The Slave Sculptor — page 32: what you’re looking at

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

64 THE SLAVE SCULPTOR. tened with an open heart to the oily words of the deceiver. She loved him — loved with all her young, innocent heart, led on by his promises and assurances of affection. She believed him and fell into hissnare. Her life was forfeited — she saw the fate, which, accora- ing to the national custom, awaited her, and she trembled. The hideous gods of the teocallis were thirsting for her heart’s blood as & common sacrifice —the penalty for her misdemeanor. He quaked with horror, for the gladiatorial sacrifice would be his punishment, did the emperor learn the facts. In an evil hour he concocted a hell- ish scheme. He took that young and still-confiding girl, and sunk her body in the lake. She wasaslave, and but little was thought of her absence, while the son supposing the deed was forever concealed rst jal ompbyccort threw off the fear which had made his life a , and once again dashed into the gayetiesof the imperial court. There was an eye, however, that had watched his movement. When the stone was tied to the weeping, praying victim’s neck, and she cast into the water, a person ig Ce been a victim of the villain, was rey, Soha Peeased concealment, and saw the cruel act.’? While these words were being uttered, Toluca did not appear to breathe. He stood asa statue. His eyes fixed in a glassy stare upon the woman, his teeth set, his lids compressed, and his and to — -s ee a. pew victim. This adopted daughter o old noble — his father, however a lover, to whom her heart was plighted. She saw terete the shallow mockery of his pretensions, and spurned him from her. He became angry — led his father to support his cause, and, thus armed he laid violent siege to her heart. The cast-off slave, now revealed her power, and the villain trembled. He planned another scheme to en- im 8 grasp. Shall I proceed further? Shall I lift the dark from th future, and read to you! that yet which is to come? ”? —- “No! No!’’ he exclaimed wildly, and with a frantic he rushed off toward his boat, and di in i rush # Meee gpa water, It was evening ere Toluca reached the Meztli, with a smile and a gay laugh came bounding forward to toeet hie” His first in- clination was to pass without noticing her, but a new thought that instant entered his mind. Leading her to's seal, he guectinesd be ~ conmicloooks.com