Abilene weekly reflector., 1896-03-19
ARLENE WEEKLY REFLECTOR ABILENE KANSAS MARCH 49, 8TwELE PAGES

the latter on its bed. Then Natal left
us, and remember no more till ths
next morning, when the mobiles ana
leeches came 20 watch by the BODY OF
the cacique and embalm It in readiness
for the tomb.
The next two days went heavily for
the three OF us, oppressed as we were
by the silent gloom Of our prison and
the memories Of that dreadful night.
At length they carried away the
corpse Of Zibalbay to be wrapped In its
winding sheet Of gold and set with its
forefathcrs in the hall OF the dead. and
though Maya wcpt, l, for my part was
glad to see the last of him, and so
think was the senior, whose spirit had
begun to fail him in the presence OF SO
much remorse and grief.
That day--it was the day previous to
the night Of the rising Of the waters on
which we were to appear before the
Council Of the Heart, in the sanctuary
Tikal came to visi. us. To Maya he
bowed low, but on the senior and my
self he looked with an angry eye, with
the eye, indeed, of one who would have
killed us if he dared.
First, he offered her his sympathy
upon the death of her father. For this
she returned her thanks, quoting, how
ever, with flash of her old spirit,
certain proverb Of her own people, OF
which the meaning is that the death OF
one man is the breath Of another.
"Mv father was your foe, Tilal,' she
added "and now that he is gone you
will be able to sleep and reign in peace.
Not altogether so, lady" he an,
swered, seeing that he had left behind
him more dangerous rival TO my
power, namely, yourself. ! will not
hide from you, Maya, what you soon
must learn, that large portion OF the
people. and with them many of the no
bles accusing me of your fathers muir
der, clamor that should be deposed
and that YOU should be set up in my
place as caciquco of the City Of the licart,
sSomc few days ago might have
stilled their outcry by commanding you
to be put to death, but now it Is too
late, for since that time has fought for
YOU, and your death would doubtless
be followed by my own. When last we
met asked you II certain question, to
which you promised me an answer
when your father was dead or re-
covered, and to-day have come to hear
that answer.
"While Zibalbay lived ] had much to
offer him and you in exchange for your
hand. | offered II freely. So high q
value did place upon IL, now that It
seemed lost to me, that was prepared
to Law down my power, to suffer your
father to violate the laws and to incur
the internal hate and active enmity OF
Natal, his daughter and his party.
Now must make you lower Did, that
Of equal power for yoursclfand tcr .our
friends here, whatever .hev may desire.
"Should you refuse me, this is the al
Tentative: Civil war in the city till one
of us is destroyed, and instant death 81
the portion Of your friends.
"But, Maya, pray you not % REFUSE
me, for have something more to offer
YOU, and it is my undying love- From
q child have always loved you, Maya
although you have treated me coldly
enough, and now day by day love yor
more. Indeed, | believed that you and
your father were dead yonder in the viii
derness, for then had faith in Natal
whom now | know to be rogue, ant
Natal swore that it was written in tn
stars. Even SO would not have married
, another woman, for my heart bled q
the loss Of you, had not Natal mad
: marriage the price Of his support, with
out which | could not hope to b
anointed cacique, seeing that ha'
> many jealous enemies
"You have spoken, COUSIN she an
swered, ''and your words have bee
gentle, and yet If l understand yo1
' right, some days since you were in tw
minds as to whether 1t would not b
4 better to murder me here in this dark
some hole where you placed u.s."
: III policy put any such thought int
e nv mind, Maya, love drove 1t out again,
G he answered with confusion,
$ $50 you admit that this was so,' sh
r said ''Well, day might come whe
policy might breed the thought an
4 love, grown weary, prove not war;
e enough to wither it. Also It seem
t that ever now, you threaten these, m
e companions, with death, should refus
d You your desire.
I If you should refuse me my desire
t Maya, perhaps it will be for secre
reason of your own, and he scowlcd a
7 the senor angrily, "a reason that tn
d death of these men, or one OF them WI
S remove
BE sure Of thing, Tikal,' she brok
= in sharply, that such wicked dee
r would put an end forever to your hope
n of making me your wife. Now listel
have heard your words and they hav
g touched me somewhat. for think thu
it although you have broken your oath
my father, and your troth with me, {
d heart you are honest in your love sti
Il can give you no answer now, ana II
n this reason that the answer does NJ
t. lie with me, but rather with the gods.
r. "To-morrow night we appear befol
2, the High Court Of the Council OF IL
l, Heart. and you yourself shall set tn
sc several portions Of the talisman in I'll
symbol that is on the altar in the san
n tuary, when the god shall declare h
" purpose. BY that will and not BY m
own must be guided in this and in q
i. other things" Tikal thought awhi
n and answered:
le "And if nothing follows this Ger
e mony and the oracles Of the gods Al
is silent, what then?" -,
"Then, Tikal," she answered, softl
,e "you may ask me again II ! VIII D D
"a come your wife. and perhaps If Il
ID council suffers it | shall not say yt
At nav. And now farewell, for grief ST.
w shadows me, and can talk no more.
n. ITO BE CONTINUED