Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-04-23

manu my nususuu suu myasir ~
been logged by murder, and yonder
as High Priest Of the Heart and presI
dent Of your councilA be dts Nh,
would have murdered "a
II see among you this night some o
those who waited on me upon the day
Of our escape, having the Lord Dina
at the head Of them. What did the,
tell me? That q plot had been discov
cred. made by this Tikal. 10 murder
my husband, my child and my friend
Ignatio, the Wanderer. They told me
also that Tilxal would be deposcd be
cause Of this and his other crimes, ant
that the infant in my arms would thil
very night be anointed cacique Of thu
People Of the Heart Is 1t not SO
Dimas?"
ut Is so, lady," he answered, land
learn that you are not the only ones
who are on trial this night. Though
your case Is taken first, that OF Tikal
the high priest, and others will follow,
but till then, in virtue Of his rank and Of
| fee, he sits as president Of our council.
Now Tikal sprang from bis seat, but
Dimas turned upon him and said
sternly:
keep silent. lord, or sneak onlv r.
fulfill the duties Of your place. Your
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 are watched. y
Tikal seated himself again and Maya
went on:
"On that very night Of the coming Of
Lord Dimas, when | was alone in nv
chamber, Lady Nahua, the wife Of
Tikal. crept upon me and stroye 10
murder this my child" and she set otit
the story telling how the senior and 1,
hearing her cries for help, had entered
the chamber and seized and bound
Nahua.
"Then Il was, brethren, that terror
took MS and we fled. seeking 70 escane
q land where we could not live in safety
from one hour 70 another. This is our
sin. and we leave our punishment in
your hands. Surely il was better that
we should strive to save the child 80
that he might live TO play his part,
whatever that may be, than that he
should be kept here to be butchered Dy
those whom you have raised up to rule
YOU"
When Maya had finished her speech
the senior and addressed the council
In turn, confirming all that she had
said and submitting ourselves to the
Judgment Of the brotherhood.
Now we were commanded to fall
back, while the council consulted to-
gether, and there we awaited our doom.
Presently we were brought forward
again, and Tikal spoke to us, saying
that our sentence was postponed till
the charge against Nahua, the daughter
OF Natal, and against himself, Tikal,
the cacique and high priest Of the City
Of the Heart, had been considered, add.
Ing, in slow and triumphant voice,
VLet 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 ATE. for we
knew that death was on ma and that
for us there was no more nitv or escane
The door opened and Nahua came
through L, dressed in the robes of her
rank. and wearing the green diadem
that could be carried on7v bv the wife
or mother of the cacioue
"What Is vour pleasure with me-
lords?" she said proi,dlv after she had
made her obeisance To the altar
Then the priest Of The Records rose
and read the charge namely That she
had attemnted with her own hand 10 do
murder unon the body NJ the infant
child Of MAYA LADY Of the Heart and
her husband the white man and also
that she had aided and abetted Tikal.
her husband in various acts Of cruelty
and mispoyernment that were alleged
against him. asking her what sbe
pleaded in answer.
ITO the Inst charge not cuiltv'n
she said. "Let Til,ai defend His own
sins, To the Arst. .puiltyN did at-
tempt to nut nm end to wonder brat but
MAYA discovered me- ana I was caught
and bound"
Surely, brethren" said Dimas. ris.
inc. tive need carry this matter no fur.
ther. We have heard the evidence of
Lady MAYA and the others and now
Nahua confesses IN ber cr;me She
confesses thnt she attemnted 10 taI,e
the life Of him whom She knew 70 he
the sacred child, the hone of the Peo.
nIa ~ tbo Heat and for s,,oh s;,, Il