAPTER XXX. ISABELLA DE SIGUEXZA IS AVENGED. For many years after tho death of Gua temoc I lived with Otomio at peace in tho City of Pines. Our country was poor and rugged, and, though wo defied tho Span iards and paid thom no tributo, now that Cortos had gono back to Spain they had no heart to attempt our conquest. Save some few tribes that lived in difficult places Uko ourselves, all Anahuac was in their power, and thero was littlo to gain except hard blows in the bringing of a remnant of tho peoplo of tho Otomio boneath their yoke, so they lot us bo t?l a moro convenient season. I say of a remnant of tho Otomio, for as timo went on many clans submitted to tho Spaniards tiU at length we ruled over tho City of Pines alono and sonio leagues of territory about it. Indeed lt was only lovo for Otomio and respect for tho shadow of her ancient race and name, together with some reverence for mo as one of tho unconquerable white men and for my skill as a general, that kept our fol lowing together. And so tho years rolled on, bringing lit tlo change with them, tUl I grew sure thai hero in this far placo I should live and die. But that was not to bo my fate. If any should road this, tho story of my early lifo, ho wiU remember that the tale of tho death of a certain Isabella de Sig uenza ls pieced into Its motley. He will remember how this Isabolla, In tho last moments of hor lifo, called down a curse upon that holy father who added outrage and insult to hor torment, praying that he might also dio by tho hands of fanatics and in a worse fashion. After the con quest of Anahuac by Cortes, among o th ors this samo flory priest came from Spain to turn tho Indians to tho love of God by tor ment and by sword. Indeed of all of those who entered on this mission of peace he was tho most zealous. The Indian pabas wrought cruelties enough when, tearing out the victim's heart, they offered lt like inconso to Hultzel or to Quetzal, but they at least dismissed his soul to the mansions of tho sun. With the Christian priests the thumbscrew and the stake took tho place of tho Btonoof sacrifico, but the ROU 1 which thoy delivered from its earthly bondage they consigned to the house of hell. Of theso priests a certain Father Pedro was tho boldest and tho most eruoL To and fro ho passed, marking his path with tho corpses of idolaters, until ho camed tho name of tho "Christian devil." At length he ventured too far in his holy fer vor and was seized by a clan of the Otomie that bad broken from our rule upon this very question of human sacrifice, but which was not yet subjugated by the Span iards. Ono day-lt was when we had ruled for some 14 years in the City of Pines -it carno to my knowledge that the pabas of this clan had captured a Christian priest and designed to offer him to the god Tes cat. Attended by a small guard only, I passed rapidly across the mountains, purposing to visit thc caziquo of this clan, with whom, although ho had cast off his alle giance to us, I still kept up a show of friendship, and, if I could, to persuade him to relcaso thc priest. But swiftly as I traveled thc vengoanoo of tho pabas had been more swift, and I arrived at tho vil lago only to find tho "Christian devil" In the act of being lcd to sacrifico boforo tho Imago of a hideous idol that was sot upon a stako and surrounded with piles of skulls. Naked to tho waist, his hands bound behind him, his grizzled locks hang ing about his breast, his keen eyes fixed upon tho faces of his heathen foes In men ace rather than In supplication, his thin lips muttering prayers, Father Pedro passed on to the place of Ids doom, now Father Pedro passed on to the place oj his doom. and again shaking his head fiercely to froo himself from tho tormout of tho insects which buzzed about it BE OQBTIN?flp.j A LIFE POLICY IN THE OF PORTLAND, MAINE, h T/JEBEST iMVESTftE/irs M?N CANM?KE! The Union Mutual is the only company that is sues policies giving the benefit of the Non-Forfeit ure Law, and specifying in definite terms by its Policy contract that there can be no forfeiture of insurance, by non-payment of premium, after three years' premiums have been paid, until the value prc*? vided for is exhausted in Extended Insurance. 8 The Union Mutual Has been in business over Forty Years, du rh"? which time it has paid tu its policy-holders OT*? Twenty-six Million Dollars. It Pays Its Losses Upon Receipt of Satisfac tory Proofs, Without Delay or Discount. There can be no more certain provision for your family than your policy in The Union Mutual. ?The Union Mutual Policies Are the most liberal now offered to the public; they are incontestable after one year from date of issue and free from limitations as to Residence, Travel, Suicide, or Occupation-Military and JN'avai Service in times of var excepted. After the payment of three full years'premiums in cash they are protected by the popular Maine Non-Forfeiture Law, the provi sions of which can apply only to policies written by this company. The Union Mutual Is a purely mutual company; its resources belong to the policy-holders and are utilized in giving to them a maximum of benefits consistent with absolute security, there being no stockholders to absorb large profits. Each policy is stock in the company. Its . officers and agents are paid their salaries and com missions, and they BABN THBX. 'i hese are included in the current expenses. Every dollar of the profit goes tO the POLICY HOLDBBS ONLY. The Union Mutual Issues a policy which is as safe as Government Bonds, and far more profitable. It is not subject to taxes. It is not subject to administration. It h your financial safeguard. It ke.ips a man's NAMB GOOD even beyond the grave. Itgo?s where you wish it togo; is outside of all controversy, will or no will. It requires none of your time. IIt requires none of your attention. It causes no care or worry It is absolutely TOUBS. NO doubt about TIVLB. It is looking out for "number one." It is "nailing down" something; "salting away" ometbing for YOU and YOURS beyond the emergencies and risks of ordinary business. It ASBCBKB the success of that for which you are striving. It makes your future a certainty. It is the only property you can buy by simply loan-1 ing a per cent, of its value yearly for such number of years as you may elect. It gives a constant satisfaction that no other prop erty oan produce for you. It i s the only property that will surely cling to you through all financial storms. It is your LIPS-BOAT which may prove in later life a SHIP Of PBOSPBBITY. In fact, as said above. A LIFE POLICY IN The Union Mutual, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, IstheBestlnvestmentaMan Can Make! IThe undersign^, General Manager for South Carolina, respectfully, and with the utmost con fidence in this company, calls the attention of the people of Edgefield, and of the State, to the solid merits of THE UNION MUTUAL. And Ithose wishing Insurance, or any information re lating thereto, will have their wants cheerfully and promptly complied with by applying to the undersigned in person or by letter, or to any of his Local Agents. Good Agents Wanted, To whom liberal contracte will he offered. B. B. EVANS,, General Mauer for M Carola, EDGEFIELD, S. C. \ $18,000 ? $18,000 Eighteen Thousand Dollars Worth of Dry Goflfls, Gil, Sta, Hats, Cloaks, ii ito ear, CONSIGNED 'IO D. 0. Flynn's Auction House, TO BE SOLD AT 75c. ON THE DOLLAR. -WE HAVE Men's $17.00 Suits for.'.12.50 Men's $20.00 Suits for.14.75 Men's. Boys', and Children's Hats, Trunks, and Valises at any price, you want. 5c. Calico, for.3>?c. 5c. Ginghams for.334c. 7c. Bleaching for.5c. 30 yards Fine Shirting.$1.00 Good Check Homespun.3>?c. Children's Suits for.65c. up. Young Men's Suits.$2.50 up. Gentlemen's Suits.$2.50 up. Men's $15.00 Suits for.$9 75 Children's Solid Shoes.25c. Women's Shoes.65c. Men's Shoes.75c. We have a very fine assortment of Dress Goods and Ladies' Wool Suiting at prices you have never beard of before. All Wool Ked Flannel at 70c. on the $1.00. We have everything you can find in a first-class Dry Goods, Shoe, or Cloth ing store, and we can save you at least 25c. on every dollar you trade. Flynn's Auction House, 954 Broad Street, - AUGUSTA, GA. Mr. G. R. BARTON is with us' and will be glad to welcome his friends and treat them right. Do You Know That there isa place in Augusta where you can get something nice and tempt ing to eat in the FANCY GROCERY Line? if Is So. DOSCHER & CO., carry a full line of the latest Home and Foreign Delica cies, When you visit Augusta come and see us. Prices will please you. DOSCHER & CO. GOG BROADWAY, BEAUTIFUL HOUSES. Never were there so many beautiful Louses is Augusta. Why, be-v cause Elrod & Rhoades made the price so low on Jan. 1,1894, that everybody is papering. Having five of the best paper hangers in the State enables them to paper a house in one day. Ask for estimate. Painting or frescoing a specialty. Representing a large carpet house in Philadelphia by sample gives you a big saving besides getting what you want. Mattings, Ruge, Mats, Shades, Poles, Paper, and Lace Curtains in stock. They give big odds against the field. WANTED Your old carpets or new carpets to lay ata very small coBt. ELROD & RHOADES, 629 BROADWAY, - ATJC3-TJSTA; QA_ YOUR ATTENTION I - IF TTOTT r?F-RTn-n== Cooli Steves, Stove Pans, Stove Pipe, Tinware, fell Bute, PAJSTOY GROCERIES, Loaded Shells, Canned Goods, Confeetionaries. Evaporators Repaired or made to Order. LARGEST COOK STOVE FOR THE MONEY. Coffee Pots, Milk Buckets? and Covered Buckets made from the best of Tin in the market. Repairs for Cook Stoves I sell, kept in stock. Call on or address CHAS. A. AUSTIN, _cromsrsTonsj", s. c. -_. FIRE. TORNADO Continental Fire Insurance Company, ESTABLISHED IN 1852. American Fire Insurance Company, ESTABLISHED IN 1810. Virginia State Fire Insurance Comply,. ESTABLISHED IN 1866. Fidelity and Casualty Accident Comply OF NEW YORE. -0 I represent the above first-class companies and can write yon any kind of Insurance. I also write DWELLING IN THE COUNTRY. When you travel get one of my ACCIDENT TICKETS. 25 cents a day for $5,000 insurance. W. J. MeKERALL, Agent, EDGEFIELD, ?. c. Policies Written at Trenton and Johnston. ACCT DE3STT. PLATE Q-IJASS, ALWAYS IN THE LEAD, /. C. LEVY & CO., TAILOR-FI7 CLOTHIERS, AUGUSTA, - GEORGIH. Have now in store their entire FALL AND WINTER STOCK OF CLOTHING The largest stock ever shown in Aut,fsta. We aim to carry goods wbica are* not only intrinsically good, but wLich also, in pattern, style, and finish, gratify a cultivated and discriminating taste, and at the same time, we aim to make our prices so low the closest buyers will be our steadiest customers Polite attention to all. A call will be appreciated. I. C. LEVY & CO. TAILOR-FIT CLOTHIERS, AUGUSTA, GA. JOHN R. SCHNEIDER Successor to E. R. SCHNEIDER, --IMPORTER, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL DEALER IN Flie Wines, Brandies, WlisHes, Gin, Porter Ale, Mineral Water Tobacco, Cigars, Etc. All orders for Private or Medical use shall have my prompt and careful attention. Agent for Veuve-Clicquot Ponsardiu Urbana Wine Company, An heuser-Bii8ch Brewing Association. 601 and 3iii bioad Street, AUGUSTA, GA,