Pittston Gazette

              ESTA1U-I.SH El) 1850. » VOL. XLV. SO. t. t Oldest Newspaper in the Wyoming Valley. PITTSTON, LUZEKNIi CO., 1'A., FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1894. A Weekly Local and Family Journal. ~6i . ' CCprr*iaHTli839.»rmtAVTHoii.»yD inns. Now Montezuma saw una stooa still trembling, mid I trembled also. me in a thousand ways, and now and again she would let lull some vague words of hope that set my pulsus bounding. I talked much with Otomie, instructing her in the matters of my faith and many other things, as I had done by Marina, who, we now heard, was the mistress and inter preter of Cortes, the Spanish leader. She, for her part, listened gravely, watching mo the while with her tender eyes, but no more, for of all women Otomie was the most modest, as she was the proudest and most beautiful. So matters went on until the Spaniards had left Cholulaon their road to Mexico. It was then t hat I chanced one morning to be sitting In tho gardens, my lute in hand, and having my attendant nobles and tutors gathered at a respectful distance behind me. From where I sat I could set) tho entrance to the court in which the emperor met his council daily,and I noted that when the princes had gone the priests began to come, and after them a iiuiuIht of very lovely girls, attended by women of middle age. Presently Guatcmoc, the prince, who now smiled but rarely, came up to me smiling and asked me if I knew what was doing yonder. I replied that 1 knew nothing and cared less, but I supposed that Montezuma was gathering a peculiar treasure to send to his masters, the Spaniards. Beware how you speak, Teule," answered the prince haughtily. "Your words may be true, and yet, did I not love you, you should rue them even though you hold the spirit of Tezcat. Alas," he added, stamping on the ground, "alas, that my uncle's madness should make it ]Dossiblc that such words can be spoken! Oh, were I tho emperor of Anahuac, in a single week tho head of every Teule in Cliolula should deck a pinnacle of yonder temple!" i She is not iny wile, Otomie, but she is vowed to me in marriage." "Sue is vowed to you in marriage, • sne answered bitterly. "Why, then, wo are equal, for so am I, Teule. But there is this difference between us—you love her, and me you do not love. That is what you would make clear to nie. Spare mo more words. I understand it all. Still it seems to me that if I have lost she is also in the path of lues. Great Beas roll between you and this love of yours, Teule— seas of water, and the ultar of sacrifice, and the nothingness of death. Now let me go. Your wife I must be, for there la no escape, but I shall not trouble you over- dreds ot thousands of Kngiish pounds. All this the nation bore, for it was stupefied and still obeyeid the commands of its captive king. Rut when he suffered the Spaniards to worship the true God in one of tho sanctuaries of the great temple a murmur of discontent and sullen fury rose among the thousands of the Aztecs. It filled tho air, It could bo heard wherever men were gathered, and its sound was like that of a distant angry sea. The hour of tho breaking of the tempest was at hand. the early days there were no men offered on the altars of the gods, but flowers only. Daily it. grew .and ripened till, although I scarcely knew it, at length in my heart, after Lily, I lowd her bettor than any one on earth. As for the other women, though they were gentle and beautiful, I s«Kin learned to hate them. Still I feasted and reveled with them, partly since I must, or bring them to a miserable death because they failed to please Jue, and part, ly that I might drown my terrors in drink and pleasure, for let it be remembered that the days left me on earth were few, and the awful end drew near. SOME ? ? ? ANSWERED. "Valerian," St. Augustine, Fla., writes, "What is tho proper method for eating cheese?" Then tho woman—for it was a woman —advanced slowly toward us, and as she same we saw that she was draped in grave slothes. Presently she lifted her head, and the moonlight fell full upon her face. Now Montezuma groaned aloud, and I groaned, for we saw that tho face was the pale, thin face of the Princess Papantzin —Papantzin, who had lain for four days in the grave. On she came toward us, gliding like one who walks in her sleep, till she stopped before the bush In tho shadow of which we stood. Now Papantzin, or the ghost of Papantzin, looked at us with blind eyes—that is, with eyes that were open and yet did not seem to see. BILL NYE WRITES ABOUT MR. PULL- You ehoukl toy with it as though you did not care much for it, and then whilo your hostess is looking at somo other guest slide it into your mouth. A very good way is to cut it 011 tho plato and spread it on the bread. Much, of course, depends upon tho variety of cheese used. Some oheese used lately in the best cirolee is passed to the guests cut in small squares, together with little individual silver clothespins to put on the nose. After you have received your cheese, however, the rule is to put it out of its misery as soon as possible. MAN AND HIS CARS. He Then Dispose* of a Few Disputed Point* of Ktiquette With Graceful Savoir Faire and Replie* Feelingly to IDaisy Dell and Valerian and Kathleen Mavourneen. Now, all this while my life went on as before, save that I was not allowd to go outside the walls of the palace, for it Was feared lest I should find some means of intercourse with the Spaniards, who did not know that a man of white blood was confined there and doomed to sacrifice; also in these days I saw little of the princess Otomie, tho chief of my destined brides, who since our strange lovo scene had avoided itie, and when wo met at feasts or in the gardens spoke to mo only on Indifferent matters or of the affairs of state. A* length came the day of my marriage. Tt was. I remember, the night before the massacre of the 000 Aztec nobles on the occasion of the festival of Huitzcl. liccK Shoals, N. C., Summer of '94. [Copyright, 1B64, by Edgar W. Nye.] The day following the celebration of my marriage was that of the massacre of liOO of the Aztec noble the order of the hidalgo Alvarado, whom Cortes had left in command of the Spaniards, for at this time Cortes was absent on the coast lands, whither he had gone to make war on Narvaez, who had been sent to subdue him by his enemy, Velasquez, tho governor of Cuba. "Philharmonic," Fresno,Cal., writes: 1. "Isitnota great wrong for the workingmeu to unite against Mr. Pullman because he would not pay the sarno wages to his employees that he did last year? 2. Should ono fold the napkin on leaving table? 3. Is it proper to accept a dime 1 11 a gentleman friend at church to put in the plate?" 1. Sir George Pullman has a right to reduce his wages to hired help, of course, as much as he desires, though he can hardly expect that tho public will cheerfully go on paying $5 per wink for sleep in his cars if times get any worse. He can, of course, reduce wn?eC= in *o keep up his 8 per ''Are you there, Montezuma, my brotherf" she said in the voice of Papantzin. ''Surely I feel your presence, though I cannot see you." Kathleen Mavourneen, Star Prairie, Wis., writes: "I have broken off my engagement with Sylvester, a young man who has kept Co. with mo for going on two years. I presume it is partly my fault, but wish to refer it to yon. He is rather a quick tempered man, and onco when he did not think I was looking called my little dog to him, saying. 'Here, Tige; here, Tige,' and coaxing it to him, when all at once he hauled off, aJid saying, 'There, how do you like that, you fyste?' he kicked Tige in the stomach with all tho force of his being. [continued.] "I can speak their tongue. Send me to discover for you." CHAPTER XIV. THE AUISINU OF PAI'ANTZTN Now, as I spoke thus, my heart bounded with hope, for if once I could come among the Spaniards perhaps I might. escape the altar of sacrifice; also they seemed a link between me and home. They had sailed hither in ships, and ships can retrace their path, for though at present my lot was not all sorrow it will be guessed that I should have been glad indeed to find myself once more among Christian men. Now Montezuma stepped from the shadow and stood face to face with the dead. "Who are you," he said, ''who wear tho shape of one dead and are dressed in tho garments of the dead)"' On tho morrow Papantzin died and was buried with great pomp that same evening In tho burial ground at Chapoltepec, by tho side of tho emperor's royal ancestors. But, as will 1*3 seen, sho was not content with their company. Ou that day also I learned that to be a god is not all pleasure, sitico it was ospected of me that I must master variotu arts, and chiefly the horrid art of music, to which I never had any desire. Still my own wishes were not allowed to weigh in the matter, for there came to me tutors, aged men who wight havq, found better employment, to instruct me in the use of the lute, and on this instrument 1 must learn to strum. Others there were also who taught me letters, poetry and art, as they were understood among the Aztecs, and all this knowledge 1 was gl;ul of. On this day was celebrated the feast of Huitzcl, that was held with sacrifice, songs and dances in the great court of the temple, that court which was surrounded by a wall carved over with the writhing shapes of snakes. It chanced that on this morning lx'fore he went to join in tho festival Guatemoc, the prince, came to see me on a visit of ceremony. ''I am Papantzin," she answered, "and am risen out of death to bring you a luessage, Montezuma, my brother." On this my Wedding day I was treated with great oircumstance and worshiped like a god by the highest In the city, who came in to do me reverence and burned inoense before me till I was weary of the smell of it, for though such sorrow was on the land the priests would at Kite no jot of their ceremonies or cruelties, and great hopes were held that I, being of the race of Toules, my sacrifice would avert the anger or tne gods. At sunset l was encertameu with a splendid feast that lasted two Lours or more, and at its end all the company rose and shouted as with one voice: "What message do you bring me?" he asked hoarsely. "1 bring you a message of doom, my brother. Your empire shall fall, and soon you shall be accompanied to death by tens of thousands of your people. For four days I have lived among the dead, and then "I have seen your false gods, which are devils. There also I have seen the priests which served them and many of those who worshiped them plunged into torment unutterable. Because of the worship of these demon gods the people of Anahuac is destined to destruction." "Jg she your wife thent" Montezuma looked at me awhile and answered: much, and it will soon be done with. Then you may seek your desire In the houses of the stars whither you must wander, and it is my prayer that you shall win it. "You must think me very foolish, Teule. What, shall I send you to tell my fears mid weakness to your countrymen, and to show them the joiuts in my har- I asked him if he intended to take part in the feast, as the splendor of his apparel brought mo to believe. •'All those months I have been planning to find hope for you, and I thought that I had found it. But it was built upon a false belief, and it is ended. Had you lxx'ii able to soy from your heart that you loved me it might hu'e been well for both of us. Should you be able to gay it before the end it may still lie well. But I do not ask you to say it, and beware how you tell 1110 a lie. I leave you, Teule, but beforo I go I will say that I honor you more in this hour than I have honored you before, be cause you have dared to speak the truth to me, Montezuma's daughter, when a lie had been so easy and so safe. That woman beyond the seas should bo grateful to ywu, but though I bear her no ill will between mo and her there is a struggle to tho death. We are strangers to each other, and stran gers wo shall remain, but she has touched your hand as I touch it now. You link us together and are our bond of enmity. Farewell, my husband that is to be." "Yes," he answered, "but why do you 3O & "I was np stairs dressing at the time and saw all this below in tho back yard from my chamber window, and, just as I was, I told him never to look at mo again. He looked up a moment, with a twinkle in his eye, and said ho guessed ho didn't care to if that was tho way I looked without my boughten hair. ask?" '•Because, were I you, Guatemoc, I would not go. Say, now, will the dancers be armed?" "Beware how you speak, prince," I answered, mocking him, "for there are those who, did they hear, might cause you to ruo your words. Still one day you may lie emperor, and then we shall see how you will deal with the Teulcs—at least others will see, though I shall not. But what is it now? Docs Montezuma chooso new wives?" "Glory to thee, O Tezcat! Happy art thou here on earth, happy mayst thou lie In tho houses ot the sun. When thou com•st hither, remember that we dealt well by thee, giving thee of our best and intercedo for us that our sins may be forgiven. Glory to thee, O Tfrzcot!" "They will lDe unarmed, Guatemoc, and they are the flower of the land. Unarmed they will dance in yonder inclosed space, and the Teules will watch them armed. Now, how would it be if these chanced to pick a quarrel with the nobles?" "No. it is not usual." As to this matter of my sacrifice I was at first desperate. But reflection told nie that I had already passed many dangers and come out unscathed, and therefore it was possible that I might escape this one also. At least death was still a long way off, and for the present I was a god. Sol determined that, whether I died or lived, while I lived 1 would live like a god and take such pleasures as came to my hand, and 1 adted on this resolve. •'Have you no word of comfort for me, Papantzin, my sister!"' he asked. "None," she answered. "Perchance If you abandon the worship of the false gods you may save your soul. Your life yon cannot save, nor the lives of your people." "He then drifted 6lowly out of my life, knocking the poor little Mary Goulds galley west with his cane as he went I afterward learned that ho did it on purpose to startle me and not because ho treasured ill feeling toward Tige. Then sho turned and passed away into the shadow of the trees. I heard her grave clothes sweep upon the gross. Then two of the chief nobles came forward, and taking torches led me to a magnificent chamber that I had never seen before. Hero they changed my apparel, investing me in rolDes which were still more splendid than ally that I had worn hitherto, being made of the finest embroidered cotton and of the glittering feathers of the humming bird. On my bead they set wreaths of flowers, and alxiut my neck and wrists emeralds »f vast size and value, and a sorry popinjay i looked in this attire, that seemed more suited to a woman's beauty than to me. "I do not know why you should speak thus, Teule, for surely these white men art' not cowardly murderers. Still I take your words as an omen, and though the feast must lx- held, for see, already the nobles gather, I "will not share in it." Now a fury seized Montezuma, and he raved aloud, saying: "He chooses wives, but not for himself. You know, Teule, that your time grows short. Montezuma and the priests name those who must be given to you to wife." "What should I do? During the days that followed the death of Papantzin the palace and the city also were plunged in ferment. The minds of men were shaken strangely bccause of the rumors that tilled the air. Kvery night the fiery portent blazed in the east, every day a new wonder or omen was reported, and with it some wild tale of the doings of the Spaniards, who by most were held to be white gods, the children of Quetzal, come back to take the land which their forefathers ruled. "Curses on you, Papantzin, my sister! Why then do you come back from the dead to bring me such evil tidings!1 Had you brought hope with you, had you shown a way of escape, then I would have welcomed you. May you go back into darkness, and may the earth lie heavy on your heart forever! As for my gods, my father worshiped them, and I will worship them to the end. Aye, if they desert me, at least I will never desert them. The gods are angry because the sacrifices arc few upon their altars; henceforth they shall be doubled. Aye, tho priests of the gods shall themselves be sacrificed because they neglect their worship " "You are wise, Guatemoc," I said. "I am sure that you an' wise." "I have a carnelian ring of his and a silver one that ho made himself out of a of a I was making a pair of yarn mitts to hang on the tree next winter for him. Would you finish the mitts for him and send bj*ck the rings? The latter I am afraid that I cannot got off, as my hands has grown a good deal this summer, for I have had to do the milk- They began the iruitfh with dice. n*ss? Do you then suppose that I do not know you for a spy sent to this land by these same Teules to gather knowledge of tho land!1 Fool, I knew it from the first, and, by Huitzel, were you not vowed to Tezcat your heart should smoke tomorrow on tho altar of Huitzel. He warned and give me no more false counsels, lest your end prove swifter than you think. Learn that I have asked these questions of you to a purpose, and by the command of tho gods, as it was written on. the hearts of those sacrificed this day. This was the purpose and this was the command that I might discover your secret mind, and that I should shun whatever advice you chanced to give. You counsel me to tight the Teules; therefore I will not light them, but meet them with gifts and fair words, for I know well that you would have me to do that which would bring me to my doom." "Given mo to wife!" 1 said, starting to my feet. "To me whose bride is death! What have I to do with love or marriage— I who in some few short weeks must grace an altar? Ah, Guatemoc, you say you love mo, and once I saved you. Did you love me, surely you would save me now as you sworo to do." Afterward Otomie, Guatemoc and I went into the garden of the palaee and sat upon the crest of a small pyramid, a teoralli in miniature that Montezuma had built for a plate of outlook on the market arid the courts of the temple. From this spot we saw the dancing of the Aztec nobles and heard the song of tho musicians. It was a gay sight, for in the bright sunlight their feather dresses flashed like coats of gems, and none would havo guessed how it was to end. Mingling with the dancers were groups of Spaniards clad in mail and armed with swords and matchlocks, but I noted that as the time went on these men separated from the Indians and began to cluster like bees about the gates and at various points under the shadow of tho wall of serpents. Then, rising, Otomie cast her veil about her face and passed slowly from the chamber, leaving me much disturbed. It was a lxDld deed to have rejected tht proffered love of this queen among women, and uow thut I had done so I was not altogethir glad. Would Lily, I wondered, have jffered to descend from such state to oast iff the purple of her royal rank that she night lie at my sido on the red stone of sacrifice? Perhaps not, for this fierce fidelity is only to be found in women of anothjr breed. Theso daughters of tho sun love wholly when they love at all, and as they love they hate. They ask no priest to oonlecrato their vows, nor if these become hateful will they be lxiund by them for iuty's wike. Their own desire is their law, but while it rules them they follow It unflinchingly, and if need be they seek Its consummation in the gates of death, or, failing that, forgetfulness. When I was arrayed, suddenly the torches were extinguished, and for awhile there was silence. Then in the distance I heard women's voices singing a bridal song that was beautiful enough after its fashion, though I forbear to write it down. The singing ceased, and there came a sound of rustlinc robes and of low whispering. Then a man's voice spoke, saying: "I swore that I would give my life for yours, Teule, if it lay in my power, and that oath I would koep, for all do not set so high a store on life as you, my friend. But I cannot help you. You are dedicated to the gods, and did I die a hundred dmes I It would not save you from your fate. Nothing can save you except the hand of heaven if it wills. Therefore, Teule, make merry while you may and die bravely when you must. Your case is no worse than mine and that of many others, for death awaits us all. Farewell." ing. "I hate like everything to give him up, and yet you see what a hole I am in. I do not care to compromise myself with him, and yot I would rather have his love than a whole fair ground full of dogs. In fact, I have since that more than once kicked the measly old pup myself because he seems to stand betwixt me and Sylvester. Hut of all that were troubled none were in such bad case as tho emperor himself, who during these weeks scarcely ate, drank or slept,-so heavy were his fears upon him. In this trait he sent messengers to his ancient rival, that wise and severe man, Neza, the king of the allied state of Tezcuco, ltegging that he would visit him. This king came, an old man with a tierce and gleaming eye, and I was witness to the interview that followed, for in my quality of god I had full liljerty of the palace and even to be present at tho councils of tho em|Dcror and his nobles. When the two mouarchs had feasts! together, Montezuma s]»ike to Ne/j of the matter of. the omens and of tho coming of the Teules, asking him to lighten the darkness by his wisdom. Then Neza pulled his long gray beard and answered that heavy as the heart of Montezuma might be it must grow still heavier before the end. THE WHISK BROOM IN OPERATION. cent dividends, but the patron will hail with joy the new sleeping car company or any rival ho may have which will put the price of repose where it will harmonizo with that of other comforts. Thus ho raved on, after the fashion of a weak man maddened with terror, while his nobles and attendants, who had followed at a distance, clustered about him, fearful and wondering. At length there came an end, for, tearing with his thin hands at his royal robes and at his hair and beard, Montezuma fell and writhed in a tit upon the ground. Then they carried him into the palace, and none saw him for three days and nights. "Are ye there, ye chosen of heaven?" And a woman's voice—I thought it was that of Otomie—answered: '"We are here." "Now, what may this mean?" I said to Guatemoc, and as I spoke I saw a Spaniard wave a white cloth in the air. Then in an instant, before the cloth had ceased to flutter, a smoke arose lfom every side, and with it came tho sound of the firing of matchlocks. Everywhere among the dancers men fell dead or wounded, but the mass of them, unharmed as ye3, huddled themselves together like frightened sheep and stood silent and terror stricken. Then tin- Spaniards, shouting the name of their patron saint, as it is their custom to do when they havo some such wickedness in hand, drew their swords, and rushing on the unarmed Aztec nobles begiui to kill them. Now some shrieked and fled, and some stood still till they were cut down; but, whether they staid or ran, the end was the same, for the gates were guarded, and the walls were, too high to climb. There they were slaughtered, every man of them, and may God, who sees all, reward their murderers. It was soon over. Within 10 minutes of the waving of tho cloth those 000 men were stretched upon the pavement dead or dying, and with shouts of victory tho Spaniards were despoiling their corpses of tho rich ornaments they had worn. As a matter of fact, wo are paying war prices for slumber, and at the same time paying the salaries of Mr. Pullman's porters. No 0110 can deny that for one moment. Mr. Pul lman told us in Juno that he had been building refrigerator cars and freight cars at a loss of $12 to $24 per car, and so could not afford to pay fair wages, but he forgot to state that ho had made $30,000,000 in 30 yoars out of his snoring works, while his whisk brooms have paid for his rolling stock and chambermaids' salaries. When he had gone, I rose, and leaving tho gardens I passed into the chamber where It was my custom to give audience to those who wished to look upon the god Tezcat, as they culled me. Hero I sat upon my golden couch, Inhaling the fumes of tobacco, and us it chuneed I was alone, for nono dared to enter that room unless I gave them leave. Presently the chief of iny pages announced thut one would speak with me, and I bent my head, signifying that the person should enter, for 1 was weary of my thoughts. The page withdrew, and presently a veiled woman stood before me. I looked at her wondering and bade her draw her ve.' and Hpe.tk. She obeyed, und I saw that my visitor was the Princess Otomie. Now I rose amazed, for It as not usual thut she should visit me thus alone. I guessed, therefore, thut she hud tidings or wus following some custom of which I wus ignorant. "O maidens of Anahuac," said the man, speaking from the darkness, '"and you, O Tezcat, god among tho gods, listen to my words. Maidens, a great honor has been done to you, for by the very choicc of heaven you have been endowed with tho names, the loveliness and the virtues of the four great goddesses and chosen to abide uwhilo ut .the side of this gCxl, your maker and your master, who has U-en pleased to visit us for a space beforo he seeks his home In the habitations of the sun. See that you show yourselves worthy of this honor. Comfort him und cherish him, thut lie may forget his glory in your kindness, and when he returns to his own place may take with him grateful memories and a good rejxtrt of your iDcople. You havo but a little whilo to live at his sido In this life, for already, like those of a caged bird, the wings of his spirit beat against the liars of the flesh, and soon he will shake himself free from us and you. Yet if you will it is allowed to one of you to accompany him to Jiis home, sharing his flight to the houses of the sun. But to all of you, whether you go also'or whether you stay to mourn him during your life days, I say love and cherish him, bo tender and gentle toward him, for otherwise ruin shall overtake you here and hereafter, and you and all of us will lie ill spoken of In heaven. And you, O Tezcat, we pray of you to accept these maidens, who bear tho names and wear the churms of your celestial consorts, for there are none rnoro beautiful or better horn in tho realms of Anahuac, and among them is numbered tho daughter of our king. They ore not perfect indeed, for perfection is known to jou In the heavenly kingdoms only, since theso ladies are but shadows and symbols of the divine goddesses, your true wives, and here there are no perfect women. Alus, we have nono better to offer you, and it is our hope that when it pleases you to pass hence you will think kindly of the women of this land and from on high bless them with your blessing, because your memory of these who were called your wives on earth is pleasant," It is very difficult to come in between two estranged and icy hearts, both claiming that "there is nothing to arbitrate," while scalding tears from those cold hearts chase each other down youthful "What should I do?" Thus he spoke very fiercely and in a low voice, his hcud held low and his arms crossed upon his breast, and I saw that ho shook with passion. Even then, though I was very much afraid, for god as I was a nod from this mighty king would have sent me to death by torment, I wondered at the folly of one who in everything else was so wise. Why should he doubt mo thus and allow superstition to drag him down to ruin? Today I see the answer. Montezuma did not these things himself, but liecauso the liund of destim' worked with his hand and the voice of destiny spoke in his voice. The gods of the AzVxs were false gods indeed, but I for one believe that they had life anil intelligence, for those hideous shapes of stone were tho habitations of devils, and tlx; priCsts spoke truth when they said that the sacrifice of men was pleasing to their gods. CHAPTEB XV. TIIE NAMING OF THE BRIDES. CHAPTER XVI. Now, some months passed between the date of my naming as the god Tezcat and the entry of the Spaniards into Mexico, and during all this space the city was In a ferment. Again and again Montezuma «ent embassies to Cortes, bearing with them vast treasures of gold and genii as presents and at the saiuo time praying him to withdraw, for this foolish prinee lid not understand that by displaying so much wealth he flew a lure which must surely bring the falcon on himself. To these embassadors Cortes returned courte □us answers, together with presents of small value, and that was all. T1IF. FOL K GODDESSES. Some weary time went by, and at last same the day of the entry into Mexico of Cortes and his conquerors. Now, of all the doings of tho Spanlurds after they occupied t he city I do not propose to speak at length, fo* theso are mutters of history, mid I have my own story to tell. So I shall only write of those of them with which I wus concerned myself. I did not see the meeting between Montezuma and Cortes, though I saw the emperor set out to it clud like Solomon in his glory and surrounded by his nobles. But I am sure ut this—thut no slave led to the sacrifice carried a heavier heart in his breast that that of MuiiUnuiu* oa 'this unlucky day, for now his lolly Ciud ruined him, and I think he knew that he was going to his doom. "See, lord," he said, -'I am so sure that the days of oiir empire are numbered that I will play you at dice for my kingdoms which you and your forefathers have ever desired to win." We naturally notice first of all how we aro individually affected by any great move, and naturally,, as one of the great multitude, I hail with joy the prospect of better rates to tho consumers of sleep. "For what wager?" asked Montezuma. "I will play you thus," answered Neza. "You shall stake three fighting cocks ol which, should I win, I ask the spurs only, I set them against all the wide empire ol Tezcuco." Sir Georgo has rights which capital always will have while the world stands, but those who have paid double prices for insomnia will not clab to gether to buy Sir George a gold headed cane as a mark of esteem or to recoup him for his agonized hours by tho seashore this summer. "I pray you be seated," she said confusedly. "'It is not fitting that you should stand before me." "Why not, princess?" I unswered. "If I had no respect for rank, surely beauty must claim it." "'A truce to words," slie replied, with a wave of her glim hand. "I come here, O Tezcat, uc- "A small stake," said Montezuma. "Cocks arc many, and kingdoms arc few." Then the advance began, and the emperor learned with dismay of the conquest of the warlike tribe of the Tlascalans,who, though they were Montezuma's bitter and hereditary foes, yet made a stand against tho whito man. Next came the tidings that from enemies tho conquered Tluscalans had become tho allies and servants of the Spaniard, and that thousands of their fiercest warriors were advancing with him upon the sacred city of Cholula. Awhile passed, and it wus known that Cholula ilso hud been given to massacre, and that the holy, or rather the unholy, gods had been torn from their shrines. Marvelous tales were told of the Spuniurds, of their courage and their might, of the armor that they wore, the thunder that their weupons made in battle, and the tierce beusts which they bestrode. Once two heads of white men taken in a sklrmlsb were sent to Montezuma—fierce looking heads, great and hairy, and with them the head of a horse. When Montezuma saw these ghastly relics, he almost fainted with fear. Still he caused them to be set up on pinnacles of the great temple and proclamation to be made that this fate awaited every invader of the land. To these devils tho king went for counsel through the priests, and now this doom was on them, that they must give false oounsel to their own destruction, and to tho destruction of those who worshiped them, as was decreed by one more jjowerful than they. "Still it shall serve our turn," answered the aged king, "for know that we play against fate. As the game goes, so shall the issue bo. If you win my kingdoms, all is well; if I win the cocks, then goodby to the glory of Analiuac, for its people will cease to 1m a iDeople, and strangers shall possess the land." Afterward, toward evening, I saw the emperor come back In his golden litter and trnss over to the ]Dalace built by Axa, his father, that stood opposite to and some 600 paces front his own, facing the western gate of the temple. Presently I heard the sound of a multitude siioutlng, and amid it the tramp of horses and armed soldiers, and from a seat in my chamber I saw the Spaniard* advance down the great street, mid my heart beat at the sight of Christian men. In front, clad in rich armor, rode their leader, Cortes, a man of middle size, but noble bearing, with thoughtful eyes that noted everything, and after him some few on horseback, but the most of them on foot, marching his little army of conquerors, staring about them with bold, wondering eyes and jesting to each other in Castilian. They were but a handful, bronzed by the sun and scarred by battle, some of them ill armed and almost in rags, and looking on them I could not but marvel at the Indomitable courage that had enabled them to pierce their way through hostile thousands, sickness and war, even to the home of Moutezuma's power. oordlng to tho ancient custom, because 1 am charged with a message to you. Those whom you shall wed are chosen. I am the bearer of their names." ''Speak on, princess of tho Otomie." "They are"— Then 1 turned to Guatemoc and said, "It seems that you did well not to join in yonder revel." It may bo a small matter—but we are discussing a small matter when we refer to Mr. Pullman—but still there is no more reason why wo should fee a porter on a Pullman car than that we should fee the engineer or the bridge gang. We generally ask no special servico of tho porter. I don't even care whether my head is toward the engine or vico versa, and I wear patent leather shoes, which I wipe off generally with tho linen duster of some wealthy passenger. I go to bed when tho porter tells mo to do bo and allow him to rest the upper berth 011 my high hat while he feels around up tliero for a gold watch. I also allow people to dio in tho berth above my own, and in every way try to make the company as littlo trouble as possible, and yet my shillings have gone for 30 years to help pay the salary of a man who is just as much Mr. P. 's servant as his gardener or his butler. Now, while we were talking the sun had sunk swiftlv.'so that all the world was dark. But the light still iingcred on the snowy crest* of tho volcanoes Popo and Ixtac, staining them an awful red. Never before to my sight had the shajx; of the dead woman whose everlasting bier is Ixtac's bulk seemed so clear and wonderful as on that night, for either it was so or iny fancy gavo it tho very shape and color of a woman's corse steeped in blood and laid out for burial. Nor wus it my phantasy alone, for when Montezuma had finished upbraiding me he chanced to look up, and his eyes falling on tho mountain remained fixed there. A FREE POLISH. But Gn&temoc made no answer. He stared at the dead and those who had murdered them and said nothing. Only Otomio spoke. '■ You Christians arc a gentle people," she said, with a bitter laugh. "It is thus that you repay our hospitality. Now, I trust that Montezuma, my father, is pleased with his guests. Ah, were I he, every man of them should lie ou the stone of sacrifice! If our gods are devils, as you say, what are those who worship yours?" oheeks. How icy hearts can turn out scalding tears the reader may not understand, but it can be done if you get the right style of poetic license. "Lot us play and see," said Montezuma. And they Went down to the place that is called tlaclico, where the games are set. Here they began the match with dice, and at lirst all went well for Montzeuma, so that he called aloud that alrcudy he was lord of Tezcuco. and she nnuted three ladies whom I knew to be among the loveliest in the land. "I thought that there were four," I said, with a bitter laugh. "Am I to be defrauded of the fourth?" ''There Is a fourth," she answered and was silent. ''Give me her name," I cried. '"One has been found, O Tezcat, who has l»orne other titles than tills you give her." Now I looked at her questioningly, and she •poke again in a low voice. "I, Otomle, princess of the Ototnie, Montezuma's daughter, am the fourth and the first." "Youl" I said, sinking back upon my cushions. ''You!" "'Yes, I. Listen. I was chosen by the priests a.s the most lovely in the land, however unworthily. My father, the emperor, was angry and said that whatever befell I should never lie the wife of a captive who must die upon the altar of sacrifice. Hut the priests answered that this was no time for him to claim exception for his blood, now when the gods were wroth. Was the first lady in tho land to be withheld from tho god? they asked. Then my father sighed and said that it should be as I willed. And I said with the priests that now, in our sore distress, tho proud must humble themselves to tho dust, even to the marrying of a captive slave who is named a god and doomed to sacrifice. Kathleen, you must humiliate yourself, I fear, or the great chasm betwixt you and Sylvester will go on yawning more and more until at last some fine day you will read in Tho Weekly Blatter that Sylvester has chosen another. Of course he did wrong to kick your dog. You regarded it as a personal affront, but possibly ho did it as an act of mere buoyancy of spirits. "May it lie so," answered the aged Neza, and from that moment the chance changed, for, strive as lie would, Montezuma could not win another point, and presently the set was finished, and Neza had won the cocks. Now the music played, and courtiers came forward to give the king homage on liis success. But he rose, sighing, and said: Then at length Guatemoc said: "Only one thing remains to us, and that is vengeance. Montezuma has become a woman, and I heed him no more. Nay, if it were needful, I would kill him with my own hand. But two men are still left in the land—Cultlahua, my uncle, and myself. Now I goto summon our armies." And he went. "Look now, Teule!" ho said presently, with a solemn laugh; "yonder lies the corse of t'.e nations of Anahuuc washed In a water of blood and made ready for burial. Is she not terrible in death?" "I would far sooner lose my kingdoms than have won these fowls, for if I had lost my kingdoms they would still hava passed into (he hands of one of my own pace. Now, alas! my possessions and his must come under the hand of strangers, who shall cart down our gods and bring ou,r names to nothing." I know a young man who is as handsome as a picture, with a voice that thrills one from main truck to keelson, so to speak, and with an eyo like a pansy blossom, yet once he kicked his aged aunt in the chest and drank up all of her pudding brandy. In less than two years he was sorry about it and borrowed $8 of her. And so Sylvester may mean all right. He is impulsive. Such men often make the best of husbands. I would rather have such a one than to marry a man who would sulk over his viotuals and get in my way In the kitchen while I was trying to do up my housework or argue doctrinal questions while the children licked all tho dressing oft a dollar's worth of new fly paper. As he spoke the words and turned to go, a sound of doleful wailing came from the direction of the mountain, a very wild and unearthly sound that caused the blood in niy veins to stand still. Now Montezuma caught my arm in his fear, and we gazed together on Ixtac, and it seemed to us that this wonder happened, for In that red and fearful light the red figure of the sleeping woman arose, or appeared to rise, from its bier of stone. It arose slowly, like one who awakes from sleep, and presently it stood upright upon the mountain's brow, towering high in the air. There it stood, a giant and awakened corpse, its white trappings stained with blood, and we trembled to see it. Meanwhile all was confusion in his policies. Day by day councils wero held of the nobles, of high priests and of neighboring and friendly kings. Some advised one thing, some another, and the end of it was hesitation and folly. Ah, had Monteruma listened to the voice of that great man Guatemoc, Analiuac would not hava Dueu a bpanisn ner toaay: f or uuatemoo prayed him again and yet again to put away his fears and declare open war upon tbo Teules before it was too late—to cease from making gifts and sending embassies, to gather his countless armies and smite the foe in the mountain passes. Ilut Montezntua would answer: "To what end, nephew? How can I straggle against these men when the gods themselves have declared for them? Surely the gods can take their own parts If they wish it, and, if they will not, for myself and my own fate I do not can1, but alas for my people, alas for the women and the children, the aged and the weak!" Tho voice paused, then spoko ngaln; "Women, In your own divine names of Xochi, Xilo, Atla and Clixto, and in tho name of all tho gods, I wed you to Tezcat, the creator, to Sojourn with him during his stay on earth. The god incarnate takes you In marriage whom he himself created, that the symbol may be perfect and the mystery fulfilled. Yet, lest your joy should be too full, look now on that which shall be." All that night the city murmured like a swarm of wasps, and next day at dawn, so far as the eye could reach, the street* und market place were filled Yt'ith tens of thousands of armed warriors. They threw themselves like a wave upon the walls of the palace of Axa, and like a wave from a rock they were driven back again by the fire of the guns. Thrice they attacked, and thrice they were repulsed. Then Monte zuma, the woman king, appeared upon the walls, playing them to desist, because, forsooth, did they succeed, ho himself might perish. Even then they obeyed him, so great was their reverence for his sacred royalty, and for awhile attacked the Spaniards no more. But further than this they would not go. If Montezuma forbade them to kill tho Spaniards, at least they determined to starve them out, and from that hour a strait blockade was kept u]f against the palace. Hundreds of the Aztec soldiers had been slain already, but the loss was not all upon their side, for some of the Spaniards and many of the Tlascalans had fallen into their hands. As for these unlucky prisoners, their end was swift, for they were taken at once to the temples of the great tcocalli and sacrificed there to the gods in the sight of their comrades. By tho side of Cortes, holding his stirrup in her hand, walked a beautiful Indian woman dressed in white robes and The truth is that you and I, Philharmonic, are paying Sir George Pullman's coachman every time we ride in his car. If Mr. Pullman sees fit to hire 10,000 coachmen while you and I only hire one, is that any more reason why George should pass tho hat to pay off those servants? Is it any reason because Pullman uses a larger coach than you or I that we should feed and clothe that coachman? I trow not. And having spoken thus, he rose, and taking farewell of the emperor he departed for his own land, where, as It chanced, he died very shortly without living to see the fulfillment of his fears ui« uiiiuun ui in* uepanure came further accounts of the doings of the Spaniards that plunged Montezuma into ■till greater alarm. In his terror he sent for an astronomer noted throughout the land for the truth of his divinations. The astronomer came and was received by the emperor privately. What ho told him I do not know, but at least it was nothing pleasant, for that very night men were commanded to pulldown the house of this sage, who was -buried in its mini). As tho voice spoke these words many torches sprang into flame at the far end of the great chamber, revealing a dreadful sight, for there, Stretched upon a stone of sacrifice, was the body of a man, but whether the man lived or was modeled in wax I do not know to this hour, though unless he was painted I think that ho must have been fashioned in wax, since his skin ■hone white like mine. At the least, his limbs and head were held by flvo priests, and a sixth stood over him clasping a knife of obsidiaji in his two hands. It flashed oil high, and as it gleamed tho torches were extinguished. Then came the dull echo of a blow and a sound of groans, and all was still till once more tho brides broke out into their marriage song —a strange chant, and a wild and sweet, though after what I had secu and heard it had little power to move me. "So I, princess of the Otomie, have consented to become D;our wife, O Tezcat, though pcrcliance had I known all that I read in your eyes this hour I should not have consented. It may happen that in this shame I hoped to find love if only for one short hour, and that I purposed to vary the custom of our people and to complete my marriage by the side of the victim on tho altar, as, if I will, I have the right to do. But I see well that I am not welcome, and though it is too late to go back upon my word have no fear. There are others, and I shall not trouble you. I have given my message. Is it your pleasure that 1 should go? The solemn ceremony of wedlock will be on the twelfth day from now, O Tezcat." Regarding the people who help him build his caravans at Pullman, Ills., his conscience no doubt informs him every night when he retires that while he is putting liniment on his gout a great many hardworking peoplo aro very hungry at Pullman, Ills. I do not say that an American may not make a million dollars during a lifetime and do it honestly in the course of trade, and I believe that it has been done, but when it is made by reducing wages in order to hold up tho size of dividends, even through such hard times as these, the capitalist must not ask for sympathy from tho public. He will have to buy it when he needs any. For awhile the wraith remained thus gazing toward the city of Tenoctitlan; then suddenly it threw its vast arms upward as though in grief, and at that moment the night rushed in upon it and covered it, while the sound of wailing died slowly away. I'd rather have Sylvester, with his rashness and repentance, than a literary man who has to go out among the neighbors to get a fresh mess of fullsomo praise every little while in order to sustain life. Two days after the death of the astronomer Montezuma in-thought liini that, as ho lielleved, I also was a Teulo und could give liiin information. So at the hour of sunset he sent for me, bidding me walk with him in the gardens. 1 went thither, followed by my musicians and attendants, who would never leave me in peace, but he commanded thai all should stand aside, as he wished to speak with me alone. Then he liegan to walk beneath the mighty wdar trees, and I with him, but keeping one pace behind. "Say, Teule," gasped the emperor, "do X not well to be afraid when such portents as these meet my eyes day by day? Hearken to the lamentations In tho city; we have not seen this sight alone. Listen how the people cry aloud with fear and the priests beat their drums to avert the omen. Weep on, ye people, and ye priests pray and do sacrifice! It is very fitting, for the day of your doom is upon you. O Tenoctitlan, queen of cities, I see you ruined and desolate, your palaces blackened with fire, your temples desecrated, your pleasant gardens a wilderness. 1 see your high bom women vhe wantons of stranger lords and your princes their servants; the canals run red with the blood of your children; your gateways are blocked with their bones. iJeath is about you everywhere; dishonor is your daily bread; desolation is your portion. Farewell to you, queen of tho cities, cradle of my forefathers in wliloh I was nursed!" Then he would cover his face and moan and weep like a child, and Guatemoc would pass from his presence dumb with fury at tho folly of so great a king, but helpless to remedy it, for, like myself, Gautcmoc believed that Montezuma had been smitten with a madness sent from heaven to bring the land to ruin. The most unhappy wife I ever knew married a genius. It was tho wedding of a sweet little duckling to a swooping eaglet. While he was an eaglet ho and the duckling hunted grasshoppers together, but one day the young eagle saw with his keen and flashing eyo a humming bird on tho corner of a golden cloud, and he soared away Ho was not at home for supper, and e\ er after that he turned up his Roman noso at the tame life of the duck let. Ho began to uotice tho width of her yellow feet and to compare her parenthetical legs with the slender ankles of the thrush, and the gentle call of his domestic wife grated harshly on his ears after ho had been soaring around in tho tliiu air for a week listening to tho lark and living on chamois chops among tho snowy mantled Alps, while 'his plumago was patted with applause. Now it was that Cortes returned with many more men, for he had conquered Narvaez, whose followers had joined the standard of Cortes, and with them others, one of whom I had good reason to know. Cortes was suffered to rejoin his comrades In the palucc of Axa without attack, and Tho people were distraught with fear of the future, but not the less on that account, or perhaps tiecauso of it, they plunged with fervor into pleasures, alternating them with religious ceremonies. Now I rose from my scat and took her hand, savintr: By the aide of Cortes walked a beautiful iney sang oil in cue uarnuess ever more loudly till presently a single torch was lit at tho tnd of tho chamber, then another and another, thougli I could not see who lit them, and the room was a flare of light. Now the altar, tho victim and tho priests were all gone. There was no one left In tho place except myself and my four brides. They were tall and lovely women, all of them clad in white bridal robes starred over with gems and flowers and wearing on their brows the emblems of tho four goddesses, but Otomie was tho stateliest and most beautiful of the four and seemed in truth a goddess. One by one they drew near to me, smiling and sighing, and kneeling before me kissed my hand, saying# "Teule," he said at length, "tell me of your countrymen and why they have come to these shores. See that you speak truth." "X thank you, Otomie for your nobleness of uiind. Had It not lDeen for the comfort and friendship which you and Guatemoc, your cousin, havo given mo I think that ere now I should I*) dead. So you desire to comfort me to the lust. It seems that you even purposed to die with me. How am I to interpret this, Otomie? In our land a woman would need to love a man after no common fashion Ijefore she consented to share such a bod as awaits mo on yonder pyramid. And yet 1 may scarcely think that you, whom kings have sued for, can place your heart so low. How am I to read the writing of your words, princess of the Otomie?" Indian woman. crowned with flowers. As she passed the palace she turned her face. I knew her at once. It was my friend Marina, who hod now attained the greatness which she desired, and who, notwithstanding all the evil tnac sue nau yrougnt upon oer country, looked most happy In It and In her master's love. Mr. Pull mail has succeeded during the last 80 years, 110 doubt, by a judicious use of the whisk broom, in knocking more dust out of the publio than most any other business man, but he hasn't thrown so much of it into the eyes of the American people as he may imagine. I do not want to see him come to any harm, and I don't want to see him lose even a hand towel or the heel tap of a cake of soap, but wliile other business men am cheerfully accepting their share of loss during these dark, depressing times I think that he is as well piepared to stand a small reduction of wages as the rust of us. "They are no countrymen of mine, O Montezuma," I answered, "though my mother was one of them." In those days no feast was neglected, and no alter lacked Its victim. Like a river that quickens its flow an it druws near the precipice over which it must fall, so the (Mxiple of Mexico, foreseeing ruin, awoke, as it were, ami lived us they had never lived before. All duy long the cries of victims came from a hundred temple tops, and all night the sounds of revelry were heard among the streets. us eat and drink," they suid, "for the gods of the sea are upon us, and tomorrow we die." Now women who had been held virtuous proved themselves wantons, and men whose names were honest showed themselves knaves, and none cried fle ujh hi them. Aye, even children were seen drunken in the streets, which is an abomination among the Aztecs. wi the following day Cultlahua, Montezuma's brother, ktflg of Palapan, was released by him that he might soothe the people. But Cuitlahua was no coward. Once safe outside his prison walls he called the council together, of wnom tho chief was Guatemoc."Did I not bid you speak the truth, Teule? If your mother was one of them, must you not also be of them, for are you not of your mother's bono and blood?" As tho Spaniards went by I searched their faces one by one, with tho vague hope of hate, for, though it might well chance that death had put us out of each other's reach, I half thought to see De Garcia among the number of tho conquerors. Such a t]ueat as theirs, with its promise of blood and gold and to his evil heart should it Iks in his power to join it, and a strange "instinct told me that he wits not dead. But neither dead nor living was he among those men who entered Mexico that day. There they resolved on war to the end, giving it out that Montezuma had forfeited his kingdom by his cowardice, and on that resolve they acted. Had it been taken but two short months before, by this date no Spaniard would have been left alive in Tenoctitlan, for, after Marina, the love »f Cortes, whose subtle wit brought about his triumph, it was Montezuma who was tho chief catise of his own fall and of that of tho kingdom of Anahuac. "As the king pleases," I answered, bowing. Then I began and told him of the Spaniards—of their country, their greatness, their cruelty and their greed of gold, and he listened eagerly, though I think that he believed little of what I suid, for liis fear hiid made him very suspicious. When I had done, he spoke and said: When Montezuma had made an end of crying his prophecies, I asked him humbly If I should summon to him the lords who were in attendance upon him, but who stood at some distance. Is "Head it with your heart," she whispered low, and I-felt her hand tremble in my own. ''I have been chosen to 1*' your wife for a space, Tczcat, happy maid that I am. May the gods grant that. I lieeomo pleasing to your sight, so thai you may love me as I worship you. "Nay," ho answered, "I would not have them see me thus with grief and terror Upon myface. Whoever fears, at fount I "Why do they come here to AilahuacD" 2. You neC-Cl not fold the napkin on leaving the table, according to the latest rulings in the fashionable world, unless you wish to take it home with you as a souvenir or to complete a sot of your own. Folding the napkin rather implies that your hostess does not keep help and that you are in a delicato way holDinf her to do ud her work. "I fear, O king, that they come to take the land, or at the least to rob it of all 1U treasure anil to destroy its faiths." I looked at her beauty. It was great. I thought of her devotion, a devotion that did not shrink from the most horrible of deaths, and a wind of feeling which was akin to love swept through my soul. But' even as I looked and thought I remembered the English garden and the Knglish maid from whom I had parted beneath the beech at Ditchingiiam and the words that we had spoken then. Doubtless she still lived and was true to me. While lived should I not keep true at heart to her? If I must wed these Indian girls, 1 must wed them, but if once I told Otomlo I loved her then I broke my troth, and with nothing less would she !«• satisfied. And yet, though I was deeply moved and the temptation was great, I had not come to this. '• Be sealed, CKomle," I said, ' and listen to me. You see this golden token?" And I drew Lily's posy ring from my hand. "And you see the writing within it." She bent her head, Imt did not speak, and I saw that there was fear in her eyes. Then she who had spoken would draw back again out of earshot, and the next would take her place. Overlooked. must seem breve. Walk with mo awhile, Teule, and If It la In your mind to murder me I shall not grieve.'' That ldght 1 saw Guatemoc and asked him how things went. ~1 - Great Actor—You'll have to get Rome one else to take my part in this new play. Why, sir, in the first act I have to kiss the leading lady three times. Manager—What of that? Great Actor—You forget that she is my wife.—New York Herald. "What, then, is your counsel, Teulef Ifow can I, defend myself against these mighty men, who are clothed in metal and ride upon fierce wild lieasts, who have instruments and make a noise like thunder, at the sound of which their adversaries fall dead by hundreds, and who bear weapons of shining silver in their hands' Alas, there is no defense possible, for they are the children of Quetzal come back to take the land! From my childhood I have known that this evil overshadowed me, and now it Is at my door." The emperor had moved his household from Chapoltepec to the palace in the great square facing the temple, and this palace was a town in itself, for every night more than 1,0CD0 human beings slept beneath Its roof, not to speak of the dwarfs and monsters and the hundreds of wild birds and lCeast« in cages. Here every day I feasted with whom I would, and when I was weary of feasting it was my custom to sally out into the streets playing on the lute, for by now 1 had in some degree mastered that hateful Instrument, dressed In shining apparel and attended by a crowd of nobles and royal pages. Then the nobles would rush from the houses shouting and doing me reverence, the children pelted me with flowers, and the maidens danced before me, kissing my hands and feet, till at length I was attended by a mob 1,000 iitroug. And 7 also danced and shouted like any village fool, for J think that a kind of mad humor, or perhaps it was the drunkenness of worship, entered into me hi those days; also I sought to forget my griefs; I desired to forget that I was doomed to the sacrifice, and that every day brought me nearer to the red knife of the Driest. [to he continukd.] X made no anrwer, but followed him as he led the way down the darkest of tho winding paths that run between the cedar trees, where It would have been easy for ine to kill him if I wished, but I could not see how I should bo advantaged by the deed; also, though I knew that Montezuma was my enemy, my heart shrank from the thought of murder. For awhile or more bo walked on without K|Deakli)g, ■ow beneath the shadow of the trees, and now through open spaces of garden plant- Mi with lovely flowers, till at last we come to the gates of the place where the royal dead are said to rest. Now, in front of these gates \*as an ojjen space of turf on which the moonlight shone brightly, and In the center of this space lay something white, shaped like a woman. Here Montezuma halted and looked at the gates, then said: "Well for the kite that roosts In the dove's nest," he answered, with a. bitter laugh, "but very 111 for the dove. Montezuma, my uncle, has been cooing yonder," and he pointed to the palaco of Axa, "and the captain of the Teules has cooed In answer, but though ho tried to hide It I could hear the hawk's shriek In his pigeon's note. Ero long there will be merry doings in Tenoctitlan." Last of all caind Otomie. She knelt and said the words, then added in a low voice: lie Felt Sure of It. Tho following affidavit waa filod in oourt of common pleas in Dublin in "Having spoken to you as the bride and goddess to the husband and the god Tczcat, now, O Teule, I speak as the woman to the man. You do not love mo, Tcule; therefore, if it Is your will, let us be divorced of our own act who were wed by the command of others, for so I shall lie spared some shame. These are friend* to me and will not lw-tray us." And she nodded toward her companion brides. "And this deponent further saith that, ou. arriving at tho liouso of tho said defendant, situate in tho county of Galway for tho purpose of personally serving him with tho said writ, tho said deponent knocked three several times at tho outer, commonly called tho hall, door, but could not obtain admittance, whereupon this deponent was proceeding to knock a fourth time when a man, to this deponent unknown, holding in his hands a musket or blunderbuss, loaded with balls or slugs, as this deponent has since heard and verily believes, appeared at one of tho upper windows of the said house, and presenting said musket or blunderbuss at this deponent threatened 'that, if said deponent did not instantly retire, he would send his (the deponent's) soul to hell,' which this deponent verily believes ho would havo done had not this deponent precipitately escaped." — Green Bag. 1822 8. It is proper to accept a nickel or any small piece of money from a gentleman friend to put in the plate at church, and to rofnse it would be extremely rude and vulgar. Do not try to be too self reliant in this way and then err in some more important matter. I had a young woman acquaintance onco who insisted on paying for a postage stamp that I gave her, and yet she borrowed a valuablo book worth $35 29 years ago next September and has never returned it Rebuked. Shopkeeper—Yes, madam, I remem ber very well your buying a stamp. He was right. Within a week Montezuma was treacherously seized by the Spanlards and kept a prisoner in their quarters, watched day and night by their soldiers. Then came event upon event. Certain loids on thu coast lands, having killed some Spaniards, were summoned to Mexico by the instigation of Cortes. They came and were burned alive in the courtyard of the palace. Nor was this all, for Montezuma, their monarch, was forced to witness tho execution with fetters on his ankles. So low had tho emperor of the Aztecs fallen that ho must lxuir chains like a common felon. After this Insult ho swore allegiance to the King of Spain and even contrived to capture Cacama, the lord of Tezcuco, by treachery and to deliver him into the hands of the Spaniards on whom he would have made war. To them also he gave up all tho hoarded gold and treasuro of thoemuire to the value of huu- Lady—Well, I put it on a very important letter and posted it. It lias not been received. I want you to understand that I shall buy my stamps elsewhere if this occurs again.—Tit-Bits. "As you will, Otomie, briefly. ' 1 answered "If I, who ain only a god. may venture to speak to the lord of tho earth," I an- "I thank you foil your kindness, Tcule," she said, smiling sadly, and withdrew, making ODeisance, looking so stately aim so sweet as she went that again my heart was shaken as though with love. Now, from that night till 1 the dreadful hour of sacrifice no kiss or tender word passed between ine and the princess of the Otomlo. And yet our friendship and affection grew daily, for we talked much together, and I sought to turn her heart to the true king of heaven. But this was not easy, for, like her father Motitczuma, Otomie clung to the gods of herjpeople, though she hated the priests, and, save where the victims were the foes of her country, shrank from the rites of human sacrilice, which she said were instituted by tho iiabas. since iu swered, *'I soy that tho reply is easy. Meet force by force. The Teules are few, and you can muster 1,000 soldiers for every one of theirs. Fall on them at once; do not hesitate till their prowess finds them friends, but crush them." lleen There Refore. Littlo Girl—You will have to buy mo a new waterproof, somo overshoes and an umbrella. "I will read you the words, Otomie," And I translated Into the Aztec tongue the quaint couplet: "Daisy Bell," Whatcom, Wash., says: "My father and mother approve of my marriage with a young man of whom I am passionately fond, but I have an older brother who objects bitterly to tho match. Nearly six months ago my parents both gave their consent to my marriage to Walter. What should I do?'' Mother—What's the hurry? Little Girl—I'm invited to a picnic next week.—Good News. "Such is tho counsel of one whoso mother was u Teule,'' the emperor answered, with sarcasm and bitter meaning. "Tell mo now, counselor, how am I to know that in lighting against them I shall not be fighting against the gods; how even am I to learn tho true wishes and purposes ofD t*n or gods who cannot speak my tongue |md whose tongue I cannot speak?" j "It- Is www, O \fiinU47nma. " I itnawerwlj "These gates opened four days since for Papantzln, my sister. How long, I won ier, will pass lDefore they open for me?" Ilnart to heart, Though fur apart As he spoke tho white shape upon the grass, which I had seen and lie had not leen, stirred Ilka an awaking sleeper. As the snow shape upon the mountain had stirred, so this shape stirred; as it had arisen, so this one arose; as it threw its Wins upward, 80 this qn9. threw up hey Then at last she spoke, writing mean?" she said read in pictures, Tcule." What does tho "I can only Very Serious. In those days, had it not been for tfte tender kindness of Otomie, I think that my heart would have broken or I should have slain myself. But this great and beauteous ladv was over at hand to cheer Bildeck—I saw the dootor's carriage at your house yesterday. Anything serious?"It means, Otomie, that in the far land whence I come there is a woman who loves me and who is my love." "la she vour wife then?" Well, Daisy, if I stood in the position which you occupy, I would get Walter's consent and nroceed to "olav ball" Gasser—I should say sol He wanted to collect his bill.—Brooklyn Life.