The Slave Sculptor — page 78: what you’re looking at

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

80 THE SLAVE SCULPTOR. dant she welcomed with a smile, and she was about to make some playful remark, when a low ta given on the door, and Toluca entered. A chill passed over Mazina’s heart, and her spirits sank with sudden heaviness into their old depths of sorrow. It was the first time his detested form had darkend the door since the night she was placed in the room as a prisoner, and she readily conj that his presence at this time boded no good, She hoped that Maxtla would have seen the emperor, and arranged for their wedding, ere tigi returned from the mountains; but, in this, she was disap- int Pa Ah! fair lady, I am glad to return once more, that I may com- mune with you, and I hope that we never again shall be separated for any great length of time.’’ He waited a moment for her answer, then added : **T trust you Have decided to look upon my suit with more fayor.’’ ‘‘T have not changed my mind, since I last spoke with you upon pom subject,” she replied. ‘* The decision whichI then made, isstill e€ same.”’ The old attendant left the apartment, but remained outside listening with great earnestness. “It matters not what your decision was,’’ he continued, with a slight show of anger. ‘It will avail you little, if ’tis now in oppo- sition to my desires. You must be my wife! ”’ ** Not while living; ’’ was the determined reply. ‘Then when dead!’’ was the cool response. <“‘ Living or dead, you shall be mine.” “Never, you hated wretch! ”’ i ae your invectives, my lady, and be a submissive wife,’’ he rem , throwing unusual disdain into histone. ‘I came only to inform you that we shall be privately married in this room, at sun- down this evening, when you will accompany me from the capital, to my home in the mountains.’’ She grew faint at the words, and could hardly utter : “Tam crazy, Lord Ahuitzol says. You do not wish to wed one who is mad? ”’ nt ge “You have heard my decision. So sure as we both live till even- ing, so sure shall we be married.’ Without giving her time to make a reply, he turned and left the room, ng, as by accident, the attendant at the door. He was soon out of sight in the distant rooms of the palace. | : : : Mazina had maintained her firmness during this scene, with re- miarkable fortitude, but the door no sooner closed, than she wept con- vulsi “0, Maxtla! Maxtla!”’ she sobbed. ‘ Why did I not fly with ? Why did you counsel me to remain it the power of these soul- ion villains? You said that I had friends near. Where are they? Now, if ever, do 1 need a friend. T will elude the vigilance of my , and geck the emperor. He shall—’’ She was interrupted com/{cbooks.com