CHAPTER III.
"Zelmonco is very lonesome, mother. How rarely does anything come todisturb the sameness of our lives. No change from day to day: only thevoice of Nature, in the songs of birds and the murmur of the leaves, isheard; and, much as I love these sounds, they make me sad."
These words were addressed by a young girl to an elderly appearingwoman a short distance off, who was at the moment giving attention to abeautiful cluster of blooming rosebushes.
"Yes, the villa does seem lonesome; still we have each other, my child,which is much to be thankful for," was answered.
"True, mother; but that does not relieve the quietude of our home. Iwish that Euet would come. He remains from us longer this time thanusual. Do you think we may expect him soon?"
"Euet does, indeed, stay from home longer than usual, but is no doubtdetained. Still, I hope he will be here before the day is gone,"replied the elderly woman.
The persons engaged thus in conversation were in the open air,strolling leisurely about, rearranging a disturbed bush or vine,plucking a flower here and a twig there, and drinking in the sweetperfumes rising from the odoriferous flowers and shrubs which met themat every turn. They were the mother and sister of Euetzin, the friendand companion of Prince Hualcoyotl, who were out for an hour's strollin the beautiful grounds fronting their villa home--a place very dearto them for the sacred memories which clung around it; memories ofother and happier days, when home associations and ties were unbrokenand complete.
Euzelmozin, the husband and father, as we have stated previously,perished with his king on the battle field, where Tezcucan liberty wentdown under the bloody hand of a cruel victor. He left them a beautifulhome, however, with gold and other wealth sufficient to make themindependent.
By paying promptly the required tribute to the Tepanec king they werepermitted to live undisturbed in their isolation.
The mother, whose name was Teochma, had passed middle life. She stillpossessed a vigorous womanhood, and showed her age in the hair only,which was freely sprinkled over with gray.
Itlza, the daughter, was fair and of medium size. About nineteen yearshad marked her young life, but, being a child of a sunny clime, sheappeared older. She was not beautiful, yet upon her face there was asweet, confiding look, which attracted and charmed the beholder,impressing his or her mind with a pleasing sense of acquaintanceship.The light of geniality beamed upon her countenance, and a spirit ofmirthfulness sparkled up from the depths of two bright, laughing eyes.A pair of carmine-tinted lips, as delicately colored as the lovely roseshe was carelessly twirling between her thumb and finger, backed by twoperfect rows of pearly teeth, adorned a pretty, tempting mouth, whichcompleted the charm and brightness of an otherwise plain face.
They were dressed becomingly in the manner of their people. Thecharacter of their dress was not greatly dissimilar to that worn by thewomen of other Indian nations, except in its completeness. Among thehigher classes of native Mexican women the costume was usually gorgeousin gay colors, and adorned with trimmings of gold and featherwork.
The mother and sister of tzin Euet were the wife and daughter of afallen Tezcucan noble; and, though robbed of the title of nobility,still endeavored to sustain, in their manner of living, the dignity oftheir former rank.
Zelmonco villa, the home of the family, was situated on an eminence,about two leagues from Tezcuco, and commanded a fine view of theadjacent country and the city in the distance. Euetzin was in the habitof visiting it often, to enjoy, for a brief season, the society of hisloved and honored mother and very dear sister.
It becomes necessary at this point for us to return to the time ofparting between the tzin and prince, which occurred some hours earlierthan the incident which opens this chapter.
On withdrawing from Hualcoyotl's apartment, Euetzin made a hastypreparation to leave the city. His first object was to pay a hurriedvisit to his mother and sister, and then go forward in the performanceof his mission. When the necessary preparations for his departure werecompleted, he left the palace, going out through the court onto athoroughfare, which he followed for some distance. On reaching theoutskirts of the city he took a southeasterly course and walked brisklyin the direction of his home. He had about six miles to go, but thoughtnothing of it. The Aztec mode of traveling was almost entirelypedestrial; in fact, none but the wealthy and the nobility traveled inany other way. The palanquin, a kind of chair, borne by slaves or hiredservants, was their only conveyance--burden-bearing animals beingunknown on the Anahuac previous to the advent of the conquerors. Themen were, as a consequence, trained pedestrians from necessity andhabit.
As Euetzin neared the villa, the anxiety to see his loved ones grewupon him, and his movement became proportionately quicker. He had topass up through the park to reach the house; and, anticipating he wouldfind his mother and sister strolling there, carefully guarded hisapproach from observation, hoping to give them a sudden and pleasantsurprise.
The words addressed to his mother by Itlza, and the replies weredistinctly heard by the tzin as he drew near.
Itlza continued to address her mother:
"Do you think, mother, that the old king's death will effect the princein his retirement?" she asked.
"Maxtla will be king; evil is in Maxtla's heart--the prince mustbeware," replied the mother.
"Why does Hualcoyotl remain so passively a prisoner in his own palace?Is he a slave that he endures his restraint without an effort to obtainhis freedom?" questioned Itlza, with much warmth.
"I know of but one way by which he might gain his freedom, my child;and that is too terrible to think about."
"You allude to a revolt, mother?"
"Yes, it was that I had in mind; and yet, though it would bring sorrowto many hearts, and possibly to ours, I could not say my people nayshould they attempt it, for they are but slaves to the Tepanec king,"replied the mother, in accents of sadness.
"You speak truly, mother; for Euet would--" Itlza's half-formedsentence was here suddenly broken off. She was seized from behind andheld firmly for a moment, while a hand was placed over her mouth. Whenshe was released, she turned quickly to learn who her assailant was,and met the laughing face of her brother, who saluted her in a mostloving manner and completed her unfinished sentence by saying:
"Euet would that you drop so unpleasant a subject--there is onlysadness in it."
"A bad brother is Euet, to give his sister such a fright!" exclaimedshe, pleasantly.
The tzin answered her badinage with a closer embrace; and, releasingher, saluted his mother in an affectionate manner, who said:
"Euet, my son, you are most welcome after so protracted an absence.Your sister and myself were beginning to wonder at your remaining awayso long, and would in a little while have become uneasy about you."
"My mother and sister are very good to remember me so kindly, but theyshould not forget that Euet is no longer a boy. A man'sresponsibilities are now his, and he has duties to perform whichsometimes interfere very much with his plans for gratifying thecravings of his heart. I am not forgetful of the filial obligationswhich bind me with golden chords of love to my estimable mother andsweet sister; yet there are times, in the press of worldlier things,when even these most precious of all obligations are neglected."
"You are right, my son; a mother's love is selfish. I had notconsidered well--but you are tired and need refreshment. Let us go in."
As they moved toward the house the conversation was continued. Themother presently inquired:
"How fares the good prince?"
"The prince is well, though somewhat dejected at the turn affairs havetaken since the old king's death, of which you have already heard,"answered the tzin.
"Yes, the news of his death has spread quickly. Your allusion to itprompts me to inquire about his successor. Maxtla has ascended thethrone, I suppose, and now rules in his father's stead?" inquiringlyreturned the mother.
"Maxtla is king," replied Euet; "and even now may be laying plans forthe destruct
ion of the prince."
The faces of the mother and daughter quickly took on an expression ofanxiety.
Hualcoyotl had spent many of his boyhood hours at the home of hisfriend Euet, which had resulted in his holding a warm place in theheart of each member of the family. Itlza and her mother had not seenhim for a number of years, yet in Euetzin was found a link which boundthem still to their young friend of other and more auspicious times.
"What are we to understand by those ominous words, my son?" inquiredthe mother in anxious tones.
"Good mother, I will explain, but not now. My walk has made meravenous, and I do not intend that even your anxiety for the princeshall deprive me of my supper," replied he, playfully.
"How thoughtless of me to forget for a moment that you are hungry,"returned she, with maternal concern. "Itlza, see that refreshments areserved immediately; and now, my son, you must pardon your mother forher negligence."
"Thank my mother for her goodness, rather, in being thoughtful of myfriend," replied the tzin, imprinting a filial kiss upon her brow.
This act and the accompanying words were in a vein of affectionatemirthfulness which brought the mother's heart into her eyes, and shecould only look her gratitude. The tzin led her to the board whererefreshments were served, and mother and daughter were soon partakingof a spirit of cheerfulness which his presence imparted....
The day was nearly spent; approaching night was beginning to cast hershadows over the earth, and her dusky mantle would soon envelope all.The family were seated in the spacious drawing-room of their home.Euetzin was relating the particulars of the prince's experience at thepalace of the king, and his mother and sister were listening with themost intense interest to his recital. When he told of the prince'sdetermination to prepare for resistance, and that he, the tzin, wasthen on his way to engage in inciting it, the mother could keep silentno longer, but cried out in anguish of heart:
"Oh, my son, can it be that my fears are to be realized so soon, andmust we indeed lose you?"
"Be calm, good mother; do not make my duties heavier by inflictinggreater sadness upon my heart. You would not counsel your boy to shrinkfrom the call which must come, sooner or later, to every true son ofTezcuco? The prince has seen fit to send me as his representative amongthe people, and has charged me with a great and responsible duty. Shallthe son of Euzelmozin cowardly shirk it, or shall he, like his lamentedfather, be fearless in the face of danger? What greater danger, OTeochma, my mother, could arise than that which now threatens thedestruction of our prince, and a lower degradation for our deeplywronged country?"
"Forgive me, my son, if I showed in my words a feeling of resentment tothe fates that would rob me of my boy. You know your mother too well tobelieve that she would for a moment counsel you contrary to thedictates of patriotism. No, Euet; though my heart may bleed for thesorrow it will feel, yet would I say, go to your duty, perform it tothe best of your ability, and prove yourself a worthy son of Zelmozinand Tezcuco."
"Thanks, my noble mother; with your approval, so patrioticallyexpressed, I will go out into the midst of dangers, fearing only to dowrong."
* * * * *
When the morning came the tzin was gone, and the unwonted stillness ofthe villa told of saddened hearts within.
A Prince of Anahuac: A Histori-traditional Story Antedating the Aztec Empire Page 5