Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, December 19, 1894, Image 1
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VOL. 40. YORKVILLE, S. C., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19. 1894. jSTQ. 51.
BY RIDER 1
Author of "Kin# Solomon's 3
""Allen Quart
Copyright, 1898, by the Author.
SYNOPSIS.
( haptkr I.?Thomas Wingfield was I
horn in England of an English father and
!i Snanish mother. His mother confided |
to him that n certain Spaniard had sworn
to take her life.
Chapter II?One day, when Thomas
was about 18, he went out into the mayfields
to a tryst with Lily Hozard. A i
Spanish stranger attacked him on the J
road, and the boy cudgeled the rutlian i
into helplessness, leaving him tied to a {
tree.
Chaptkk III.?Lily's father detects
Thomas kissing the maiden to seal a love
compact and forbids further meetings ot
the lovers. Returning home, Thomas I
finds the Spaniard gone and his mother !
lying dead on a scene where foot prints ;
betray a struggle.
Chapter iv.?The mother has been
stabbed by the Spaniard, Jean de Garcia, !
her cousin. Thomas'father tells the story j
of his own early adventures in Spain, of '
I)e Garcia.
Chapter V.?He sails for Spain. Lily I
Hozard pledges eternal love.
Chapters VI and VII.?Thomas is a !
medical student and finds employment
in Seville with a popular quack?I)r. 1
Fonesca. He meets DeGarcia and is prevented
from killing him by a woman
whom the villain has wronged.
Chapters VIII and IX.?Fonseca dies :
and leaves vast wealth to Thomas. De J
Garcia has gone to the Spanish Indies. '
Thomas sends his wealth home to propitiate
Lily's*father and sails for Hispaniola.
Chapter X.?Thomas is shipwrecked
in the Indian seas, escapes De Garcia's
nower and falls among the Indians of
Tabasco, where a native maiden named
Marina saves him from sacrifice.
Chapter XI.?Montezuma's nephew,
Guatemoc, befriends Thomas and takes
him to the capital. Thomas saves the
life of the prince when he is attacked by !
^ s fierce puma.
Chapter XII aud XIII?In Montezu- j
ma's palace Thomas meets Otomie, the
emperor's daughter. He is made a god
ana doomed to sacrifice according to a
tec custom, with one year's grace.. The
Spaniards land on the Mexican shore.
Chapter XIV and XV?Montezuma's
kingdom is disturbed by evil omens and
auguries. Four Mexican maidens are
chosen as earthly brides of thegodTczeat,
and Otomie is one of them. She discovers
his love forthe farofFLilly, renounces
her brideship, but resolves to die by
his side on the altar of sacrifice. . j
Chapter XVI and XVII?Cortes readies
the capital and is received by Montezu- !
ma, but the nation rises against the Span"
* birds. Montezuma is stricken down in
Cortes' camp. Eve of the sacrifice of the ;
god Tezeat and Otomie.
CHAPTER XVin.
the 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 hud worn hitherto. First, i
these pages having stripped mo of my
' robes, the artists painted all my ixxiy in ,
hideous designs of red and white and blue
till I resembled a flag, not even sparing
my face and lips, which they colored with j
carmino hues. Over my heart also they ,
drew a scarlet ring with much care and
measurement. Then they did up my hair, i
that now hung upon my shoulders, after
the fashion in which it was worn by generals
among the Indians, tying it on tho
top of my head with an embroidered ribbon
red in color, and placed a plume of
~ cock's feathers above It. Next, having nr- 1
rayed my body in gorgeous vestments not
unlike those used by popish priests at tho ;
celebration of tho mass, they set golden
earrings In my ears', golden bracelets on
my wrists and ankles, and round my neck
a collar of priceless emeralds. On my j
breast also they hung a great gem that i
gleamed like moonlit water, and beneath 1
my chin a false beard made from pink sea |
v shells. Then, having twined mo 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
pave jiie two. iuics, one 01 which i musi
hold in either hand, and conducted me tq
the great hall of the palace. Here a number
of people of rank were gathered, all
dressed i:i festal attire, and lu re also on
dais to which I was led stood my four
wives clad in the rich dresses of the four
goddesses Xochi, Xilo, Atla and Clixto, j
after whom they were named for the days
of their wifehood, Atla being the Princess
Otomie. When I had taken my pluce upon j
the dajs, my wives came forward one by
one, and kissing me on the brow offered j
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, thero i
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 everywhere;
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 dais. Then suddenly the head
priest lifted up his hands, crying aloud:
"Adore the immortal god, ye people,"
anil all those gathered thero prostrated
themselves, shouting:
4,Wc adore the godi"
Thrice the'priest cried aloud, and thrice
they answered him thus, prostrating
themselves at every answer. Then they rose
again, and the priest addressed me, saying:
"Forgive us, O Tezcat, that we cannot
honor you as it is meet, for our sovereign
should have been here to worship you
with us But you know, O Tezcat, how
soro Is the strait of your servants, who
must wage war in their own city against
those who blaspheme you and your brother
gods. You know that our beloved emperor
lies wounded, a prisoner in their unholy
hands. When we have gratified your
longing to pass beyond tho skies, C) Tezcat,
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 intercede
for us. we beseech you, that we
may smite these wicked ones and honor
you and them by tho rite of their own
sacrifice. G 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 tit last.
We have loved you, Tezcat, and ministered
to you. Grant in return that we 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 designed
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
alxmt me, my wives, the goddesses, going
before and after, and led me down the 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 11 tiee, lsaw that a strange play
was being played about us. Some hundreds
of paces away the attack on the palace
of Axa, where the Spaniards were intrenched,
raged with fury. Hands of warriors
were attempting to scale the walls
and being driven back by the deadly lire
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 the ghost,
arrows, javelins and stones were poured
' by thousands into the courtyards and outer
works of the Spanish quarters.
Five hundred yards away or so raged
this struggle to the death, but about me,
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 4 hem many women and
children, waiting to see me die. They
came with llowcrsin their hands, with the
sound of music and joyous cries, and wh'-n
they saw me they set up su< h a shout of
Lwelcome that it almost drowned the thunder
of the guns and the angry roar of battle.
Now and again an ill aimed cannon
ball would plow through them, killing
pome aud wounding others, but the rest
*
W$ !
IftflllEl,
lilies," "She," "He," "Jess," :
erniain," etc.
took no liccd, only crying the more: Welcome,
Tezcut, and farewell. Blessings on
you, our deliverer; welcome and farewell!" j
We went slowly through the press, treading
on a path of flowers, till wc camo
across the courtyard to the base of tho
pyramid. Here at tho outer gato there
was a halt because of the multitude of pco- |
pie, and while we waited a warrior thrust
his way through the crowd and bowed bcfViro
mo filnneinc un. I saw that it was
Guatemoc.
"Teulc," he whispered to iuc, "I leave
my charge yonder," and he nodded toward
the force who strove to break a way
into the palace of Axa, "to bid you farewell.
Doubtless we &hall meet again ere ;
long. Believe me, Teule, I would have j
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
8a ve."
"Farewell, Guatemoc," I answered.
'Heaven prosper you, for you are a true
man."
Then we passed on.
At tho foot of the pyramid the procession
was formed, and hero ono 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 tho teocalli winds
round and round the pyramid, every
mountain higher as it winds, and along i
this road we went in solemn state. At
each turn we halted, and another wife bade
mo a last goodby, or one of my instruments
of music, which I did not grieve to
see the last of, or some article of my
strange attire was taken from mo. At j
length, after an hour's march, for our j
progress was slow, we reached the flat top
of the pyramid that is approached by a
great stair, a space larger than tho area of
/.Unx/iKfn^l Knm at nitf?lilr?frlinm find
unfenced ut its lofty edge. Here on this
dizzy place stood the temples of Huitzel
and Tczcat, soaring structures of stono
and wood, within which were placed the
horrid effigies of the gods, and dreadful
chambers stuincd with sacrifice. Here,
too, were the holy fires that burned etcr- :
nally, the sacrificial stones, the implements
of torment and the huge drum of snakes' :
6kins, but for the rest the spot was bare.
It was bare, but not empty, for on that
side which looked toward the Spanish j
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 the
great square, fringed about with burnt
out houses, was crowded with thousands
of people, some of them engaged in combat
with the Spaniards, but the larger
part collected there to witness my murder. I
Now, we reached the top of the pyramid, '
two hours before midday, for there were
Kill many rites to be carried out ere the i
moment of sacrifice. First I was led into
the sanctuary of Tczcat, 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 plate of gold, which with muttered
invocations the head priest cleansed
as I watched, nibbing 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 boating in my breast.
Now, what further ceremonies were to
bo carried out in this unholy place I do
not know, for at that moment a great
tumult arose in the square beneath, and I
was hurried from the sanctuary by tho
priests. Then I perceived this: Galled to
inudness by the storm of missiles ruined
upon them from its crest, the Spaniards
were attacking theteocalli. Already thoy
were pouring across the courtyard in large
companies, led by Cortes himself, and
with them came many hundreds of their
allies, the Tlascalans. On the other hand,
some thousands of the Aztecs were rushing
to the foot of the first stairway to give
the white men battle thcrp. ? Five minutes
passed, and the fight grew fierce. Again
and again, covered by the fire of the urquebusicrs,
the Spaniards charged the
Aztecs, but their horses slipping upon the
stone pavement at length they dismounted
ami continued the fray on foot. Slowly
and with great slaughter the Indians
were pushed back, and the Spaniards gained
a footing on the first stairway But hundreds
of warriors still crowded the lofty
winding road, and hundreds more held the
top, and it was plain that if the Spaniards
won through at all the task would be 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 Otomic had told
me, and that was not for hard upon two
hours. It came to this, then?if the Spaniards
were victorious within two hours,
there was a chance for me; if not, I must
die.
Now, when I was led out of the sanctuary
of Tezcat 1 wondered liecuuse the
Princess Otomie, or rather the Goddess
Atla, 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 battle,
but the argument was keen, and it
seemed to'me that the priests were somewhat
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 her, and turning
slowly she swept to my side with a peculiar
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
like some happy bride passing to her husband's
arms,
j "Why arc you not gone, Otomie?" I
said. 'Now it is too late. The Spaniards
surround theteocalli, and you will be killed
or taken prisoner."
"I await the end, whatever it may be,"
she answerc'* briefly, and we spoke no
more for awhile, but watched the progress
of the fray, which was fierce indeed.
Ilfiimlv flm Avtu/i wnwinPC ft m f rli t*. hpfnrp
tho symbols of their gmls anil in the sight
of the vast concourse of people who crowded
the square beneath and stared at the
struggle in silence. They hurled themselves
upon the Spanish swords, they
gripped the Spaniards with their hands,
and screaming with rage dragged them to
the steep sides of the roadway, proposing
to cast them over. Sometimes they succeeded,
anda ball of men clinging together
would roll down the slope and Iks dashed
to pieces on the stone flooring of the courtyard,
a Spaniard being in the center of the
ball. But do what they would, like some
vast and writhing snake, still the long array
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, lighting as
men fight who know the fate that awaits
the desecrators of the gods of Anahuac,
I fighting for life and honor and safety from
the stone of sacrifice.
Thus an hour went by, and the Spaniards
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 aiil them, tho
Aztecs yelled like wild beasts, the pries's
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 u 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 Otomic at my
side, ltound 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 0
inches or so across at its mouth, and tho
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 the sun moved in the heuv
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,
his ministers laid hold of me and plucked
what was left of my fino clothes from mo
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 time this day
courage entered into me, and I rejoiced to
think that soon I should have done with
my tormentors. Turning to Otomic, I l)egan
to bid her farewell in a clear voice,
when to my amaze I saw that as I had
been 6crved so she was being served, for
her splendid robes were being torn off her,
and she stood before me arrayed in nothing
except her beauty, her flowing hair
and a broidered smock.
"Do not wonder, Teule," she said in a
low voice, answering the question my.
tongue refused to frame. "I am your wife,.
nr.a vnn/W mir nuirrincro l>ed. the first
and last. Though you do not love me,'
today I die your death and at your side,,
as I have the right to do. I could not
savo you, Teule, but at least I can dio:
with you."
At the moment I made no answer, for I
For some minutes tec lay th us sirh In/ side.
was stricken silent by my wonder, and before
I could And 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 the Spaniards
had got foot upon the last stair of the ascent.
Scarcely had my body been set upon
the center of the great stone when that of
Otomic was laid ljcside it, so close that
our sides touched, for I must lie in the
middle of the stone, and there was no great
place for her. Then, the moment of sacrifice
not being come, the priests made us
fast with cords which they knotted to copper
rings in the pavement and turned to
watch the progress of the fray.
For some minutes we lay thus side by
n?w1 nc mi lliv .1 rrlvnf, WOtldor Jllld
0*V?V, "V ?,' ?
gratitude grew in my heart, wonder that
a woman could be so brave, gratitude for
the love she gave me, sealing it with her
lifeblood, because Otomic loved me so
well that she desired todie thus at my side
rather than to live on in greatness and
honor without me. Of a sudden, in a moment
while I thought of this marvel, a
new light shone upon my heart, and it. was
changed toward her. I felt that no woman
could ever be so dear to me as this glorious
woman?no, not even nfy betrothed.
I felt?nay, who can say what I did feel?
But I know this?that the tears rushed to
my eyes and run down my painted face,
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 mosses, and her face wjis toward me.
So close was it indeed that there was not
an inch between our lips.
"Otomie," I whispered, "listen tome.
I I love you, Otomic." Now I saw her breast
heave beneath the bands and the color
conic upon her brow.
''Then I am repaid," she answered, and
our lips clung together in a kiss, the first,
and, as wo thought, tho last. Yes, there
we kissed, on tho stone of sacrifice, beneath
tho knife of the priest and tho
shadow of death, and if there has been a
stranger lovo sceno in tho 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,
Teule, I know well that there is one who
is dearer to you than I am, hut now your
heart is softened by the faithfulness of an
Indian girl, and you think that you love
her. Let me die, then, believing that the
dream is true."
"Talk not so," I answered heavily, for
even at that moment the memory of Lily
came into my mind. "You give your life
for me, and I love you for it "
"My life is nothing, and your love is
1- > -i-- a i,
JI1UCII, sue oiisnum, miiiiiufj.
Tcule, what magic liavc you that you can
bring nie, Montezuma's daughter, to the
altar of the godsj and of my own free will?
j Well, I desire no softer bed, and for the
I why and wherefore it will soon be known
by both of us, and with it many other
things."
CHAPTER XIX.
THE TKIUMI'II OF THE CROSS.
"Otomie," I said presently, "when will
i they kill us?"
"When the point of light lies within the
ring that is painted over your heart," she
answered.
Now I turned my head from her and
looked at the sunbeam which pierced the
shadow above us like a golden pencil. It
rested at my side about six inches from
me* and I reckoned that it would lie in
the scarlet ring painted upon mv breast
| within some 15 minutes. Meanwhile the
clamor of battle grew louder and nearer.
Shifting myself so fur as the cords would
allow, I strained my head upward and
saw that the Spaniards had gained the
' crest of the pyramid, since the battle now
raged upon its edge, and 1 have rarely
seen so terrible a light, for the Aztecs
fought with the fury of despair, thinking
little of their own lives if they could only
bring a Spaniard to his death. But for
the most part their rude weapons would
not pierce the coats of mail, so that there
remained only one way to compass their
desire?namely, by casting the white men
over the edge of the teocalli to be crushed
like eggshells upon the pavement. -00 feet
below. Thus the fray broke itself up into
groups of foes, who rent and tore at each
other upon the brink of the pyramid, now
' and again to vanish down its side, 10 or
12 of them together. Some of the priests
also joined in the fight, thinking less of
their own deaths than of the desecration
of their temples, for I saw one of them, a
man of huge strength and stature, seize a
Spanish soldier round the middle and leap
with him into space. Still, though very
slowly, the Spaniards and Tlasealans
forced their way towaul the center of the
platform, and as they came the danger of
this dreadful end grew less, for the Aztecs
must drag them farther.
Now, the light drew near to the stone of
sacrifice, and all who.remained alive of
the Aztecs, perhaps some 250 of them, besides
tin- priests, ranged themselves round
lis ami it in a circle; aiso me outer rim
of the sunlieain that fell through the golden
funnel, creeping on remorselessly,
touched my painted side, which it seemed
to burn as hot iron might, for, alas, I could
not command the sun to stand still while
the battle raged, as did Joshua in the valley
of Ajalon. When it touched me, five
priests seized my limbs and head, and the
father of them, he who had conducted me
! from the palace, clasped his Hint knife in
both hands. Now a deathly sickness took
me, and I shut my eyes, dreaming that all
was done, but at that moment I heard a
wild eyed man, whom I had noted standing
by, call out to the minister of death:
"Not yet, U priest of Tezcat! If you
smite before the sunbeam lies upon the
victim's heart, your gods arc doomed, and
doomed an* the people of Anahuac."
The priest gnashed his teeth with rage
and glared llrst at the creeping point of
light and then over his shoulder at the advancing
battle. Slowly the ring of warriors
closed in upon us, slowly the golden
ray crept up my breast till its outer rim
touched the red circle painted upon my
heart. Again the priest heaved up his
awful knife, again I shut my eyes, and
again I heard the shrill scream of the astronomer:
"Not yet, not yet, or your
gods are doomed!"
Then I hoard another sound. It was
the voice of Otoinie crying for help.
'Save us, Teules! They murder us!"
she shrieked in so piercing a note that il
reached the ears of the Spaniards, for out
shouted in answer and in the Castiliai:
tongue: 'On, my comrades, on! The dog:
do murder on their altars!"
j Then there was a mighty rush, and tin
defending Aztecs were swept in upon tin
altar, lifting the priest of sacrifice fron
his feet and throwing him across my body
Thrice that rush came, like a rush of tin
sea, and each time the stand of the Azteci
weakened. Now their circle was broken
and the swords of the Spaniards flashei
tip on every side, and now the red ray la*
within the ring upon my heart.
"Smite, priest of Tezcat," screamed tin
j voice of the astronomer. "Smite hour
for the glory of your god!"
I WlthTi Tearful yell, the priest lifted the ' k
knife. I saw the golden sunbeam that [ 11
j rested full upon my heart shine on it. '
Then as it was descending I saw the same ' K{
i sunbeam shine upon a yard of steel that I hi
; flashed across me and lost itself in the b
| breast of the murderer priest. Downcamo N
the great Hint knife, but its aim was lost, t 01
It struck indeed, but not upon my bosom, h
though I did not escape it altogether, j w
Full upon the altar of sacrifice it fell and 01
was shattered there, piercing between my h,
side and that of Otomie and gashing tho rj
flesh of both so that our blood w;is min- f'
j gled upon the stone, making us one inj
deed. Down, too, came the priest across h
, our bodies for the second time, but to riso s'
1 no more, for he writhed dying on those tl
whom ho would have slain. Then, as in h
a dream, I heard the wail of the astron- "
oiner singing the dirge of the gods of Ana- h
j hunc.
'The priest is dead, and his gods tire c'
1 fallen," he cried. "Tezcat has rejected v
his victim and is fallen. Doomed are the 11
gods of Anahuac! Victory is to the cross ^
of the Christians!"
Thus he wailed. Then came the sound ' tl
of sword blows, and I knew t hat this proph- *
et Wits dead also. I n
1 it
I Now a strong nnn puncu mo uymg ; -
priest from off lis, and he staggered back v
till ho fell over the altar where tho eternal 8
I Arc burned, quenching it with his blood 21
and body after it hud ilnred for many gen- j 0
orations, and a knife cut the ropo that 11
bound us. v
I sat up, staring round me wildly, and
a voice spoke above me in Castilinn, not d
to mo indeed, but to sonic comrade. "
'These two went near to it, poor dev- '
ils!" said the voice. ' Had my cut lx>cn b'
one second later that savage would havo j a
drilled a liole in liini as liig as my head, j v
By all the saints, the girl is lovely, or i
would be if she were washed! I shall beg 1(
her of Cortes as my prize." j '
The voice spoke, audi knew the voice. 61
None other ever had that hard, clear ring. >'
I knew it even then and looked up, slip- i c'
ping off the death stone as I looked. Now J*
I saw. Before me, clad in mail, was my
enemy, De Garcia. It was his sword that i >
by the good providence of God had pierced 1
the breast of tho priest. He had saved j o:
me, who, had lie known, would as soon j y
havo turned his steel against his own heart ' ?
as on that of my destroyer. h
I gazed at him, wondering if I dreamed. v
Then my lips spoko without my will, as it d
were: , J*
"Do Garcia!" 1 tl
He staggered back at the sound of my y
voice, like a man struck by a shot, then f<
v
__ ^ k
I lie staggered back at the sound of my j g
voice. i j,
; stared at mo, rubbed his eyes with his , ^
! hand and stared again. Xow at length he 1 ft
knew nic through my paint.
"Mother of God!" he gasped, "it is tho ! y
j knave Thomas Wingfleld, and I have saved ! n
| his life!" j ?
Hy tlris time my senses had come back j c.
to me, and knowing all my folly I turned, i jj
seeking escape. But Do Garcia hod no j j,
mind to suffer this. Lifting his sword, ho j
sprang at mo with a beastlike scream of \
rage and hate. Swiftly as thought I slipped j
round tho stone of sacrifice, and after me
came the uplifted sword of my enemy. It ' g
would have overtaken me soon enough, for i K)
I was weak with fear and fasting, and my I sv
limbs were crumped with bonds, but at 1 a,
that moment a cavalier, whom by his dress j
and port I guessed to be none other than ! ?
Cortes himself, struck up Do Garcia's | "
sword, saying: i
"How now, Sarcedaf Aro you mad j v
with tho lust of blood that ypu would take j n
to sacrificing victims like an Indian priest? j P
Let the poor devil go." "
"He is no Indian. He is an English j 0
spy," cried Do Garcia and once more ^
! struggled to got at me. . u
"Decidedly our friend is mad," said J 11
I Cortes, scanning me. ''Ho says that this ''
wretched creature is nn Englishman. ~
| Come, be off, both of you, or somebody elso
i may make the same mistake," and ho 1
I waved his sword in token to us to go, *'
! deeming that I could not understand his j *
I words, then added angrily as Do Garcia, , "
speechless with rage, made a new attempt ri
! to get at me: ; ji.1
"No, by heaven! I will not suffer it. 11
! We are Christians and come to save vie- j a
[ tiins, not to slay them. Here, comrades,
j hold this fool who would stain his soul P
i with murder." 6
! Now the Spaniards clutched De Garcia j h
| by the arms, and he cursed and raved at t'
| them, for, as I have said, his rage was I h
! that of a beast rather than of a man. C
; But I stood bewildered, not knowing f
J whither to lly. Fortunate it was for me v
i indeed that one was by who, though she h
1 understood no Spanish, yet had a quicker 11
' wit, for while I stood thus Otomio d
clasped my hand and whispering, "Fly, fly 11
swiftly!" led me away from the stono of ! u
j sacrifice. ! c
"Whither shall we go?" I said at length. r
"Were it not better to trust to the mercy C
of the Spaniards?" J k|
"To the mercy of that man devil with c
j the sword ?'' "lie answered. " Peace, Teulc, 1;
and follow me." 11
Now she led me on, and the Spaniards *
let us by unharmed?aye, and even spoko '
words of pity as we passed, for they knew j b
that wo were victims snatched from sacri- 0
flee. Indeed, when a certain brute, a 11
Tlascalun Indian, rushed at us, purposing 6
I to slay us with a club, one of the Span- t
; iards ran him through the shoulder, so
| that he fell wounded to the pavement.
So we went on, and at the edge of the '
pyramid we glanced back and saw that ' '
De Garcia had broken from those who 1
held him, or perhaps he found his tongue f
and explained the truth to them. At the i *
least he was bounding from the altar of 1
sacrifice, nearly 50 yards away, and com- ; i
ing toward us with uplifted sword. Then j
! fear gave us strength, and we fled like tho J
j wind. Along the steep path wo rushed, c
I side by side, leaping down the stops and '
over the hundreds of dead and dying, only j *
! pausing now and again to save ourselves I *
j from being smitten into space by tho j 1
bodies of the priests whom the Spaniards 3
were hurling from the crest of the teoculli. !
j Once, looking up, I caught sight of Do
; Garcia pursuing far above us, but after , *
j that we saw him no more. Doubtless ho !
wearied of the chase or feared to fall into t
the hands of such of the Aztec warriors as 1 J
still clustered round the foot of tho pyra- | t
mid. t
After that I remember nothing till I i
found myself once more in my apartments j ?
in Montezuma's palace, which I never ! ?
hoped to see again. Otomio was by me, i
and she brought ino water to wash tho i
paint off from my body and the blood from <
my wound, which, leaving her own un- I t
tended, she dressed skillfully, for the cut 1
of the priest's knife was deep, and I had I
bled much; also she clot lied herself afresh 1
in a white robe and brought me raiment 1
to wear, with food and drink, and 1 par|
took of them. Then I hade iter cat some- I
thing herself, and when she had done so I i
gathered my wits together and spoke to |
her. ]
"What next?" I said. "Presently tho ?
priests will be on us, and we shall be drag- ! |
ged back to sacrifice. There is no hope for t
me here. I must fly to the .Spaniards and <
trust to their mercy." t
"To the mercy of that man with the <
i sword? Say, Teulc, who is he?" 1
"He is that Spaniard of whom I have
spoken to you, Otomie. He is my mortal |
enomv. whom I have followed across the '
I sous."
! J '"And now you would put yourself Into i
| bis power. Truly, you are foolish, Toule."
I "'It is better to fall into the hands of
'> Christian men than into those of your
' priests," I answered.
1 "Have no fee,r," she said. "Tito priests
' are harmless for you. Volt have escaped
them, and there's an end. Few have ever
; come alive from their dutches before, and
} he who does so is a wizard indeed. For
1 the rest, I think that your Cod is stronger
than our gods, for surely he must linvo
J cast his mantle over us when we lay yon*
tier on the stone. Alt, Toule, to what have
? you brought me that I should live to
* doubt my gods! Aye. and to call upon the
T foesr.f i: y vi ; , ?..., ..,r i.i ; ::r recti!
Believe me, I had not done it for my own
0 sake, since I would have died with your
0 j kiss upon my lips and your word of love j
echoing In my ears, who now must livo
lowing that tlicso joys linve passed from
io."
'How so?" I answered. "What I havo
lid I liavc suid. Otomie, you would
ave died with me, and you saved my life
y your wit in calling on the Spaniards,
[enceforth it is yours, for there is no
thcr woman in the world so tender And so
rave, and I say it again, Otomie, my
ife, I love you. Our blood has mingled
a the stone of sacrifice, and there wo
ave kissed. Let these lie our marriugo
tes. Perhaps I havo not long to live, but
11 I die I am yours, Otomie, my wife."
Thus I spoke from the fullness of my
enrt, for my strength and courage wero
lattercd. Horror and loneliness had
iken hold of me. But two things were
' '*? ?mvtrnwt. in Pnii>.
U'lico mul the love of this woman, who
ad dared so much for mo. Therefore I
irgot my troth and clung to her as a
liild to its mother. Doubtless it was
rong, but I will be bold to say that few
ion so placed would have acted other ise.
Moreover, I could not take back
lie fateful words that I had spoken on
:ie stone of sacrifice. When I said them,
was expecting death indeed, but to reounce
them now that its shadow was
ftcd from me, if only for a little while,
ould have been the act of a coward. For
ood or evil I had given myself to Monteunia's
daughter, und I must abide by it
r bo shamed. Still su"h was the nobleess
of this Indian lady tiiat even then sho
rould not tako 111c at my word. For a
ttlo while sho stood smiling sadly and
rawing a lock of her long hair through
lie hollow of her hand. Then she spoke:
"You are not yourself, Teule, and I
tiould be base indeed if I made so solemn
compact with one who does not know
hat lie sells. Yonder on the altar and
1 a moment of death you said that you
ivcd me, and doubtless it was true,
tut now you havo conio back to life, and
?y, lord, who set that golden ring upon
our hand, and what is written in its cirle?
Yet even if the words arc true that
ou havo spoken and you love 1110 a little,
here is one across the sea whom you lovo
ettcr.
"That I could bear, for my heart is fixed
n you alone among men, and at the least
i.i l-_ i.j?j j
UU WUlllU UU ivinil I\J iin;, un\i jl ouuiuu
iovc in the sunlight of your presence. But
nving known the light, I cannot live to
'under in the darkness. You do not uncrstuml.
I fenr that if?if we wero wed
ou would weary of me as men do, and
lint memory would grow too strong for
ou. Then by and by it might bo possible
ir you to find your way back across tho
raters to your own land and your own
ivc, and so you would desert me, Teulc.
'his is what I could not bear, Teulc. I
un forego you now, aye, and remain your
riend. But I cannot lie put aside like a
ni\cing girl, the companion of a month,
, Montezuma's daughter, a lady of my
wn land. Should you wed me, it must
e for life, Teulc, and that is perhaps moro
lian you would wisji to promise, though
ou could kiss mo on yonder stone, and
lierc is blood fellowship lictwecn us," and
lie glanced at the red stain in the linen
jbe that covered the wound upon her side.
"And now, Teulc, I leave you awhile,
lint I may find Guatemoc, if he still lives,
nd others who, now that the strength of
tie priests is shattered, have power to proret
you and advance you to honor. Think
lien on ull that I have said and do not bo
asty to decide. Or would you make an
ad at once and fly to the white men if I
an find a means of escape!*"
''I am too wear}' to fly anywhere," I onivcrcd,
''even if I could. Moreover, I foret.
My enemy is among the Spaniards,
o whom I have sworn to kill; therefore
Is friends are my foes, and his foes my
lends. I will not fly, Otomic."
"There you arc wise," she said, "for if
ou come among tho Tcules that man will
lurdor you. By fair means or foul ho will
lurdcr you within a day; I saw it in his
yes. Now rest while I seek your safety,
' there is any safety in this blood stained
ind."
CHAPTER XX.
THOMAS IS MAP.UIED.
Otomlo turned and went. I watched tho
olden curtains close behind her. Then I
ink hnck unon the couch and instantly
us lose in sleep, lor x was rainc anu wcau
nd so dazed with wenrincss that at tho
line I scarcely knew what had happened
r the purpose of our talk. Afterward,
owever, it came back to inc. I must liavo
lept for many hours, for when I awoke it
as far into the night. It was night, but
ot dark, for through the barred window
laces came the sound of tumult and flghtig
and red rays of light cast by the flames
f burning houses. One of these windows
as above my couch, and standing on tho
cd I seized tho sill with my hands. With
iucIi pain, because of the flesh wound in
ly side, I drew myself up till I could look
lirough the bars. Then I saw that tho
paniarils, not content with the capture of
lie tcocalli, had made a night attack and
ct fire to hundreds of houses in the city.
- ' " 1I...4 ~
Jie glare or tiie names was iuuk.ui <t iuhu
ay, and by it I could see the white men
[.'treating to their quarters, pursued by
liousnnds of Aztecs, who hung upon their
anks, shooting at them with stones and
rrows.
Now I dropped down from the window
lace and began to think as to what I
liould do, for again my mind was waverng.
Should I desert Otoniie and escape
o the Spaniards, if it were possible, takng
my chance of death at the hands of I)o
Jarcia? Or should I stay among tho
iztccs, if they would give me shelter, and
red Otoniie? There was a third choice
ndecd?to stay with them and leave Otouie
alone, though it would bo dillicult to
,o this and keep my honor. One thing I
mderstood?if 1 married Otomic it must
ie at her own price, for then I must bcome
an Indian and give over all hope of
eturning to England and to my betrothed.
)f this indeed there was little chance,
itill, while life remained to me, it might
omo about if I was free. But once my
lands were tied by this marriage It could
icver bo during Otomie's lifetime, and so
ar as Lily Bozard was concerned I should
e dead. How could I be thus faithless to
icr memory and my troth, and, on the
ithcr hand, how could I discard the worn.n
who had risked all for me, and who, to
peak truth, had grown so dear to me,
hough there was one yet dearer?
While I sat musing on the couch the
urtain was drawn, and a man entered
earing a torch. It was Guatcmoc as lie
uul come from the fray, which, except foi
ts harvest of burning houses,was finished
or that night. The plumes were shorn
rom his head, his golden armor was
lacked by the Spanish swords, and he
led from a shot wound in the neck.
' Greeting, Teule," he said. "Certainly
never thought to see you alive tonight,
ir myself either, for that matter. But it
s a strange world, and now, if never beore
in Tenoctitlan, those things happen
or which we look the least. But I have
10 time for words. I came to summon
rou before the council."
"What is to be my fate?" I asked.
'To be dragged back to the stone of saerilee?"
"Nay, have no fear of that. But foi
lie rest I cannot say. In an hour yon
nay be dead or great among us, if any ol
is can be called great in these days ol
ihume. Otomic has worked well for yon
imoiig the princes and the counselors, si
lie says, and if you have a heart yon
should be grateful to her, for it seems tc
lie that few women have loved a man si
much. As for me, I have been employer
ilsewhcre," and he glanced at his rent
minor, "but I will lilt up my voice foi
, 011. Now come, friend, for the tore!
jurns low. By this time you must In
ivell seasoned in dangers. One more oi
less will matter as little to you as to inc.'
Then I rose and followed him into the
;rcut cedar paneled hall where that vcrj
morning I had received adoration as i
tod. Now I was a god no longer, but i
prisoner on trial for Jiis Jiie. i pon wn
;lais whore I liud stood in the hour of 1113
godhead were gathered those of the prince.'
ind counselors wlio were left alive, Spun
jf them, like Guatemoe, were clad in rem
and bloody mail, others in their customary
;lress, and one in a priest's robe. They hat
July two things in common among then
?the sternness of their faces and tin
greatness of their rank?and they sat then
this night not to decide my fate, whirl
was but a little tiling, hut to take counse
[is to how they might expel the Spaniard
before the city was destroyed.
When 1 entered, a man in mail, who s:i
in the center of the half circle, and it
whom I knew Cuitlahua, who would In
the empexor should Montezuma die, lookei
up quickly and said:
' Who is this, Guatemoe, that you brini
with you? Ah, I remember?the Teul
that was the god Tezeat, and who escape*
the sacrifice today! Listen, nobles. Wha
is to be done with this man? Say, is i
lawful that lie be led back to sacrifice?"
Then the priest answered: "I grieve t
say that it is not lawful, most nobl
prince. This man has lain 011 the alta
of the god?lie has even been wounded b;
the holy knife. IJtit the god rejected bin
in a fateful hour, and he must lio there 11
more. Slay him if you will, but not upoi
the stone of sacrifice,"
! "What, then, shall bo done with him?"
| said the prince again.
"Ho is of the blood of the Teulcs, and
therefore an enemy. One tiling is certain
?ho must not be suffered to join 'the
white devils and give them tidings of our
distress. Is it not best tlint he bo put
away forthwith?"
Now several of the council nodded their
heads, but others sat silent, making no
sign.
"Come," said Cuifclahua, "we have no
i .tinio to waste over this man when the
i lives of thousands arc hourly at stake.
The question is, Shall the Teule be slain?"
Then Ouatemoc rose and spoke, saying:
"Your pardon, noble kinsmen, but I hold
that we may put this prisoner to better
use than to kill him. I know him well.
Ho is brave and loyal, as I have proved.
Moreover, ho is not all a Teule, but half
of another race that hates them as he hates
them; also lie has knowledge of their
customs and mode of warfare, which wc
lack, and I think that he may lie ablo to
give us good counsel in our strait."
"Tho counsel of the wolf to the deer
perhaps," said Cuitlahua coldly, "counsel
that shall lead us to the fangs of the
'Teulcs. Who shall answer for this foreign
devil, that he will not betray us if we
trust him?"
"I will answer with my life," answered
Guatcinoc.
''Your lifo Is of too great worth to bo set
on such a stake, nephew. Men of this
white breed are liars, and his own word is
of no value even if ho gives it. I think
that it will be best to kill him and have
done with doubts."
"This man is wed to Otomic, princess
of the Otomic, Montezuma's daughter,
your niece," said Guatcinoc again, "and
she loves him so well that she offered herself
upon the stone of sacrifice with him.
Unless I mistake she will answer for him
also. Shall she be summoned before you?"
"If you wish, nephew, but a woman in
love is a blind woman, and doubtless he
has deceived her also. Moreover, she was
his wifo according to the rulo of religion
only. Is it your desiro that the princess
snouia. bo summoned before you, com
rades?"
| Now some said nay, but the most, thos<
whoso interest Otomio had gained, sail
yea, and the end of it was that one of theii
number was sent to summon her.
I Presently she came, looking very weary
but proud in mien and royally attired, ant
lwurn/1 lvifnrn fhn Phiinpil
"This Is the question, princess," sail
Cuitlahua, "whether this Teulo shall to
slain forthwith, or whether he shall to
sworn as one of us, should he be willing t<
take tho oath? The Prince Guatemoc hen
vouches for him, and he says, moreover
that you will vouch for him also. A worn
I an can do thfs in one way only, by takinj
him she vouches as her husband. You an
j already wed to this foreigner by tho ruli
of religion. Aro you willing to marry hin
according to tho custom of our land an<
j to answer for his faith with your owi
| life?"
,lI am willing," Otomio nnsweredquiet
ly, * * if he is willing."
"In truth, it is a great honor that yoi
would do this white dog," said Cuitlahua
"Bethink you, you arc princess of tlieOo
mie and one of our master's daughters. I
is to you that we look to bring back tlv
mountain clans of the Otomic, of wlion
you are chicftainess, from their unholy al
i liance with the accursed Tlascalans, tin
slaves of the Tcules. Is not your life toi
precious to lie sot 011 such a stako as thi
foreigner's faith, for learn, Otomic, if h
proves false your rank shall not help you?'
*'I know it all," she replied quietly
"Foreigner or not, I lovo this man, and
will answer for him with my blood. More
over, I look to him to assist me to wii
back the people of the Otomio to their al
legiance. But let him speak for himself
my lord. It may happen that he has n
j desire to take me in marriage."
Cuitlahua smiled grimly and said
'When the choice lies between the breas
' of death and those fair arms of yours
! niece, it is easy to guess his answer. Still
speak, Teulc, and swiftly."
| "I linvc little to say, lord. If the Prin
cess Otomio is willing to wed me, I an
willing to wed her," I answered, and thu
In tlio moment 01 my uangi'r an myuouoi
and scruples vanished. As Cuitlahua hm
said, it was easy to guess the choice of on
set between death and Otomic.
She heard and looked at nie warningly
saying in a low voice: ' Remember ou
words, Tonic. In such a marriage you rc
nouncc your [vust and give me your fu
ture."
"I rcmeinlier," I answered, and whilo
spoke there came before my eyes a visioi
of Lily's face as it had been when I bad
; her farewell. This, then, was the end c
l the vows that I had sworn. Cuitlahu
i looked at me with a glance which scemci
j to searcli my heart anil said:
'I hear your words, Teule. You,
whito wanderer, are graciously willing t
take this princess to wife and by her to b
lifted high among the great lords of till
| land. But, say, how can wo trust you? 1
( you fail us, your wife dies indeed, but tha
j may be naught to you."
'I am ready to swear allegiance," I an
swcrcd. ' I hate the Spaniards, and anion
| them is my bitterest enemy whom I fol
lowed across the sea to kill?the man wh
strove to murder me this very day. I ca
say no more. If you doubt my words, i
were best to make an end of me. A1 read
I I have suffered much at the hands of you
people. It matters little if I die or live.
"Boldly spoken, Teule. Now, lords,
ask your judgment. Shall this man b
given to Otomie as husband anil be swor
as one of us, or shall he be killed instanl
ly? You know the matter. If he cun b
trusted, as Guatemoc and Otomie believi
lie will be worth an army to us, for ho i
J acquainted with the language, tho cm
toms, the weapons and the modes of wai
1 fare of these whito devils whom the got]
, j have let loose upon us. If, on the othc
j hand, he is not to be trusted, and it is liar
for us to put faith in one of his blood, h
may do us much injury, for in the end h
I will escape to tho Tculcs and betray on
| | counsels and our strength or the lack c
, i it.. It is for you to judge, lords."
TO 111-: rONTINl*KI> NKXT WKKK.
Tick Oth kr Would Rf.cii'kocatk.
i The Japanese are a very polite peoph
but tliey sometimes like to play a jok
[ in a roundabout, Oriental way, upo
l j the men of the West. In the days <
the Second empire Baron Oros wn
1 sent to Japan to demand the openin
1 of certain ports to French coninierci
Among the rest he named to the Jaj
anese minister a certain city. Tli
> Japanese functionaries smiled so broai
I., u-linii 1<<> tii-ofi.n-fwl I tin wrnipsf. t lis
?IIV II liv J?. V.v.. .V, ??v. - -J
i the French ambassador asked them t
' tell him what gave them so mue
1 amusement; but instead ofanswcrin;
the Japanese minister said :
, ' "We will open the port in questioi
my lord, if France in her turn wi
open a certain port tor us.':
"What port is that?" asked tli
Frenchman.
"The port of Liverpool."
I "Hut. your excellencies," (laughin<
I "Liverpool is not a French port, but a
Knglish one."
j "Yes," answered the Japanese. "An
the one you named is not in Japan, hi
j in Korea."
The French ambassador was con
polled to admit that the joke wj
I against him.
-
Tiik 1 ?i:AI> Ska ok A.mkimca.?Mc<
ical lake is so called on account of ill
remedial virtues of its waters. Situ:
ted on the great Columbian plateau, i
Southern Washington, at an altilud
of 28,000 feet above the level of tli
Pacific, is the Dead Sea of Atnerie;
It is about a mile long and from
half to three-fourths of a mile in widtl
and with maximum depth of about (i
' feet. The composition of the watei
of this Alpine lake is almost identic:
1 ' - '* 1 \ 1 <\ (' I Lilnct i ti:
1 Willi lllill (II (lie I'l'illl PCil Ul l .IIVOUM'
1 ami, like ils Oriental counterpart, n
s jilant lias yet been found growing i
or near its edges. It is all lint devoi
of animal life, a species of large "bos
J i bug,"' a queer little tarrapin, and tli
j famous "walking fish." l>ein?r its onl
iiihabitants. This walking fish is a
f oddity really deserving of special noli
u It is from S to !> inches 1 on*r, and lias
1 tinny membrane extending from bea
c to tail, even around both the uppc
c and lower surfaces of the tail. It
provided with four legs, those befoi
B having four toes, the hinder live.
r | ? *
y* ftSTThe largest Sunday-school libn
1 ry in the world is in Washington, I). (
15 | It is the property of the Assent hi
J ' Presbyterian church.
|UisrcllanfOU5 grading.
TIIK COl'NTY GOVERNMENT LAW.
; A Review of the Main Points in tlie I.awTlie
lhihlic Roads and tlie Chain <iaii|
Feature.
1 From The Piedmont Headlight.
One of the greatest Reform meas
, j tires passed by our last legislature, am
probably 'the least understood, is in
! the County Government Law. Foti
years ago the constitution was amend
' I ed by abolishing the olliee of count;
j commissioners, and received a large ma
, j jorilv of the voles of the people. (Jrca
dissatisfaction was manifested toward
the old system of county government
i j Heretofore our county affairs wcr
i entrusted to three men who receive!
' about ?300 each per annum for man
aging the finances of the county, tin
poor house and working the puhli
1 j roads, besides the many other onerou
j duties devolved upon them. Itisai
i axiom that whenever responsibility i
[ j divided the service is corresponding
ly made inefficient. Such was tin
; i case with these three commissioner
i 1 in many counties. What was every
1 body's business was nobody's business
i and whenever a complaint was madi
' j by a citizen of the county to one of tin
| officials, it was always the other fel
low's business. Our roads were notli
[ ; ing but ditches, worked in an irrespon
: sible manner, under no system what
( ever. Our farmers well know tha
1 whenever a hole was made in the roai
. it was simply filled up with a fev
| pine tops and covered with dirt, am
. in a few days its condition was wors<
than when first touched. Wheneve
a tree blew down across the puhli
' highway it was allowed to remain fo
! months, and a road had to be mad
j around it,.simply because no one knev
r what particular commissioners ousi
ness it was to look after this road. I
( could not be expected lliat this systen
1 would he more efficient, for the reasoi
that no good man could afford to tuk
1 the office, leave his home and famil;
3 and attend to the public business fo
J i $300, and sometimes less per annum
3 The most important matter to on
t farmers is good public roads. The;
are of more importance than railroads
? and the most prosperous people in th
3 world are those who have the bes
0 roads. Our new county law has thi
| feature more prominent than any here
, | tofore existing, and we are satisfiei
| that if this law is fully carried out, i
- I a few years our people will have th
j best roads in the South.
1 ; The vexed question of what we shal
do with our convicts, so as not to com
j pete with free labor, is settled by thi
c law by putting them to work on th
3 highways. Let us review the law.
The first and second sections provid
c that the people shall, every two yean
? elect one county supervisor, with
3 salary of $1,000 in the county i
? Spartanburg. Upon this man is d<
volved the duties of the old board (
I county commissioners, qualified u
hereafter explained. Thus we hav
i one good man with a salary sufficieu
to enable him to leave his other bus
? ness and attend to the county affair
0 and support his wife and ehildrei
This man is placed under a bond (
[ $5,000 for the use of the county, coi
i, ditioned for the faithful performauc
of his duties. So there can be no doul
as to who is responsible for the coi
dilion of affairs. He is given geuen
II jurisdiction over all public highway:
roads, bridges and ferries, over tli
j paupers, and all matters relating t
0 taxes and disbursements of publi
funds for county purposes, and in an
other case that may be necessary fc
r internal improvements and local cot
cerns of their counties. Thegoverno
l* upon the recommendation of the sei
1 ator and members of the house fror
n each county, appoints three discret
o | freeholders in each township in tli
'f ] county, who are known as the boar
IV j of township commissioners. No pe
11 j son is required to serve more tha
; once in four years, and he is exemj
0 ! while in office from road and jury dut;
o | He receives as compensation, tli
s same per diem and mileage as tli
f j county board of assessors formerly r<
6 : ceived. This board takes the place <
j the old township board of assessor
11 ! and the chairman of the various towi
[? j ship boards constitute the board <
o [ county commissioners, of which boar
n I the comity supervisor is chairmai
6 | This board takes place the of the com
y | board of equalization, which board
* | abolished. They meet quartely fi
j the transaction of business.
I0 It is the duty of the supervisor, wit
n | the chairman of the township board <
t- commissioners, to lay off the roac
'O ' into convenient sections, which sha
be numbered for the purpose of lettin
13 out the same to be worked under coi
* tract. The board advertises for bit
IS from responsible parties for the perl'o
!r mance of work, and the lowest biddi
d gets the contract. He is required I
io ; give bond for the faithful perfonnanc
10 of the work and for the use of tl
county, and if any injury is done t
} any person by reason of bad road
this contractor is liable under bis bon
and the county exempt. Thus w
have the responsibility narrowed dow
- to one man.
?, A commutation tax of $2 is levie
e in lieu of all road duly, aud the moi
n ey is set aside for the road fum
Those persons who desire to work oi
their time instead of paying this ta:
18 are allowed to do so, and they en
^ ; only be made to work six days in
e- year.
, The road contractors are forced t
'e take any and all such persons an
pay the county oO cents per diem (it
their labor. Those counties which d
? not adopt the contract system of worl
ing the roads are allowed to continti
the old system under overseers; but
is siife to nredict that once the eoi
.'} j tract system is adopted, it will nevt
be departed from. It will enable 01
farmers to take these contracts an
IL' j work the sections of the road nei
their farms on rainy days when the
! cannot perform farm labor, and tin
put many a dollar in their pocket
11 j which, under the old system, w:i
thrown away. Any farmer will L
able to contract to keep in repair tw
lf or more miles of road, adjoining h
farm, without the slightest inconven
'* 1 ence, and give to the country tli
IS best roads in the South.
The next feature of the law, and tli
more valuable one is the chaingan;
1- It has been demanded in almost ever
ie State in the I'nioii that convicts shoal
i- he made to work the public roads, an
n in the State of North Carolina an
le Richmond county, (?a., one may st
e this feature in practical operatioi
i. Mecklenburg county, N. ('., and Kiel
a tnond county, (?a., have the best road
). in our section of the country, and the
Id owe it all to this system. The write
s has visited these counties, and it was
d revelation to him to see how perfect
i', system can he had with convicts and
o modern road machine. The convict
u can lie secured and maintained at
d ' nominal cost, and the results ai
it surprising: lied hills are eonverte
ie i into macadamized turnpikes, and tli
v sand beds are made equal to she
n roads by simply mixing clay with then
e. If our supervisors will organize the
a chaingangs and work one of the prii
d cipal roads, leading to the court lion?
r or cotton mills in the country, whci
is our farmers do most of their haulinj
e in a few years we would have perfei
roads and a saving to the farmers i
mule flesh and wagon fixtures, snfl
i- cient to support the entire penitential-;
\ On a good road one mule can haul I
|y I market as much as four under ot
' present system of roads, and tli
means a great saving to our people. [
This law has heen approved by several
road congresses which have convened
since its adoption, and we are ,
i satisfied that if it is properly enforced
- it will be of more benefit to our peos
pie than any measure enacted in the
history of our legislature.
i> ? -' j ?.#^^5 ?_?_j
JOHN* T. RODDKV.
We herewith present our renders
| with n portrait of Mr. John T. Iloddey, ;
j the New York cotton broker, whose
v. name, during the past few months, has j
1 j become familiar to cotton producers
e throughout the South. Though now a
r citizen of New York, Mr. Koddey is a
c j native South Carolinian, and is still |
r rightfully claimed as belonging to
e j York county.
v j Mr. Iloddey is a son of Captain \V.
- L. Iloddey, of Hock Hill, and is not j
t i (mite 30 years of age. His early edu- '
i ; cation was commenced at Hock Hill
i ! and Ebenezer academies. From there
e he went to Bingham school, then to ;
y Erskine college, and was finally gradur
ated from the South Carolina college in
i. the class of 1884. During vacation and
r after leaving school, Mr. Roddey dey
voted himself to the study of the cotton i
i, business, and up to his 23d year he was
e practically raised in a cotton office,
t . a portion of the time associated with
s i his father, and a portion of the time
; on his own responsibility. When the |
d Three C's railroad was building through
n | this section in 1S87, Mr Roddey went
e into railroad contracting. While in ;
i this business, he graded 15 miles of the
I Three C's, live miles of the Roanoke j
i- ! Southern, and tilled in a number of !
is ; large-trestles on the Richmond and j
e | Danville. He next put in a system of I
i water works and constructed an elece
trie light plant at Anderson, and then
?, went back to his first love?cotton,
a i After having a great deal of experi)f
ence in the local markets, Mr. Roddey
s- i decided to continue his operations on a i
)f : larger scale, and in 1S91 he moved to
is New York, and established the lirm of
e ! J. T. Roddey & Co., at 80 Broadway. j
t 'I'1.a <!...? iloolc iii /i/itlrm ulnflru (rrnin
I. X Ul Ul... uvu.o ... v,?*v~.., , n
i- and provisions; but Mr. Roddey hims,
self devotes most of liis attention to
). I cotton. Though not a speculator him)f
j self, becoming impressed with the j
i- manner in which cotton values are j
e manipulated against the producers, ;
)t after thorough study of the whole situ- !
)- ation, he conceived the hold idea of :
d forming among the cotton growers of j
3, | the South a gigantic trust for the con- j
e trol of the price of their staple. I
o | Whether or not he will be successful
ic j in his plans remains to be seen ; but |
y : already his name has become a house- !
>r hold world throughout the South, and
l- j there is little reason to doubt that the
r, education he has already inculcated, ;
]- will someday raise up a powerful
n j presure against the gangs of Eastern
;t ]urates who have ever placed such a
ie light estimate on the sweat and toil of
d the producers of cotton.
n ! (JOES XAKUD FOR HIS HEALTH.
>t Captain Edward von Schmidt, who is i
i in charge of the government dredging
ic of the Oakland ship channel, has gone j
ie practically naked in all climates for
j- , 20 years. His wardrobe is a belt and j
if a pair of cotton trunks. In his belt he
s, wears a long dagger, and he carries a
i- Winchester in his swarthy arms. He
if is tall and superbly proportioned,
d measuring (i feet 3 inches and weiglii.
j ing 200 pounds.
l- To a San Francisco Examiner reis
porter, who interviewed him the other j
>r day, he said that he refrained from
wearing heavy clothing in the inter- i
h est of his health. "Don't I ever feel
it cold?" he repeated in answer to a
Is , question. "Why, bless you, I have
II gone as you see me now for 20 years
ig in all kinds of climates in every part
i- of the world. It is a mistake to think
Is that its natural to go naked only in the
r- tropics. Hittrell, in his history of j
t California, calls attention to the ellect !
o of civilization upon Indians. When
.e the Spanish padres, after converting
ie these natives to Christianity, began to
:o clothe them, the Indians began to die
s, | of pulmonary troubles.
(1 "My philosophy of dres?, or undress,
e is founded on scientific principles,
n The pores of the skin breathe the air
and are intended to take in the sund
shine. Especially should the pores
i- over the respiratory organs have free
1. access to the sun and atmosphere. In
it fact, German scientist are now advov,
eating nakedncsss as a cure for conn
i sumption. I come from a eonsumpa
| tive family, and when I was a hoy it
was predicted that I would die young
o | because of my weak lungs." Ilere the
d i giant took a long breath, and the
ir i superb expansion of his chest showed
o how indifferent events are of the repuc
tation of prophets,
le "Yes," continued the strong man,
it "and I studied medicine awhile, and
i- . my fellow empiricists said I had weak
?r lungs, and when I went to sea, my
ir friends said I would never come hack,
d Well, down in the tropics I naturally
ir wore but very little, and the less I
v wore the better I felt, and when I put
is : on more clothing again I didn't feel so
s, well. A year later, in bringing a
is j vessel through the strait of Magellan,
>e I noticed the Terra del Fuegans going
o naked in the snow. 1 saw old men,
is stalwart and rugged, and mothers
i- nursing their babes, and all quick in
ie action and sturdy of limb, and I said
I have found the secret of health,
ie Ever since I have dressed about as
liuiivix of tbnf bleak
iiukh: 1 llppV" .......v.,
y country dress or us you see me now."
d Captain von .Schmidt's life has heen
d romantic. As captain respectively of
d the schooner Ariel, formerly a gov e
eminent Baltimore clipjier, the hark
i. * Francis Palmer, the schooner Clans
i- Spreckles, the hrijr Consuclo, the
Is steamer Kinati, the lirst steamer that
y lloated the Hawaiian flajr in the At r
lanlic ocean, and the steamer Likea
Lihe, named after the sister of Liluoa
kalani, this naked adventurer has
a 1 circumnavigated the globe. He is
ts somewhat of a landsman too. Years
a ago, as a government engineer, he
e surveyed the boundary lines of Calid
fomia. "I have crossed the Sierras
ie ; times on foot," said he. He has a
11 good many souvenirs of his ex peri i.
enccs in the shape of ugly knife scars
ir , on his body, lint he is not at all
i* ; inclined to he boastful and does not
>e dwell on his encounters.
e From years of exposure to sun and 1
; wind his skin is the color oftlie Herke-t
ley hills in autumn, and the scars on
n i his body, being of a lighter shade, are
i- quite conspicuous. He is married and
y. | has four children.
!o "It was a disappointment in love,"
tr lie observed, "that made me go to sea.
is I Then, too, I inherited a love of adven
ture. My grandfather was a sea captain
and traded with the California Indians
in 1823. In the South seas I
married a half caste girl, an educated
girl, however, the daughter of an English
ollicer. She died. My present
wife I married in Melbourne. She
shares my bizarre notions about clothing.
Of course she doesn't go about
as I do, but so far as society will permit
her, she obeys the same natural
laws. We dress our children with regard
to those principles, too, and we
have never spent a penny for medicine
or for physician's care in our
household."
Although the captain doesn't own a
white shirt, or a pair of cull's, or a
suit of clothes that would pass muster
in a parlor or on a boulevard, he is a *
wealthy man, controlling with his
father the dredging business of the
coast and owing ships on the Atlantic
and Pacific, and also considerable land
in this State.
Ill MAN CHARACTER SKINS.
"Never, under any circumstances,
marry a girl whose mouth turns down
at the corners," was the advice given
by a preceptress of a large school situated
within a few miles of New York
city, to a Sun reporter.
"I have been closely associated with
a large army of young men and women
for a great many years," continued
the speaker, "and I have frequently
given this, advice. Many young men,
students at the institution with which I
am connected, imagining that they are
in love, come to me for advice. I invariably
first counsel them as I have
spoken.
"Why ? Because a girl whose mouth
turns down at the corners is invariably
of a sour, morose disposition, with a
very jealous makeup, and is certain to
make the man she marries any amount
of trouble through life. I have verified
this assertion in a great many instances,
and I have yet to find one case in which
it failed.
"A great many young lady students
whose mouths have that unfortunate
curl downward ask for some advice as
to correcting the fault?I say fault, for
I believe if any woman has a homely
mouth it is her own fault?and I always
tell them that they must abandon
all hope of effecting a cure by external
means,such as pushing their mouths upward
with their lingers, and look afterthe
interior of their natures, examine
and correct the disposition which have
caused nature to so mark and distinguish
them that all men who know
anything about character reading may
at a glance know them for just what
they are.
"The fault certainly can he corrected,
and a young woman can change the
i. p i .!. ,.1.?
snupe 01 ner moil111 its cut lining us 0110
can the contour of her form, but of
course it takes persistent and determined
work to' do it, an exercise of will
power that of itself is a lasting benefit
in forming a perfect and lovable character,
but I know whereof I speak
when I say it can he accomplished.
"I have another theory, also, which
I think you will find interesting," continued
the speaker. "It is that children
often inherit the suppressed desires
of their parents. An instance or
two will best illustrate what 1 mean.
I know intimately a minister, one of
the old-fashioned orthodox kind, who
believe in following the strict letter of
their creed more than relying on their
own good sense of right and wrong.
The man to whom I refer always had
a burning desire to go to ihe theaTrey "
but the discipline he had so conscientiously
followed would hot allow him
to do such a thing, and he suppressed
and held in check the desire.
"Often, when some great actor was
announced, or some standard play
was holding the hoards, he would say
to me, "Oh, how I would like to go
with you to the theatre tonight; but I
do not leel that I dare.'
"Now that man," continued the preceptress,
"married and brought a family
of children into the world, and everyone
of them were perfectly stage crazy.
They would sooner go to the theatre
than prayer-meeting any night in the
week, although they had been brought
up to give the prayer-meeting first
choice. The desire which their father
suppressed they inherited, and did not
control it as he had done."
WHAT DROWNING FEELS LIKE.
There are several authentic records
of the experiences of persons who have
been snatched from a watery grave'
says The British Medical Journal,
? i l:r ... ..M u..i Dun nf
\y 111*11 me \\:i? ini mil lAiinii. wnv- ?*
the most interesting is that of Admiral
Bcauford, as described by himself.
When a youngster he fell overboard in
Portsmouth, Eng., harbor, and before
relief reached him had sunk helow the
surface. All hope had lied, all exertion
ceased, and he felt that he was
drowning. We give his account of his
sensations in his own words:
"From the moment that all exertion
ceased, a calm feeling of the most perfect
tranquility superseded the previous
tumultuous sensations?it might
be called apathy, certainly not resignation?for
drowning no longer appeared
to be an evil. I no longer
thought of being rescued, nor was I
in any bodily pain. On the contrary,
my sensations were now of a pleasurable
cast, partaking of that dull but
contented sort of feeling which precedes
the sleep produced by fatigue.
"Though the senses were thus deadened,
not so the mind; its activity
seemed to be invigorated in a ratio
which defies all description, for
thought rose after thought with a rapidity
of succession that is not only indescribable.
but probably inconceivable
by anyone who has not himself been
in a similar situation. The course of
these thoughts I can even now, in a
great measure, retrace?the event
which had just taken place, the awkwardness
that produced it, the bustle it
must have occasioned, the effect it
would have on a most affectionate
father, and a thousand other circumstances
minutely associated with my
home, were the first series of reflections
that occurred. Then they took
a wider range?our last cruise, a former
voyage and the time I had misspent,
and all my boyish pursuits,
every incident of life seemed to glance
across my recollection in retrograde
succession ; not, however, in mere outline,
as here staled, but the picture,
filled up with every minute and collateral
feature; in short, the whole period
of my existence seemed to he
placed before me in a kind of panoramic
review, and each act of it seemed to
he accompanied by a consciousness of
right and wrong, or by some reflection
of its cause or its consequences; indeed.
many trifling events which hud
been long forgotten then crowded
into my imagination, and with the
character of recent familarity."
Two minutes had not elapsed before
he was hauled up, and he found the
return to life much less pleasant than
drowning.
f&fiT Sandow, "the strong man." is
telling admiring interviewers that the
best health tonic a man can take is a
cold hath each morning. "lie is probably
right as to the invigoratingeH'ects
of such a course upon himself, but
what is good for him might he death
for another man of weaker physical
powers. With his perfect health and
powerful physique he finds a stimulant
and an agreeable sensation in what to
many would he an injurious nervous
shock. No one man can be a law for
another in any habit of life, and
though many youths, emulous of athletic
skill, may follow his advice, some
at least will discover that for them the
1 prescription was not wise.