The Slave Sculptor — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

RETURN OF MEZTLL $1 reyal proclamation, Lord Ahuitzol was walking to and fro on the eastern corridor of his palace. His arms were folded, his gaze downcast, and his step firm and elastic. There was a lowering ex- pression on his features, a close knit of the eye-brows, and a haugh- ty grin upon his lips, as he moved forward and back among the clustering vines and thick foliage clambering about the corridor. “ Fool that I was,’? he muttered; ‘‘ not to have foreseen this event; yet [ will find her, if I have to scour every inch of the coun- try, from coast to coast. I will offer great reward I will have Spies in every part of the nation. I will find her, and she shall marry Toluca. I will fulfill my oath, though it cost me my entire estate —yea, even my life; any movement of compulsion, if nec- essary to accomplish my must be concealed from the emperor. He must not know my designs. I will caution Toluca. He must be on his guard. This priest, I cannot understand him. He appears always near, and I believe he is leagued with that sculptor; yet all the information he gets will do ‘ is that? ’’ and he listened. It was the royal heralds, caught the words. They sent thrill of satisfaction to his heart, and he became elated, even expressed his delight in a moderate laugh; well for his spirit of pride and spite that he did not compre- hend the full import of the proclamation ! At that moment he was startled by the sound of footsteps. Look- ing up he beheld Meztli, her robe displaced, her hair disheveled, her features haggard and an expression of the deepest anguish on her countenance, as she came quickly forward, and fell prostrate before the old noble, weeping aloud. Lord Ahuitzol was quite taken by surprise, but immediately re- covered, and, stooping, assisted her to arise. She obeyed hesitating- ly, and continued to weep, refusing to be comforted. ‘*Oh Mazina! Mazina! Where is she?’’ exclaimed the sorrow- ing girl, her face deluged with tears. ‘* Has she returned? ”’ ** No, Meztli,’’ replied the noble; “‘ she has not returned. Do you know where»she is? ’’ **Me?”? and she broke forth with renewed grief. ‘ Oh, they tore her away from me, and took her to the mountains.’’ ** Who did?’’ he questioned quickly. ** Alas ! Ser axe a a and she ga gt s yourself, Meztli, and tell me occurred to you and iadiniocaer left the park in that barge.’’ With considerable effort; Meztli related such incidents as the reader is already acquainted with, when she continued : “*We were both blindfolded, and so muffled as to prevent our speaking aloud. Then, they immediately separated us, and took me one way, while they conveyed her . Twas ate cave in the mountains, and there kept until this morning, when managed to escape, and came directly to the palace; yet I did not #xpect to find Mazina here, for I believe that she was taken away by those who intend to keep her safe.”’ comlcbdooks.com