Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1896-04-01

NV hearu my testimony and
the testimony of Natal. whose
voice Is the voice of ruth. For these
reasons also, she to whom / was affi-
anced being dead, 1 have taken to wife
Nahua, the daughter of Natal. Say,
do you accept us?"
Now some few of the company were
silent, but the rest cried:
We accept you, TilSal and Nahua.
and long may you rule over us accord
ing to tEc ancient customs of the land"
1t Is well. my brethren" answered
TilSal. And now, before we drink the
parting cup, have any of you aught To
say to me?'
Il have something to say" cried Iii
balbay in "A loud voice from the shad-
ows where we stood at the far end OF
the hall. At the sound of this voice,
the tones of which he seemed to know.
Tikal started and rose in fear, but re-
covering himself said:
Advance from the shadow. whoever
you are, and say your say where men
may see you"
Turning to his daughter and to us.
Iibalbay babe us follow him and do as
he did. Then, yelling his face with n
corner of his robe, he walked up the
hall. the crowd of mobiles and ladies
Spc2jng path. till we stood before the
Throne. here hS uncovered himself, as
-.
that he should be seen buth by Til<al
and ali that company, he opened MS
lips 70 spea& Before word could pass
them IA cry of establishment broke from
the mobiles, and of "A sudden the scepter
fell from the hand OF Tilkal and rolled
along the floor.
'Iibalbay!' said the cry. at is III
balbay come back, or the ghost of him.
and with him the Lady of the Heartv
Az - ba L -.
although his hand shook with rage lit
is !, Iibalbay, your lord, come home.
and not too soon, rs il would seem.
What, my nephew, were YOU so hungry
for my place and power that You must
break the oath you swore upon the
Heart and seize them before the APP
pointed time? And you, Natal. have
You lost your skill, or have the gods
Smitten YOU with Il curse, that Won
prophesy falsely, saying that il was
written in the stars that we who are
alive were dead, and thereby lifting up
your daughter to- the seat of the Lady
of the Heart.
Nay. do not answer me. Standing
yonder have heard all your story
And | say to you, Til<al, that You are n
foresworn traitor, and to you, Natal.
that you are a charlatan and a liar, who
have dared to use the holy art for your
house. On both of you | will be
avenged, ay, and on all these who have
abetted you in your crimes. Guards,
seize that man, and the lord Natal
with him, and let them be held fast till
| shall judge them"
The soldiers that stood on either side
of the thrones hcsitatcd for "A moment
then advanced toward Til<al, as though
to lay hands upon ham in obedience to
"a hn xv'e Ir,ln l,,s MI.
waved them off, saying:
What! YOU dare to touch your
anointed lord? Back. say TO you, if
You would save yourself from the doom
of sacrilege. Living or dead, the day
of Iibalbay is done, for the Council of
the Heart has set his crown upon the
brow of Tikal, and, whether for good
or ill, their decree cannot be changed"
''Ay!" said Til<al, whose courage had
come back to him. The lady Nahua
speaks truth. Touch me not if YOU
would live to look upon the sun"
But all the while he spoke his eyes
were fixed upon Maya, whose bcauti-
full face he watched as though it were
that of some lost love risen from the
dead.
Now, as Zibalbly was about speak
again, Natal. the astronomer, bowed
before him and said:
You have travelled far and YOU are
weary, and weary man is apt at wrath.
You think that YOU have been wronCed
and doubtless all this that has CHANGED
Is strange to you, but now is not the
time for us TO give count of our acts and
stewardship, or for you to hcarltcn.
Rest this night. and tomorrow on the
pyramid, in the presence of the people,
all things shall be made clear to YOU.
and justice done to all"
Now Iibalbay paused awhile. look
ing round out of the corner of his eyes
like wolf iii a trap, for he sought TO
discover the temper of the mobiles Then
finding that there were few present
whom he could trust TO help him. he
lifted his head and answered:
You are right. Natal. | am weary.
for age. travel. and the faithlcssncss of
men have worn me out. Tomorrow
these matters shall be dealt with in the
presence of the people. and there before
the altar it shall be made known
whether | am their lord, or you. Tikal.
There. too, / will tell you who these
strangers are, and why have brought
them across the mountains. Until then
leave them in your keeping. for your
own sal5cs charging YOU TO keep them
wei. Nay. here L will neither eat nor
drink. Do you come with me- and he
'dlitu u certain lOruS DN name, whom
nc knew to be faithful to him.
Then without more words he turned
and left the hall, followed by a number
of mobiles.
1t seems that my father has for
gotten me, said Maya. with laugh.
when he had gone. directing to- you
az. friends, and to you. my cousin
TilSal. and TO your wife Nahua. who.
once my waiting lady. has now by the
gift OF fortune been lifted up TO take
my place and title. greeting. What
ever may be the issue Of these broils.
may you be happy in each others love.
Tikal and Nahua"
Now TiLal came down from the
throne and bowed before her, saving:
Il swear TO you. Maya"
''NO, do not swear" She broke in.
but give me and my friends here "A cup
OF vine and some fragments from your
wedding feast. for we are hungry. /
thank You. How beautiful is that
brides robe which Nahua wears. and
surely those emeralds were once my own.
Well, let her take them from me as a
wedding pift Make room I pra,- ,.,,,,