The Slave Sculptor — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

16 - THE SLAVE SCULPTOR. For her friends she would do any thing : — no sacrifice was too great to make for the object of her affection; while, for her enemies, no amount of hate or scorn was sufficient to appease her desire for re- venge. Her name was Meztli. ** Meztli, where is Toluca? ’’ the old nobleman suddenly asked. ** My lord, I could not tell,”” replied the slave. ** Find him, and bid him to my presence.’’ Toluca entered the apartment, wearing the gay girdle and ample square cloak of the nation. was a garment composed of the finest cotton, the four corners of Ming A het cg ne emery neck. On his feet were sandals of leather, richly orna- mented with gold. Both sandals and cloak were bedecked with feathers, pearls, and precious stones; among which was the brilliant plumage of the humming-bird, surmounted with emer- ald and chalchivitl. Upon his head rested a panche cf plumes, which floated gracefully down his back. With a proud, consequential air, the young man approached his father. «¢ Did you send for me? ”’ he asked. *‘I did, my son. Draw up a seat, and sitdown. 1 would speak mit P will isten,”” was the reply} and the speaker placed a low stot ** | will listen,’’ was : a stoo in front of his father. f ‘“‘ Have you seen any thing more of that strange black-robed ‘* Not lately,’ and the young man sat down on the stool. ates do you think of him? Do you understand his move ments? ”” . ‘IT cannot imagine what he is after, or why he should be lurking around the palace.’’ i *«« There is a mystery about this affair, and it must be looked into. Have you kept a close watch as I requested? *” : ‘“* Yes, but I have detccted nothing that would warrant any deci- sive steps. He frequently walks through the park, sometimes alone, then again in company with another priest, yet he never appears to notice any Riser | around him”? - . “«« Yes, he always appears in the same sable disguise that he wore on the occasion of his strange interruption at the time we thought to rid ourselves of that plebian seulptor.”’ - ‘“ tie way, have you seen this Maxtla lately? ”” “ since that particular occasion.”’ *¢ T want you to taxe all the slaves you need, and bring that man ts this palace. I have a place for him here, where he will be safe, and trouble us no more. ‘« T will take him the first opportunity, but he has powerful friends, and it would be madness to attempt his capture outside the park.’’ “* Well, well; take your own course, but bring him here! That is my order. I will attend to him after he is once in the palace.”’ comicldooks.com