Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-12-19
HEART OF THE WORLD.
BY H. RIDER HAGGARD.
Strange Story Taken From Manuscript Bequeathed by Old
Mexican indian to His Friend and Comrade an
Engllshman Named Jones.

40 WITH tine mmosu mysteries, but wa.
not able to answer them, though al
times saw their drift
"'You have some knowledge, he
said, yet you but stand at the foot OF
the pyramid, whereas | watch the stars
from It's crest, warming my hands at
the eternal fire.
"'None Of my order have more,
lord ! answered, save the very high
est
Then there are higher in the land?
he asked, eagerly, but started sudden
ly, and, looking round, went on without
waiting for an answer You are in sor-
row, child of the heart, and have come
from one who was sick to the death; to
your business, and percharee we will
speak of these matters afterwards.
First, lord, said, i have brought
an offering, and set down a basket at
his feet.
"'Gifts are good between brethren,
he replied; moreover, in this barren
place food is welcome Come hither,
daughter, and take what this stranger
brings
"As he spoke lady came forward
through the archway, dressed, like her
father, In a white robe Of fine fabric,
but somewhat worn. looked at her,
and 1t is truth, lord, that for the second
time went near to falling, for so great
was the loneliness of this girl that
my heart turned to water within me.
1.-THE lady, whose name was Maya,
looked at me carelessly, and took the
basket Follow ing her through the
archway to the terrace beyond, set out
the matter of my wife's illness to the
doctor-or rather to him who passes as
doctor, and who Is named Zibalbay,
or Watcher-praying that he would
come to the village and minister to
her.
"'It would be OF little use, brother
he said, sadly, seeing that your wife Is
now dead. l felt her spirit pass us as
We talked together in the gateway
"Then taking my hand zibalb bay, the
Watcher, spoke great words to me in
solemn voice that seemed to soothe me
as the song Of q mother soothes rest
less child, for he talked with certainty
as one who has knowledge and vision
Of those who have gone beyond.
"'L istenr he went on. i come from
far with this maiden, my daughter, and
we are not what we seem, but who and
what we are now is not the hour to
tell. This Is the purpose of our com.
Ing Ito find that which is not one, but
divided; that which is not lost, but
hidden. Perchance. brother, YOU can
point the path to it, and he paused
and looked at me with his piercing
eyes.
Nov, lord, | understood TO what his
words had reference, for are they not
part Of the ritual Of the service, Open
Ing Of the Hearth
est is enough said. Now, lord,
what do you desire?'
81 desire to know where that which
Is hidden can be brought to light, and
II It dwells in this land, for I have
journcyed far to seel, 1t.
" 1t dwells here | answered, for
have beheld it with my eyes, and he
guards it who is It's keeper
Can you lead me to him, brother?'
" No, for have no such commands:
but perhaps can bring him to you,
though must journey by sea and land
to find him-that is, If he wills to come.
Give me proofs, lord, or do not start
on this Grand
"'Will he believe that which you
have seen with your eyes?'
Sic vii. believe 1t, for he has trust
ed me from childhood.
"'Then look!' said the man, and,
opening his robe at the neck, he kneeled
down in the light of the fire
"There, lord, upon his breast hung
that which has been hidden from our
sight since the sons of Quetzal, the god,
ruled in the land, the counterpart Of |
The severed symbol which Is upon your
breast. That is all my story, lord.h
Now |, Ignatio, listened amazed, for
The thing was marvellous
"Did the man send me no further
nessage?" asked.
None. He asked me If had money,
md without waiting to be answered lie
rave me two handfuls of humps OF
nodded gold from hide bag, whereof
'ach lump was stamped with the sym
,ol OF the heart"
"Let me see one said.
ALAS! my lord Ignatio, have none.
Not far from the ruined temple where
libalbay and his daughter sojourned Is
The hacienda Of Santa Cruz. and there,
rs you may have heard, dwell a gang
# men under the leadership of one
Dom Pedro Moreno, who are by profess
lion smugglers, highway robbers and
though they pretend Ia
arm living by the cultivation Of coffee
md cocoa.
"As it CHANGED in journeying home
Yards, | fell into the hands of some OF
hese men. They searched me, and,
hiding Jumps OF gold in nv pocket.