Owingsville outlook. [volume] (Owingsville, Ky.) 1879-192?, 1896-05-28

built in the center of the western face
Of the pyramid and guarded by small
body of soldiers, who saluted and adj
mitted us
Entering our guides went without fall
tcfing, turning how Ia the right, now
to the left, and now seeming to rctracc
their footsteps, till at length they
halted 10 open a door covered over
with plates of beaten gold. on the fur.
Their side of which lay the most sacred
spot, save one, in the City of thr Heart,
that served the thrccfold psrpnSc of n
Judgment hall, church wherein the
mobiles attended worship, Hnd n burial
place of the departed ceciqucs IF the
city
Here In this vast and awful enult
each OF them set in his own niche,
stood the bodies of every king priest
who had rcigned In the holy city. in
closed in collins of solid gold fashioned
TO the shape and likeness of the corpse
within and having the name. age, date
of birth and n brief account II the g'nd
or evil THAI t.c man had done cut in
symbols on his breast.
For moment MAYA paused Ia look
upon the bodies of her parents, thea
with a sigh and an obeisancc she passed
on. saying Ia me:
''Sce, this Hall Of the Dead is
full; there is no place left for
me or my descendants. and surely
that is an evil omen. We'll, she added
with a sigh, what docs IL matter
where they set US when we are dcad?'
Then we went on dctiling before the
silent company of the golden dead.
till passing through hall. we stood in
front of little door over which burned
great lamps. This door was guarded
by two priests with drawn swords,
which they pointed towards rs sign
that we should halt. Then the priests
who had escorted us So far fell back he
hind, and we were left alone.
Give the sign, keepers of the gate,
said Maya.
Thereupon one of the men with
drawn swords did 81. aud after a few
moments delay the doors opened and
we entered the sanctuary.
In front of the altar was an open
space. and beyond its circle. each wear.
ing the orders IF his spiritual rank, -at
the Brethren of the Heart, according
TO their degree. to the number of thirty,
six.
Led by MAYA, we advanced into the
open space before the altar, and stood
there in silence. At length one of the
brethren, he who sat nearest To the
door. rose, and. addressing Tikal. said
Keeper of the Heart, one who claims
to be Of our company stands before YOU
and with her two for whom she vouches
BE pleased tn prove them by the voice
of their sponsor, that their mouths may
he opened and their prayers come &c
the ears of the council"
At his words two of the brethren
rose and blindfolded the senior md my
self lest we should see t..c sacred si":iS
with all of which, indeed. was well ne
quainted; but Maya they did not blind
fold. Then we heard TilSal asking.
How are you named who are strange
| to our eyes?" and the voice of Maya II
our ears cautioned us to be silent.
I'VE are named the son of the Sea
and 1gnatio the Wandercr," answered
/ the voice of MAYA
''Son of the Sea and Ignatio the Wan
/ derer, why come Won here" asked
! Tikal. Through the gate on which j.
/ written, Death to the Stranger
because we have a PRAYER tn utter
an offering to make, and because. al
/ though we dwell in far land. we ar,
( the servants Of the Heart" answered
I MAYA.
Then the various signs Of the ritua
were made by Maya.
strangers" said Tillal, "your mouth,
are opened-in the sanctuary according
| to the ancient form. and il is lawful fOi
she souncil a. listen 20 yadrrrdyer
| Speak then withous-fcaSr Then
/ spoke, saying:
Brethren, for so I viii dare TO cal
| you, seeing that also, though n stran
/ ger, am of the brotherhood of tht
/ Heart, as | can prove to yoA IL need be
ay, and higher in rank than any pres
ent here, unless il be you, o Keeper o.
the Heart. On my own behalf, ON be
half of my brother, who also Is of oui
I company, and on behalf OF Maya, tn,
Lady of the Heart, daughter of hin
| who ruled you, and heiress to his pow
er, | speak and make my prayer 10 you
ut would seem that we three, 10
! gether with Zibalbay, who is dead, anC
/ therefore beyond your Judgment, hav,
violated the laws of this city. we by
daring to enter its gates, and Zibalb
aud the Lady MAYA by leading us {,
| those gates. For this crime we SHOULD
have been put to death eight DAYS az,
upon the pyramid had not the Lady
Maya claimed a right to have our caus,
laid before this high tribunal. In he
case, and in that of her father, this wa
conceded, and l pray now that tn,
same clemency may be extended to m,
and to my brother"
"Upon what grounds do You CLAIM
this, stranger" asked TiSal.
Upon the ground that we are broth
rem of the Utmost circle of the Heart
and, therefore, have committed n,
crime in visiting this city, which Is fire.,
TO us by the right Of our rank an'
office"
Now there was a murmur of true
from the council behind me. and Tika
also said true" but added; IF yu,
are brethren of the Utmost circle of TIN
/ Heart you are free from offense, bu
first you must prove that this Ia so
which rs yet you have not done. 4
brother OF the Utmost circle knows il
mysteries, md can answer the secre
questions. Come. let us put you to tn
test, but first let the white man be re
moved from the sanctuary, for in thi
matter each must answer for himself.
Accordingly the senior was led away
and the doors having been closed ant
the lamps shaded, the oldest and mos
instructed of the councillors stood for
ward and put 10 me the test with man,
questions, all Of which ! answere,
readily. Then they commanded me 3,
stand before the altar. and, as Keepe
of the Heart, to open the Heart In tn,
highest degree. This did also, though
afterward they told me that nv ritua
differed In some particulars from thei
own.
After that l took up my parable an,
questioned them till at length non,
could answer me, no, not ever
the high priest or Natal. md they con
fessed humbly that I was usore in
structed than an, one of them, aud be
cause of this from that day forward
was held in veneration IN the City o
the Heart
Now was given a seat among tn,
brethren, the highest, indeed, sfte
those of the high priest and the grea
officers, and the senior was sent fo-.
He entered with downcast look, an,
while Maya and watched him sadly hi
examination began. 1t was not long
At the second question he becan
confused, used angry language Il
Spanish and English. and broke down
Brethren" said Tikal, and there wa
joy in his eye as he spoke, sit seem
that we need not trouble further witt
this impostor. BY daring to enter ou
city he has earned the penalty of death
moreover he has blackened his Grim
by claiming to be one of our brother
hood, whereas he scarcely knows tn
simplest password. Is |. your will tina
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