Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-09-10
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
NAHUA BEARS WITNESS
Some hours passed and again the
gates were opened; and through them
came Tikal and guard of five men.
The guard he left by the gates, advanc-
ing alone to where we were seated,
near the far end of the hall.
What would you of us?' asked Maya.
s'Can you not leave me in peace even
here in my dungeon?"
81 desire to speak with you alone.
Maya"
have told you before. that l will not
listen to your words alone. If you have
anything to say, say It in the presence
of my husband and my friend, or go and
leave it unsaid."
''You speak roughly to one who comes
here in the hope of saving the lives of
all of you,'' he answered; ''still / will
bear with you in this as I have borne
with you in much else. Listen: All
your crimes are known to me, for
Nahua, my wife, has revealed them to
me. 1 know how you and that dead
rogue, Natal, on whom the curse OF
Heaven has most justly fallen, forged
the prophecy and violated the sanct-
uary, for I have held the proofs of it in
my hand"
ssDo you know that we did this to
save our Hves?' asked Maya, for if
we had not done it Natal would
have murdered us in order that by re-
moving me he might assure his daugh-
ter in her placer"
81 do not know why you did it, nor
do I care, seeing that nothing can
tighten such crime. but think that
you did it in order that you might win
yonder white man as a husband. At the
least the thing is done, and vengeance
from which there
is but one escape"
what eScape?" asked Maya, quickly,
for when she learned that Tihal knew
everything all hope had faded from her
heart, as from ours.
Maya, two people live, and two
alone, who know this tale, Nahua, my
wife, and myself. Till this morning
there was but one, for Nahua only told
me of it when she found that you had
not escaped, and this she has done that
she may be rid of you, whom she hates
as her rival. Therefore it was that she
would have held me back from pursuing
you, and therefore it is that she will
appear before the Council of the Heart
this night, so that her evidence may in
sure your instant death in the Pit Of
Waters. But as it chances least of any
thing on the earth do desire that my
eyes should lose sight of you, whom
now as ever love better than anything
on the earth"
Now the senior grew white with rage,
and he broke in:
You will do well to keep such words
to yourself, Til1al, for of this be sure, if
you do not, I will add to my crimes,
and you shall not leave this place alive.
No need to look at your guards. What
do sara for % p uards tb Who oe hays
and before they reach you you shall be
dead"
Let him go on, husband, said Maya;
''what can a few insults more or less
matter to US now? Continue, most no.
BILE Tilzal, but, for your own sake, re-
strain yourself and say nothing that a
husband should not hear"
sit is for this reason" he went on,
taking no notice of the senOr's anger,
''that I have come here with a plan to
save you all, yes. even this braggart
white man who has robbed me of you.
If Nahua and I are silent, who will
know of your crimes? And if the evil
dence of them is destroyed before your
eyes, who is there who can prove them?
Now, will be silent-at price. 1 will
even bring the true tablet Of the proph-
ecy and the roll of Mattai's confession
and destroy them with fire before you. :"
you will be silent, ?" said Maya, ''but
what of Nahua? viii she be silent also?"
Now Tikal's dark face grew evil with
some purpose of his own, though
whether it were of murder, or of what,
do not know.
''Leave Nahua to me" he said. ''With-
draw the charge you made against her
Of attempting to kill yonder child, and
free her thus of the need of appearing
this night in the sanctuary. and swear
| to you that no word of her dreadful
secret shall ever pass her lips. Then
| you will be tried upon one issue only,
| that of having broken your oaths by
| flying the city, crime that is not be-
| yond forgiveness.
you spoke of price, Tikal; tell US,
what is that price we must pay?"
| 1.-The price is yourself, Maya. Nay,
hear me out, and you, white man, keep
silent. If you will swear upon the
| Heart to become my wife within six
months from this day, then I on my
| part will swear that the white man.
| your husband, who is not your husband,
for he won the consent of the council
to his marriage by trick, shall be suf-
fered to escape the land unharmed,
taking with him his friend and so much
of our treasure and things needful for
their journey as he may desire.
II will swear, also, and by this you
| may see how deep and honestis my love
for you, that your son shall not be dis
possessed of the place and rank which
he holds in the eyes of the people as a
'Heaven-sent deliverer whose coming
was foretold by prophecy. My child
shall give place to yours, Maya.
| Once before held ont the hand