Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1896-05-20

re turn by the passage, and as we
stepped into the sanctuary he con
tented himself with closing the door
without locking it.
We took seats that had been prepared
for US In the open space before the altar.
Maya being placed in the center and
the senior and myself on either side of
her. Next the priest q .pe Records
rose and announced tiiat the business
before the council was the trial of
three of it's members. Maya, Lady of
the Heart, the white man. Son of the
sea. and Igna.iO. the Wandercr. n Lord
of the Heart from beyond the mountains,
upon the charge of having broken their
oaths, which they took asmcmbcrs of
the council. Having read this forna.
accusation the priest set out the case
against US, clearly but briefly:
On this very night OF the festival of
the Rising Waters Il year ago" he
began, you strangers, among other
things, sworc upon the altar. setting
IN pledge your souls and bodies for the
fulfiliment Of the oath, that without
the consent of this high brotherhood
you would not attempt to leave the
gates OF the City of the Heart. Yet but
the Other day You were ovcrtal;en and
seized IN the act o. flying across the
mountains to the Wilderness beyond
Nor is this oil Of your crime. for with
you was that infant, born of the white
man and the Lady of the Heart, the
heaFen-scnt child of prophecy. of
whom you wickedly sought to rob US
and the people. Saw now, how do Won
plead TO these charges?"
We plead guilty" answered Mava.
but we ask TO be heard in our own de-
Tense. Listen, lords: since that night
when we were married by your com
mand my husband and myself have
been logged by murder, and Wonder,
as High Priest of the Heart and pres:-
dent of your councils, he sits who
would have murdered us.
Il see among you this night some of
those who waited on me upon the day
OF our escape. having the Lord Dimas
mt the head of them. What did they
tell me? That plot had been discov-
cred, made by this TilSal. TO murder
my husband, my child and my friend,
Ignatio, the Wandcrcr They told me
also that TilSal would be dcposcd be-
cause of this and his other crimes, and
that the infant in ny arms would this
very night be anointCd caciuue of the
People of the Heart. Is il not so.
Dimas?"
1T is so, lady he answered. and
learn that You arc not the only ones
who are on trial this night. Though
your ease is taken first. that of Tikal.
the high priest, and others will follow;
but till then, in virtue Of his rank md of
ice. he sits rs president of our council. ="
Now TilIal sprang from his seat, but
Dimas turned upon him and said,
sternly:
Keep silent, lord. or speak only to
fulfill the duties of your place. Yovr
trial shall be just. but know that there
is no hope of escape for YOU till il is
done, seeing that your guards are dis
armed and all the paths ave watched. g"
Iikal seated himself agail and Maya
went on:
ION that very night OF the coming OF
Lord Dimas, when | was alone in my
chamber. Lady Nahua, the wife oil
Ilkal. crcpt upon me ard st-ove TO
murder this my child" ard size set out
the story telling how the scno- and |.
hearing her cries for help, had entered
the chamber and seized and bound
Nahua.
Then it was. brethren. that terror
took Us and we fed. seeking to escape
= land where we could not live in safety
from one hour to another. This is our
sin. and we leave our punishment in
your hands. surely it was better that
we should strive to save the child so
that he night live TO play his part.
whatever that may be. than that he
should be kept here to be butcha,ed by
those whom You have raised up 10 rule
you."
When Maya had finished her speech
the senior and | addressed the council
in turn, confirming all that she had
aald and submitting ourselves 10 the
judgment of the brotherhood.
wa -
back, while the council consulted to-
gcthcr, and there we awaitcd our doom.
Presently We were brought forward
again. and Tikal spoke to us, saving
that our sentence was postponed till
the charge against Nahua. the daughter
OF Natal, and against himself, Tilial.
the caciquc and high priest of the CITY
OF the Heart. had been considered. add
ing, in slow and triumphant voice:
Let Nahua, the daughter of Natal.
who awaits without, be brought into
the presence of the Heart"
We heard and gathered up our cour-
age To meet the advancing fate. for we
knew that death was on us. and that
Tor us there was no more pity or escape.
The door opened and NAHUM came
through il, dressed in the robes of her
rank, and wearing tho green diadem
that could be carried only by the wife
or mother Of the cacique.
what IS your pleasure with me,
lordS? she said pre- udly after she had
made her obeisance 10 the altar.
Then the priest of the Records rose
and read the charge. namely, that she
had attempted with her own hand to do
murder upon the body of the infant
child of Maya, Lady Of the Heart. and
her husband, the white man, and also
that she had aided and abctted Tilsal.
her husband. in various acts Of cruelty
and IMPROVEMENT that were alleged
again5t him. asking her what she
pleaded in answer.
ITO the last charge, not guilty. 'r
she said. Let TilSal defend his own
sins. To the first. guilty ! did at
tempt 20 put an end TO yonder brat, but
laya discovered 1e, and was caught
and bound"
Surely, brethren" said Dimas. ris-
ny Eve need carry this matter no fur
her We have hccrd the evidence OF
Lady Maya and the others. and now
Nahua cOnfca.cs to her crime She
cpnfcscs that size attempted 10 take
ihe life Of him whom she knew 20 be
the sacred child. the hope of the Peo-
pie ~ the Heart. and for such sin II
sccn, TO me that there is but one pun
ishmcnt. though IL is terrible. and she
who mrst suffer 10 j. n woman and OF
high rank
'S'ay, broke in Nahra. "You have
not heard me ont. and have the right
90 speak before ] am condemned 20 III,
You charge me with having ATTEMPTED
10 frl.e tho Iffo 81 sfb. s.,,-,J - an -.