The Slave Sculptor — page 11: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE M.sTERIOUS PRIEST 18 revealed his holy office of priest. All such being privileged persons, their movements were unquestioned. On this occasion he appeared agitated, and hastily remarked : — . ** One you love isin danger. Enemies are plotting her ruin and yours. Be wary! Be cautious! or she will be snatched from you, and you fall beneath the sacrificial knife.’’ Maxtla sprang to his feet, and words of inquiry were trembling on his lips, but the door closed upon the ing form, almost. ere they weie pronounced. For a few moments Maxtla paced to and fro. his head bowed upon his breast. “Twas a strange affinity,’ he murmured to himself, ‘that us together, She wasaslave,so wasI. Our past is be- acloud. A mystery encompasses our origin. We certainly are unlike those with whom we are surrounded. Is it this fact which draws us so closely together? Our hearts cling strangely to each other! Oh! Mazina, Mazina! I will hasten to your side, in this hour of danger !’’ Throwing his tilmalti, or cloak. over his. shoulders, he walked forth from the studio, securing the door after him. A tall, slender form, enveloped in a plain black robe, his head covered with a heavy mass of long, coarse white hair, approached the rear of the building, and entered Maxlta’s studio by a secret doorway, as the sculptor passed from sight from the front door. Closing the smal! door quietly, the man removed from beneath his robe a curiously constructed light, which illumed the room sufticient- ys oo distinetly such es apace 5 sas The room was seulptor’s private apartment. On one side, ina reclining posi tion, was 9 tiles othe in porphyry, of Montezuma. It icin noble piece of work, and the secret visitor appeared highly while viewing Jt The carving of the head and torso was all com- examining the eae, Ihe stranger disappeared by the secret Meanwhile Maxtla continued onward, and soon reached the park surrounding Lord Ahuitzol’s palace. He moved slowly for- ward, carefully scanning every object around him. Suddenly he detected the form of the priest who had visited him at his studio. He watche! his movements until he saw him enter the arbor in the private park. rae noiselessly forward, Maxtla peered through the yines and beheld the priest kneeling in front of Mazina, who ap- peared to be asleep. This singular movement startled the young man ; yet knowing it would be death to i with a priest he tremblingly waited the result. How great was his relief, then, to see the cowled visitor : | ConmlclOOKS.COni *