The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1896-03-20

| his purposes in the coast country yon-
| der If things can be brought about
| thus Tilkal and Nahua and their de-
scendants, for aught | care. may rule
in the City of the Heart till the worlds
end"
You ask little enough, lady," said
! Natal, land it shall go hard if | can
not get it for you. Now | will leave
YOU, for / must have time to think, but
| if Tikal returns, say him neither yea
nor nay till we have spoken again. And
as for you, strangers, remember that
your lives depend upon your caution.
/ FAREWELL"
Two more days passed, or SO we reck-
oned by the number of meals that were
| brought to us. but neither Tikal nor
| Natal returned to visit us. Other doe
! torsycame and saw Zibalbay, but, though
! they tried many remedies, they were of
no avail On the night of the second
day we were gathered round his couch
watching him and talking together sad
| ly enough, for the solitude and dark
ness and the fear of impending death
had broken our spirits so that even the
senior ceased to be merry, and the pres
ence of her beloved to give comfort to
Maya.
1t was just then that looked up and
saw Natal standing in the doorway,
watching the scene curiously and with
softening face.
Greeting" he said, 'and forgive me
that come so late, but my business is
secret, and such as is best done at
night. How does it go with Zibal-
bay?"
''He lives" answered.; 81 can say no
more, for he is senseless, and, without
doubt, soon must die. But come, see
for yourself.
Natal walked to the bed and ex-
amined the old man, lifting the eyelids
and feeling his heart.
"He cannot live long" he said.
swell, death is his best friend. And
LLw to my business. There is trouble
in the city, and strange rumors pass
from mouth to mouth among the peo-
pie, many of whom declare that Tikal
has murdered Zibalbay, and demand
that YOU, lady, should be brought be-
fore them, that you may be named
cacique in his place.
Things being so, it has been urged
upon Tikal by the chiefs of his party
that. as he will never clear himself of
the death of Zibaibay, it would be well
that he should make away with you
also, lady, and with these two stran-
gers. The matter was laid before him
at a secret council held this afternoon,
and once he issued the order for your
deaths. only to recall it before the mes
Senger had left the palace
Now he paused, and Maya asked, in
a low voice:
''Have you no plan to save us, Mat
tai?"
"Why should 1 have a plan. lady,
who with my house would benefit so
greatly by your death?"
Il do not know why you should have
a plan, old man." broke in the senior,
but | tell you that you will do well to
make one. else you do not leave this
place alive" and as he spoke with
sudden movement he sprang between
Mattai and the door.
If we are to be murdered like birds
in n cage" he went on, lat least your
neck shall be twisted first. De You
understands"
Il understand. Son of the Sea- ali
swered Natal fiinching little before
the senor's fierce face and hand out
stretched as though to grip him. But
| would have you understand some
! thing, also; namely, that if | do not
return presently, there are some with
then"
And then they will find your carcass"
broke in the senior. land what will all
your plots and schemes advantage YOU
when you are a lump of senseless
clay?"
Little. indeed, | confess" he an
swered. still. my daughter. whom |
love better than myself, viii reap some
profit. and with that. in this sad ease, |
must be content But. do not be SO
hasty. white man. | asked why |
should have a plan, I did not say | had
none"
Then if you have one. let us hear it
without more ado" said the senior.
Natal bowed as he answered:
Your will is mine. but | know not
how my plan will please the Lady
Maya Wonder. and therefore, before |
unfold it. l would make 1t clear that
there is but one alternative-the death
of all of you by tomorrow light. Your
lives lie in my hands; if / must do so to
save my daughter and myself, | shall
not hesitate to take them"
ANY more than | shall hesitate to
take yours, old man." said the senior
grimly, for remember always that if
you do not make your plan such as we
can accept you will leave this chamber
feet first. with a broken neck"
Again Natal bowed and continued:
I'm one way only has Tikal been able
to pacify the people, by declaring that
the Lady Maya shall be produced be-
fore the Council of the Heart. in the
sanctuary upon the night of the rising
of waters, and afterward at dawn in the
eyes of the whole city.
THE words of Zibalbay have taken a
strange hold of the people, and they
desire to know what will happen when
once more the severed halves of the
symbol of the heart are laid side by
side in their place upon the altar.
Zibalbay told them that he believed
the god would reveal his purpose and
show what part each of you should play
in the fate that is to be, and therefore
the people look to see some sign or
wonder when Day and Night are come
tnrafhar "
Now Natal thought for awhile, and
went on:
Lady. l am old, and for many years
l have followed the worship of the
gods, and yet never have l known the
gods to make answer to their votaries
or heard the voices of the imnortals
speaking into human ears l cannot
tell, but l think were | in so sore a
strait as vOu find Yourselves tO-nirht |