The Slave Sculptor — page 96: what you’re looking at

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

98 THE SLAVE, SCULPTOR. children — Maxtla and Mazina — with a father’s care. I was in strumental in bringing them together, in causing an affection te spring up in their hearts, which has bound them together, forever. l 9? ° Ho was interrupted by the strange recruit, who stepped forward, _ gazed steadily into his features, and exclaimed ; ** Don Luis de Velasco !”’ The words were winged with pathos. Cortez sprang to his feet. The priest trembled from head to foot. Suddenly, and as by mag. ic, the outer garments fell from the recruit, revealing the ample folds.of a long, gay, and rich robe, sparkling with jewels, precious stones, and gold. He then threw off a tight-fitting cap, which had concealed much of his features, brushed back the heavy mass of hig dark hair, which fell in confused disorder upon his shoulders, when the fair, full, and symmetrical form of Tonatiuh the prophetess, was presented to their astonished gaze. Mazina sprang forward, threw her arms around the woman’s neck, and wept aloud. ‘*Q mother !’’ she sobbed; *‘I thought that you were dead! It has been so long since I have seen or heard of you.”’ Tonatiuh led Mazina to the priest, and inquired : ‘* Is this young lady, the person you saved from that wreck? ’’ and her voice trembled with suppressed emotions. ie 1’? he replied. His keen black eyes were fixed searchingly upon her. ES And you are her father?’’ Tonatiuh continued; her voice scarce above a whisper. | ** Yes! she is my own daughter,’’ he answered mechanically, not appearing to comprehend the astounding transformations which were passing before his eyes. ; One moment, Mazina was folded in the woman’s arms —a burn- ing kiss pressed upon her cheek; she then reached out her hand toward the priest, and, in broken accents, sobbed : *« Luis! have you forgotten Dona Sonora? ”’ ** Dona Sonora!’ gasped the man. ‘' She was my wife! ”’ ** Dear husband ! and I am her !’”’ ‘** Sonora! My long-lost wife !’’ and he caught hold of her arm; while he gazed into her face, as if he would sean her very soul. “* Did you place this locket on Mazina’s neck?”’ — / ees! aid ! *? he replied. ‘* Was it not your wife’s portrait? ’’ ** Tt was!’ ** Did she not haye your miniature? ’’ “* She did!” ‘* Ts that it?’’ and she removed from beneath her robe, a large gold locket, and presented it to him. _ He eagerly opened the locket, gazed first upon the picture, then upon the woman. His eyes filled with tears, and his arms clasped aroun! his long-last wife and child. comicbooks.com