The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-28
CHAPTER XXI.

say you nay. And now farewell, FOR grief still
shadows me-, and I can talk no more"
CHAPTER XXI.
TIVE COUNCIL or THE HEART.
Now. when Tikal had gone | sat silent. for al
though IL might be necessary TO save our lives
love, all this double dealing did not please me.
and could not talk of it with a light heart.
~ hope that that rogue Natal may not have
repented or been overbribed by Tikal, and set
some other prophecy in the hollow Of the sym.
word, and things win be worse than ever they
II pray not. and it is not likely" she an
But why do you look at me with such re-
p5Toachi IsP bto Ion d i3,n not n snsw ch:,, s snG y
liar and are saying in your heart. This is a
woman's honor. Thus world any woman act IN
your courtesy. you despise MS women, looking
on us Rs lower than yourselves: a. a snare for
'""wsii. II 80. 50 We were made. and can We
quarrel with that which made US. and In some
ways we are greater than you. though you may
would not have dared for your love what I have
dared for mine: you would not have offered
instinct OF your blood and the teachings OF your
youth. No. you would have sat still and wrung
your face. and then have turned your eyes TO the
sky and said. 1t cannot be helped. u H. well; at
least | am clean in the sight OF heaven,
- - - So 49, "h.'' Nv
dared all these things and Joy in them. even
though you watch me ever with your me,an-
everything To me, and is IL shameful that this
should he soE | believe. No more in this un-
him Twill not see my b-trothed given up to
death and myself 10 worse than death. and how
s sSsr ! , fsTm .e ivy P 70 p my Sy ssssnSa , man n'olsr
Cease then TO reproach ME by yonr silence.
or rather learn TO pity nae; tor my strait is .ors:
fall II IL will on me. but no. on you. beloved. o.
not on you! and suddenly her anger left her.
and she sank into the sehor's arms and lay there
Then I vent 10 the further end Of the hall and
f peop 1heT Which Tefn W. had sas found amSie in the "Ft chnmbe or 'n IN,
deed, this was my daily occupation, for nov !
found that these lovers liked 70 he alone, unless
out or counsel TO he given. A shadow grew be-
tween. me and the senior in those days, for
because I did not approve Of the dark plot that
we were parties to, and Maya's outburst spoke
Nor was this wonderful. for now looking hack
] do not blame her or him, or think that they did
wrong. and believe that what really felt was
not Indignation al n trick which might well be
pardnned. seeing how much hung to IL, but SUI
p@rstitious fear lest some force, human or in
for. as we know. even the devils have power
against us IL we give IL to them by fighting the
world with their weapons.
On the following day the attendants who set
our meals brought, with then, clean robes for
each OF us. scented and wonderfully worked.
and for Maya certain royal ornaments. In these
We arrayed ourselves before evening and waited.
the hours passed, and at length. the copper
guards presented themselves, saying that they
were commanded to lead rs To the SANCTUARY.
We answered that nothing would please US
better. who were heartily tired Of living IKE
rats in the dark, and in a few minutes found
ourselves walking up the stairs toward the crest
We reached il and saw the star shining above
Us and felt the breath Of heaven blowing In our
faces. and never have the sight ot the stars or
the taste OF the night air seemed more sweet to
me. Leaving the watchhouse We walked 10 the
great STAIR across the lonely summit Of the pyra-
mid and began % descend It's side.
At the foot OF the stairway we turned N the
Beautifully worked. placed in the centre * the
western face Of the pyramid and guarded hS a
small body Of soldiers, who saluted ana admitted
u. Beyond the doors was a great hall. not I'M
like that which had served as our prison, liz with
lamps, lined with polished marble, and havingon
apartments that were used as sleeping places
for the Officers on duty. At the Threshold OF
pure white. into whose custody we we're
given by the company OF mobiles and soldiers
that had escorted Us thus far, surrounded by
passed down the hall till We reached another
and a smaller door. Beyond this lay a labyrinth
rection deep into the bowels Of the rock beneath
the pyramid. 80 Intricate and numerous were
these passages that even with the assistance OF
the lights when the priest carried II would
have been almost impossible Tor any one not
having their secret 70 md a path through them,
or even 10 keep his face IN a given direction for
more than a few PAGES. Along these Passages
our guides went without faltering. turning now
To ~relraes their footsteps, Till at length they
halted To open a third door covered over with
plates of beaten gold, on the further side OF
City OF the Heart. that served the threefold pur-
pose Of a judgment hall . church wherein the
MOBILES attended Worship and a burial place OF
the departed caciques OF the city.
Here in this vast and awful vault. each OF
them set in his own niche and companioned by
his escort. stood the bodies Of every king-pTisst
connns OF solid gold fashioned 10 the shape and
Likeness OF the corpse within and having the
name. age. date OF birth and a brief account OF
the good OF evil that the man had done cut in
on his breast.
There they stood etsrnAlly. men and women
m1ns IN sosH: anS Sum me- az xsss H.
inches in the chamber. each had its tenants and
In the last recess. that nearest 70 the entrance,
~Ss piassd The corpss OF Zibaibay g. the sids OF
her who had been his wife and MAyA's mother,
For a moment Maya paused 70 look upon the
Ob@isAncs shs passsd on, saying 10 me:
See, this Hall OF the Dead Is full; there Is no
place Jeff for me or my deScsndantA snd surely
sigh. . NhAt does IL matter where they set us
when NE are dad For my, part l had sooner
sleep In the earth Or bsne4ih the waters, than
js~slled eyes on the darkness Yes. II might
/ should choose the earth that bore me. fog Il
Then we sent Oa dsh.lng before the silent
company Of the golden dead, who seemed 20
watch us As Ne walked. till passing round =
hail. us stood N feat 81 a Little door over which
burned great AmpA This door gAs guarded By
two priests sith drawn swords which they
fhsS &c SaSsis 10 ID s.SoSsed % . az Aff sii
hAet behind the jads0snt ssat and Ne we're
Give The sLn-ksspsTs Of the gate. aid Mara
Ihereupoa oae u tn meu With dHa4u EaOrda