CHAPTER XII.
The hunter, Cacami, was heart free when he first entered Zelmonco Park,but not unsusceptible to heart wounds when subjected to suchfascinating glances as greeted him from Itlza's eyes. An impassionedadmiration for her was quickly awakened, and a way prepared for him tobecome an easy prey to Cupid's subtle influence.
When about to leave the villa the next morning, to continue hishomeward journey, he sought the maiden with a view to having a partingword with her. Great was his disappointment when he learned that shewas absent, and that no one knew where she was. He had counted onfinding in his departure an opportunity in which to reveal to her, byword or action, something of the feelings with which she had inspiredhim. But the fates appeared to order it otherwise, and he would becompelled to forego the pleasure such a parting would afford him.Concealing his disappointment under a semblance of cheerfulness he badehis host and hostess adieu and started for the highway.
Leaving the park he came to the road leading away from the villa, andturned his face toward Tezcuco. As he did so the first object to meethis eye and arouse him from the effects of his disappointment was Itlzaherself, approaching from the opposite direction. Was it chance ordesign which caused the maiden to be there just at that time? She alonecould have answered. But no matter; the sight of her lifted Cacami fromthe slough of despond, so to speak, into which he had fallen, and madehim doubly glad in the sudden revulsion of his feelings. His wholeappearance was changed in an instant, and with quickened pulse hehastened forward to meet her. He came up to her with pleasure beamingfrom his countenance, and in accents full of tender meaning exclaimed:
"O Laughing-eyes, light of thy home! why were you not present togladden my departure from the villa but now? To Cacami the brightnessof Zelmonco was gone because you were not there to receive hisgood-by."
"Why should my absence so affect the hunter, Cacami, when only a nighthath divided the days which have made us known to each other?" sheanswered, naively.
"It is not the number of days that affect our lives, O Laughing-eyes,but what they bring," he replied. "To Cacami those beautiful, sparklingorbs, your eyes, O Itlza, are as two newly risen stars. To have beendeprived of the privilege this morning of again looking into theirwonderful depths would have robbed his stay at Zelmonco of its greatestcharm, and cast a regretful shadow on his pathway home."
"Cacami is neither discreet nor wise in the use of language. The wordshe speaks are pleasing; and Itlza, being a woman, might believe themspoken in sincerity, when only gallantry is intended. Have a care, OCacami, that thy tongue lead thee not into deception," she replied witha coquettish air.
"I pray you, Laughing-eyes, believe me sincere. Were I possessed of adeceitful tongue, which I can not think I am, I could not impose it onthe sister of my good friend, the tzin. That would be baseness of whichCacami is not capable," he protested. "The clear crystal fountainswhich spring from the side of yonder mountain are not more pure thanare the thoughts which he holds for Laughing-eyes," the young hunterwent on, with an earnestness which bespoke sincerity.
"Cacami may be sincere, and his words well meant, but Itlza should nothear them. Let us talk of something else. Have you a sister?"
"Yes, two, who will give me welcome home when I cross my father'sthreshold," he replied with respectful deference.
"You ought to be very happy, then, in your homecomings," she replied.
"So I have ever been. It is a good and pleasant home which always waitsme, and it will be very hard to leave it," he returned, with a shade ofsadness in his voice.
"Why should you leave it?" she questioned, her voice tinged with aresponsive sympathy.
"Why should anyone leave their childhood's home? Even Laughing-eyeswill one day go from her beautiful Zelmonco to find another home. To doso is her natural destiny, as it is mine to leave the home I love," heanswered, with an expression of tenderness, at the same time watchingclosely to observe the effect his words might have upon her. If shesuspected a hidden meaning in them she did not show it.
"Is it far to your home?" she asked, appearing heedless of hisimpassioned voice.
"As far beyond as it is from here to Tezcuco--about four hours," heanswered. "Your question admonishes me that I must not tarry. I wouldthat Laughing-eyes will hold me kindly in her thoughts. Could I beassured that she will, it would please me more than she can know," hesaid, seriously.
"You will come again and I will know you better; till then good-by,"she answered airily, accompanying her words with the same fascinatingglance which had won his admiration. His already excited pulsequickened under its influence.
As she hastened away in the direction of the villa he looked after herwith a strange, uncertain sensation, which made him feel as if he hadfound a priceless gem and was now about to lose it. He watched herreceding form until out of sight, and then mentally soliloquized:
"Why should this strange maiden so impress me? More beautiful have Ilooked upon, and yet no such feelings as she has awakened have everstirred me before. Can it be that I have found a mate inLaughing-eyes?" His concluding thought was not an unpleasant one, asthe expression on his face clearly indicated. Again his steps wereturned toward Tezcuco, and with rapid strides he widened the spacewhich separated him from the object of his thoughts.
Cacami may not have found a mate in the sister of his newly madefriend; yet, if appearances were any criterion, had the object of hisfirst love.
Itlza was not void of self-pride, and following on the very favorableimpressions she had formed of the young hunter, the flattering wordsaddressed to her by him were not without effect. She recalled some ofthem with a pleasurable satisfaction, and held them as something to beremembered, a very dangerous thing for a young girl like her to do ifshe would not be ensnared in the meshes of love's enthralling web.
* * * * *
Cacami returned from his home to the villa about noon the followingday. Euetzin was expecting him, as he had assured the tzin that hewould report the result of a conference with his father immediately,let the conclusion be what it might. When he came up to Euetzin, whohad gone to the lower side of the park to meet him, it did not requirewords to communicate his decision. The glad confirmation of the tzin'swishes was seen on his radiant countenance.
"My friend is pleased, and I do not have to inquire the cause," saidhe, in greeting him. "I read upon your face, Cacami, that we are to becomrades in the fight for freedom."
"Yes, we are," returned Cacami. "This good right arm," he continued,raising it by way of emphasis, "I have pledged, through my father, tothe cause of Tezcuco and her prince. Your proposition, that I shouldbecome your assistant in the work which you have undertaken wasfavorably considered, and I am here to join you."
"Your decision is gratifying. In it the cause which has become so dearto me has found a strong arm to labor in its defense, and I a worthycomrade. But come, you have traveled, and are, no doubt, hungry andthirsty. Refreshments are waiting."
As they were ascending the hill, through the park, Cacami inquired:
"Have you had any news from the palace of the prince, since yourreturn?"
"What news might I expect? Hualcoyotl is not there."
"True, the prince is not there, but Itzalmo--is not that the name ofthe old man who was his tutor?"
"It is, but what of him? Your words remind me that I have been remiss;I should have gone to Itzalmo ere this," replied the tzin.
"That you could not have done, for Itzalmo is in prison."
The tzin stopped and looked at Cacami as if he did not comprehend, andsaid:
"In prison, did you say? And for what offense, pray?"
"For what offense I did not learn."
"Where and when did you hear of his imprisonment?"
"On the streets of Tezcuco, yesterday. Six days ago, 'tis said, theking's officer took him to Azcapozalco," answered Cacami.
"And he has not returned?"
"No, he is still in prison."
> "I must learn more of this matter, immediately," returned the tzinthoughtfully.
They entered the house, where Cacami met with a kindly greeting fromTeochma and Itlza.
After refreshments were served, Euetzin made known his purpose of goingto Tezcuco to obtain further information relative to Itzalmo. He leftCacami to be entertained by Itlza, observing that she could show himthe beauties of the park, and thus keep him from becoming lonesome.
O, thoughtless brother! Lonesome, indeed! Nothing could have delightedCacami more than the prospect of a whole afternoon with Itlza.
Euetzin had been gone quite a while, and Itlza, as he had suggested,had taken Cacami over the ground which comprised the villa park,showing him the most interesting of its features, of which the familywere justly proud. She had finally brought him to her favorite retreat,in the shade of an old oak tree, at the foot of which stood a rusticbench, and, a little way off from it, a beautiful flowing fountain,which added coolness to the spot, and made it especially inviting.
Itlza was seated on the bench beneath the tree, toying with a bunch ofodorous flowers, while Cacami reclined on the ground, almost at herfeet.
"You are fleet of tongue, O Cacami, and your voice is like the cooingof a dove. The words fall from your lips as readily as flowing waterfrom a hillside spring. But the thoughts which fill your mind arehidden. Who but yourself may read them?" she was saying, provokingly,in answer to something he had said.
"Surely, Laughing-eyes, you can not think me capable of holdingthoughts, which are not in accord with my words? I may be impulsive andhasty, but not deceitful," he answered, with an honest emphasis on hiswords.
It was clearly a case of love at first sight with Cacami, and hisimpulsiveness led him to show it plainly. Itlza was more discreet, andwould not so easily surrender to the dictates of a smitten heart. Shewas, nevertheless, fast falling under the influence of the subtlelittle archer, though, woman-like, persisted in fighting it off. Inanswer to Cacami's expostulation, she said:
"I would not seem unkind, but would put a check upon your tongue. Youare scarcely more than a stranger to me. Two days ago you did not knowthat such a person lived as I; and yet, in that short time, you arepleading to hear a song from the little love-bird which nestles inItlza's heart. Know you not, O Cacami, that the little bird is chary,and may be easily frightened away?" she replied archly, but kindly.
"Your words are severe, Laughing-eyes, yet of them I may be deserving,for I have been impetuous; but I can not think my conduct should driveyou from me, in that you are surely jesting. I am not a trifler, Itlza,and, believe me, never one spoke more sincerely. Only bid me hope, andI will be your silent slave."
We would not have the reader think that Cacami was foolish, for he wasnot. He was unquestionably stricken with that peculiar affection which,ever since the first man and woman were brought face to face, has heldthe loftiest minds, and brought under subjection the strongest wills,making slaves of all, willing or unwilling, to the object through theattraction of which the affection is produced, causing men ofintelligence, not infrequently, to fall into ridicule. Still,recognizing the innateness of the thing, we look upon such conduct as anatural consequence.
Cacami's fault was in not restraining his impulsiveness. He read in thewords which fell from Itlza's lips that she was not wholly indifferentto his wooing, and, as a last earnest, plead for a hope.
Itlza's reply was not very encouraging.
"To bid you hope might be to deceive you," she said. "No, you must notask it of me. If the time should come when the little love-bird wouldsing its song for Cacami, he shall know it. Promise, then, to speak nomore of love until you have permission, and Itlza will be your friend."
"A wish from you, O Laughing-eyes, is a command to me. I will do thebest I can; but should I fail, it will be for love of you." He spokepathetically, and Itlza's heart went out to him with a sudden impulse,and a more adroit wooer than he might have won there and then, butCacami had promised, and the opportunity passed unimproved.
"I have your promise, then?" asked the persistent Itlza.
"Yes," he answered, resignedly.
She laughed at his sober acquiescence and pathetic yes, and said:
"Your ready submission almost persuades me to believe you sincere. But,there, do not speak," she suddenly added, anticipating him, as helooked up at her fondly, showing in his expression that he was about toput some thought into words. She placed her hand over his mouth, andcontinued: "I do believe you would violate your promise before it iscold upon your lips."
He put her hand away gently, and said:
"You shall not again have occasion to check me. Laughing-eyes shalllearn that Cacami can hold his tongue."
* * * * *
Euetzin came back from Tezcuco toward evening, and found the twainstill lingering under the oak tree near the fountain. The mother camefrom the house, too, and a half hour was passed in listening to anaccount of his visit to the city and what it revealed, at theconclusion of which they went in for refreshments.
The day ended, and night followed, bringing the morning, when Euetzin,with his newly acquired friend and comrade, set out to continue theprosecution of his patriotic mission.
A Prince of Anahuac: A Histori-traditional Story Antedating the Aztec Empire Page 14