Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1896-05-06

ing their pretty speeches. / took adj
vantage of the escort of "a friendly
noble and went to see the ceremony of
the closing of the foodgate. "A huge
block of marble that slid down groove
into "A niche prepared to receive it,
where IL was fastened with great bars
of copper and sealed by certain officers.
although. as / was told, the rising
water would no. reach il for another
| eight or ten days.
About midday / returned 20 the
apartments that had been assigned To-
me in the palace, and hearing that the
senior was still in attendance ON the Lady
Maya | ate my dinner alone with such
appetite as | could find, and lay down
to sleep awhile.
was awakened from my rest bv the
senior, who arrived looking merry as he
used to be before ever Molas came to
lead MS to the old Indian doctor and his
daughter, and full of talk about the
preparations for his wedding that night
| listened to all he had to saw and strove
earnestly to fall into his mood, but, as
| suppose, without effect. for in the end
he fell into mine, which was but n sad
ono, and began TO talk rcgrctfully of
the past and doubtfully of the future.
Now. | did my best to cheer him up.
but with little avail, for he shook his
head and said:
Indian as she is, ! love Maya dearly.
and no other woman has been or can be
so much to me and yet am afraid. lgna-
ito, for this marriage is ill-omcned and
pray that what has been begun in
| trickery may not end in desOlation.
Also the future is black both for YOU
and me. You came here for Il certain
! purpose and will desire TO leave again
TO follow your purpose, nor, although
take this lady TO wife. do | wish to
| spend my days in the City Of the
! Heart. And yet il would seem that un-
less we can escape, this is what we
must do"
Let us hope that we shall be able to
escape" | answered
Il doubt it" he said, "for already
have discovered that though we be
treated with all honor, yet we shall he
closely watched, or at least shall for
certain reasons. Still come what may.
l trust that this marriage will make no
breach in our friendship, Ignatio."
Il do not know, senior, though think
that for weeks its shadow has lain be-
tween MS, and | fear lest that shadow
should deepen. Also il has been fated
that women and their loves should
come between me, my ambitions and
my friends. From the moment that my
eyes fell upon Lady Maya. bound to
the altar in the chapel of the hacienda.
| felt that her great beauty would
bring trouble upon us, and it would
seem that my heart did not lie to me"
Without answering the senior Law
down on the bed, where he remained,
whether sleeping or awake | do not
know, till the hour of sunset. when he
was aroused by the arrival of several
lords and attendants. who came to lead
him to the bath. On his return other
messengers entered. bearing magnifi-
cent robes and jewels, the gift of Lady
Maya, to be worn by him and by me at
the ceremony. Then BARRIERS, having
trimmed and scented his hair and beard
according to the fashion of this people.
he was declled out like a victim for the
sacrifice. SO soon as all was prepared
the doors were flung wide, and six
officers of the palace came through
them, bearing wands of Office in their
hands. accompanied by a troop of sing
ing girls chosen for their loneliness.
which, To speak the truth. was not
small In the midst of these officers
and ladies the senior was placed, and.
followed by myself. who walked behind
with a heavy heart, he set out for the
banqucting hall.
As we reached it the doors were
thrown open and the singers set MP a
that | have forgotten il. We passed
the threshold and found that the great
hall was crowded with guests arraycd
in their most brilliant attire, whereon
the lamplight shonc bravely. Through
this company we walked till we reached
an open space at the far end of the hall.
around which in scmicirclc. sat the
members of the Council of the Heart.
IilSal and his wife being. placed in the
center of them, having Natal on their
right. and ON their left that old priest.
Dimas. the foster brother of /ibalbay.
who had administered the oath to us
As we advanced, with one exception
all the council rose and bowed to the
senior. That exception was Tikal. who
stared straight before him and did not
move. Scarcely had they resumed their
| seats when the sound of singing was
/ heard again, mingled with that of
music and far away. at the foot OF the
| long hall. appeared band of musicians
/ playing upon pipes of reeds. clad in the
| royal livery of green ami crowned with
[ oak leaves. After the musicians
marched. or, rather. danced. number
of young girls robed in white only. and
carry ing white lilies in their hands.
/ which they threw upon the floor to be
\ trodden by the feet Of the bride.
Next came Maya herself, sight Of
/ beauty such as stirred even my cold
/ heart and caused me to think more
/ gently of the senior. who had become
/ party TO trick TO win her. She also
/ was aged in white. embroidered with
I gold. and having the symbol of the
\ Heart blazOncd on her breast: about
I her waist and neck were girdlc and
! collar Of precious emCralds: on her hcad
/ was set tiara of perfect pearls taken
/ IN past ages from the Shclifsh Of the
I lake, aud round her wrists and ankles
I were bangles OF dead gold. Her wav-
[ ing hair hung loose almost 20 her san
. dalcd feet. and i'm her hand. a. token Of
/ her rank. she bore a little golden ,.cep-
ter. having at one end great pearl
and at the other a hcart-shaped en-.
erald.
Now the bridegroom and the bride
stood together in the open suacc sur
rounded 10y the half circle Of the Couu-
ell OF the Heart. among whom / was
given seat. while behind them were
arranged the musicians ard singing
girls. and behind these again pressed
the Rlittcring audience OF marriage
guests.
When all were AZ their place. a bor-
aId arose and cried out the rar1re and
Tito, of the pair, rcciting briefly that
they were 20 be wed bv fhe direct com
mand ~ the guardian god II Tho CITY.
hE the wish OF the Council. " fh. Heart
and because Of the love that thcv bore
ON" another Next reading from n
written roll be published Tie test Of
the agreement whereby Mava re-