The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-11-04

pity upon rs, lift us from the darkness OF tn
nasti and giys Us light in the coming time. Hea
lie cesscd and from the surrounding gloon
many voices made re.ponss' saying, Hear us
Then for a space the old priest stood still, Tn,
frelight llickering on his tall form and rap
and grayer grew the gloom till Of q sudden +,
ray frum the unrisen sun shot through the shad
ows like n spear aud fell athwart the summit oi
the pyramid. paling the holy fire, that seemed
to4hrink before IL.
OF worshippers, men and women together. rose
from the marble pavement Wherein they had
| cioasss w5ioiS coyerea their White rebes. 'p tnT n"rT
extending their, arms toward the east, and cried
Hail TO thee, q sun! brinper Of all good
things. Hail to thee, newborn child OF God!''
Now the light grew fast, and coon the city ap.
% mist. and as I've glory Of tie daylight feii
upon II other priests who stood by the altar
iTis day pr 81 tie "RSp eSinnins !" Of Pc the 2s''f Rising %pC q
10 the People Of the Heart the occasion was q
great Cne, seeing that but little rain falls In
their country, and thus they deponded for n
bountiful harvest upon the lnundation Of the
lake. by it's waters swollen with the melted snow
OF the great mountains on the mainland. When
grain in rich land. made sieT% fertile Without ih labor
ny the mud, whence before the lako rose again
the gathered their corn and other crops.
When thcS had ended their praying. and gifts
Of fresh flowers had been laid upon the altar h."
beautiful children chosen for that purpose. 1ikal
blessed th" peorie as high priest and the simple
Then Natal rose to speak. telling the people
ell things that had happened. or so much Of
them as was cxpedient that they should know.
lie told them OF the death of Iibalbay, al the
the Writing that was found therein, " hich he
read aloud To them amid u dend silence.
Then he, told them how the Lady Maya and
the senior had consented to I've ms rricd In Obe-
dlence to the voice Of the oracle. aud lastly, how
she. the Lady Maya, had desired that her
the city OF the Heart, that she might have more
leisure to attend upon her heaven-sent husband
and to no at rest until that child was become n
man. whose wisdom and power should make
them even greater than their forefathers.
When he had finished there was much APP
plausc and other expressions OF JOY. and n
spokesman from among the people asked when
the marriage OF the white man, son Of the Sea.
TO the Lady Maya would take place. This uues.
that il was her lords viii tina" i t" should %iIidft tsks
place that very night in the bunqueting hall Of
Tho palace. and that u great feast should he
celebrated in honor Of IL.
After this the talking came to an end. Tikal
having said no word good or bad beyond such
rs the duties Of his office required. aud accord
ing TO ths custom OF the country. many people.
noble and simple. came forward to congratulate
her who was about tn le made u bride.
Weary of watching them and of hearing their
Of IA friendly noble and went to sec the cere-
mony Of the closing o., the floodgatc. a huge
niche prepared to receive IL. where IL was
fastened with. great bars of copper and sealed
Dk certain CtllterS. although, as / was told. the
rising water, would, not reach Il for another
eight or ten days. Even though the flood should
prove to be a low one; i was death 70 break
during all this time any one who would leave the
CITY must do so 10y means of ladders reaching
from the wall to little wooden jetties where
.Aftcrward we walked around the walls and
some of the main streets. and | mar
yelled at the greatness of this hHlf-desertcd
place, for the most OF it was In ruins, and Mt the
many strange sights that l saw in Il Indeed,
forefather, was not more powerful or popu-
lous than this town must have been in the days
About midday ! returned to the apartments
that had been assigned TO me in the palace, and
IN the Lady Maya | ate my dinner alone with
such appetite AS | could find, and lay down to
n while.
was awakened from my rest by the senior,
who arrived looking merry as, he used To be he
t,ore ever Molas came To lead us 70 the old In
iiian doctor and his daughter, and full OF talk
night. | listened ;oall he had to say and stroyc
earnestly to ,all into his mood, but, as | suppose.
.thout effect, for in the end he fell into mine,
which was but "a sad one. and began to talk re-
t irrsfulHSy o% VI ih did a my H sslt d9 to- ebssr YL HT s she hut bSi
with little avail. for he shook his head and said:
Indian ds she is, ] love Maya dearly, and no
md yet am afraid. ignatio. for his marriage
$ lll-omened. and ! pray. that what was begun
n %trickery may not end in desolation. Also the
'uture Is black both for you and me-. You came
lero for u certain purpose and will desire to
cave again to follow your purpose. nor. although
in the city OF the Heart. And yet it would
,cein that unless We can escape, this Is what we
" Let MS hope that we shall be able to escape
II doubt it," he said. for already I have dis
covered that though we be treated with all
,onor, yet we shall he closely watched. or at the
east shall for certain reasons. still come what
nay. ] trust that this marriage win make no
Preach in our friendship, Ignatlo."
81 do not know, senior, though | think that for
est that shadow should deepen. Also 1t has
'ecn fated that women and their loves should
ONE between me, my ambitions and my
ricnds. From the moment that my eyes fell
Ipon the Lady Maya, bound 10 the altar in the
hapel of tho hacienda. ! felt that her great
Eould seem that my heart did not lie TO me.
Tow, under her guidance, we have entered upon
dark and doubtful path, whereof no man can
Yes" he answered. but we took that path
n order to save our lives"
she took II, not TO save her life, on which |
hink she sets. little store, but TO win a husband.
,hom she desires. For my part, ! hold thai 1t
Tiled it, than to live on with hearts fouled by
eceit, seeing, that. in the end die we must, but
Veil, this must seem sad talk TO the ears OF a
bridegroom. Forge. H., friend, and rest awhile,
Without answering the senior lay down on the
ed. where he remained. whether sleeping or
wake do not know, till the hour Of sunset,
he was aroused by, the arrival of several
lrds and attendants, who came 10 lead him To
he bath. TN his return other messengers en-
nred. bearing magnificent robes ard jewels, the
III of the Lady Maya, to be worn by him and by
le at the ceremony, Then BARRIERS, having
rimmed and scented his fair hair and beard ac-
prdtng to the fashion OF this. people, he was
out like a victim for the sacrifice. 10
Don As all was prepared the doors were flung
Idle, and six ON 'ers Of the palace came through
nem, bearing wands Of Office in their hands,
by a troop of singing girls CHOSEN
IT their l0veliness, which. "a speak the truth,
as not small. In the midst OF these officers
nd ladies the senior was placed, and. followed
lie set out for the banqueting hall.
As we reached IL the doors were thrown open
nd the singers set up "A love song, pretty
lough, but 50 foolish that | have FOR gotten il.
passed the threshold. aud found that the
hall was yrOwded with guests arrayed iE
iCir most brilliant attire, whereon the lamp
slione brSyely, Through this company we
alLed till We reached IN open space al the far
nd ~ the hall, around which, in a semiCircle.
i the members OF the Council OF the Heart.
lkal and his wife being placed In the centre of
ZEN, having Natal ON thCir right, and on their
II that old priest, D!nas, the foster brother OF
halliday, who haa administered the oath 10 us.
As NO ADVANCED with one exception all the
'uncil rose and bowed 20 the senior. That Cxcep-
Oh was 1ikai. who stared straight before him
nj did not move. scarcely had they resumed
seats when tie sound Of singing was heard
ysin, mingled with that % music. and far