Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1896-04-01
CHAPTER XIV
now .IBALDAY CAME HOME.


For awhile we stood unnoticed in the
shadow of the doorway, observing this
strange and beautiful scene, till, as III
balbay was about to advance to the
throne, the lord Tilxal held up his Scep-
ter as q signal. ard suddenly the women
ceased from their dance and song. At
the sight of the upliftcd sceptcr Zibal-
bay halted again. and drew back
further into the shadow, motioning Us
to do likewise. Then Tiltal began to
speak in rich, deep voice that filled
the hall:
councillors and mobiles of the
Heart" ne said. land you high-born
ladies, wives, and daughters of the
mobiles, hear me. But yesterday. as you
know, took upon myself the place anu
power of my forefathers, and by your
wish and will was proclaimed the sole
chief ruler of the people Of the Heart
Now. l have hidden you to my mar
riage feast, that You may grace my
nuptials and share my Joy For he il
known to you that tonight ! have
taken in marriage Nahua the Bcauti-
full, daughter of the high Lord Natal.
chief of the astronomers, keeper of the
sanctuary, and president of the Council
of the Heart, and her, in the presence
of you all, ! name as my first and law
full wife, the Sharer of my power and
tide, cannot be put away from my bed
and throne. and as such | call upon you
to salute her"
Thercupon the whole company bowed
themselves before Nahua, who flushed
with pride and joy, and repeated. as
W sth one voice:
'Hail to thee, Lady Of the Heart.
whorE' ii 5;S pleased thc gods TO lift up
and bless clay c,nidrcn bc given to
you end with them happiness and power
for many years"
Mobiles went on Tikal. when this
ceremony was finished. Tomorrow a
year will have gone bv since Iibalbay.
my uncle, who was Caciquc before me.
and the Lady Maya, my aflianced bride
left the city upon a certain mission.
Before they departed it was agreed
that | should rule a. next heir during
the absence OF Zibalbay and his daugh-
ter, and that II thSv should not return
within two years then their heritage
should bc rhine forever.
ITO this agreement I set my name
with sorrow. Tor then, a. now. held
that my uncle was mad, and in his mad
ness went ~ doom. taking with him his
daughter. whom ] loved Yet when
they were gone ] fulfilled II 90 the let
ter. but trouble arose among the peo-
pie, for tbev viii not listen 10 the voice
Of one who is not their anOintcd lord.
but shy: We will wait until Zibalbav
comes again. aud hear his command
upon these matters
80 IL came about that many pressed
~ on me that for the sake Of the people
and the welfare II the place I should
shorten the period Of my regency aud
suffer myself ,J be unoiutcd But re-
membcrinc nay promise I answered
them sharply. snving that come what
fnight, two fun gear, must bo com
Oicted before / sat mo down i'm Che
place OF my fathers
ITO THIS G.Id then 7 held f.U flre.
days since. when aIuo 81 Cd. pep,I.
refused 90 get them t0 their labor. save
ing that the high priest alone had .u-
thOrity over thcr1, ugd There was mo-
high priest iu the city Then in my
perplexity ] took counsel with the lord
Natal. master ~ the stars. and he con
suited with the stars on my behalf.
"All night long he searched the hcav-
ems, and hC read IN them that Zibaibav.
who, led by n lying dream, broke
through the laws Of the land and wan
dered across the mountains, has paid
the price Of his folly and is dead I'm the
wilderness, together with his daughter
that was my aifianced and the Lady Of
the Heart Is 70 not 50. MattaiY'
Now the person addressed, a stout
man with q bald head and quick, shift
ing eyes and a thick and grizzled beard,
stepped forward and said, bowling:
~ my wisdom was not of fault, such
vras tbs snessageOf the stars, y lord. =