The Slave Sculptor — page 71: what you’re looking at

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

. SEALED IN A CELL. 73 tion,”’ retorted the villian, with hateand fear written upon his every feature. ‘Toluca Abuitzol will yet learn that Tonatiuh has told him the truth. He will yet tremble as a leaf shaken by the wind — humbled in the very dust, and die a felon’s death.” Her voice was fearfully clear and calm. « If I do, shall not bear witness against me!’’ he retorted, with fire in his serpent-like eyes. | ‘* There are those who will,’’ she.replied. ‘‘If you have come here to taunt me, you have remained long enough. If you intend to relase me at ali do so at once, and save yeurseif the mortification of having others do it for you. 1 shall not dally words with you.” ‘“* Ha! ha! ha!’’ laughed the villain. ‘* You dalé well, but I tell you that you will never leave this cell. You shall die here, rot here; your dust shall lie here, mingled with that of many others who have perished here before you. When I leave you now, and close the door, it will never be reopened while you live ; 80 you may be as calm and as you choose, or you may storm and rave to your heart’s content. Youseelam very obliging. So now, good-by, good moth- er priest! Go and lay down and die as soon as you can! ”’ he ssid, os hetpeneed from the dungeon. The door was closed with a dull, hea sound. << Js this what I shall have to suffer? Musi I die thus? Is my life to be closed up forever in this dread place? Mazina —”’ she started suddenly; the door was opened. “‘ Tonatiuh !*’ spoke a low voice. ** Tonatiuh ! You here? ’”» “* Meztli ! is that you? ”’ Her voice was husky, with her unusu- al emotion. ‘Yes! Meztli would save you. Here, take my hand quickly, and I will lead you from this dirty eell.”’ s ee tied !’’ exclaimed Tonatiuh, now greatly agita- Meatli canglit hold of her arm, dragged her into the’ pastage, and from theno» into a small recess, off the passage, witer crouched behind a stone seat. Scarce time Sant nati ant emselves, when Toluca returned, bearing in his a ladle of melten lead, which he poured into the socket containing the spring, thus to remove all chance of opening the stone door, except by picking it to pieces. Tonatiuh witnessed this with a beating heart. It may be guessed . that she felt relieved when he again left the passage. : Half an hour later, Tonatiuh had departed from the hated pa.ace, and was crossing the great causeway, leading west from the capital. Mazina, on being bolted into the t by the slave, emleav- ored to compose her mind to g like tranquillity. She was now in the apartment which she once occupied as her own, and where she had enjoyed many happy days. Then she was free to go comcbooks.com