Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-09-03
HEART OF THE WORLD.
BY H. RIDER HAGGkRD.
A Strange Story, Taken From Manuscript Be.
queathed by an Old Mexican Indian to His
Friend and Comrade, an English
man Named Jones.
Copyrighted. 1894 by H Rider Haggard
CHAPTER xX1L-CoNT1NuED.


While the senior and his wife were re-
ceiving gifts and listening to pretty
speeches, a number of attendants had
brought tables laden with every sort of
food from behind the pillars, where
they had been prepared, and at a signal
the feast began. 1t was long and joy
GUS, though joy seemed to have faded
from the face of Maya, who sat at the
head Of it, neither eating nor drinking,
but from time to time lifting the red
eye from her breast, as though it
scorched her skin.
At length she rose, and, accompanied
by her husband, walked bowling down
the hall to the courtyard, where bear
ers waited for them with carrying
chairs. In these they seated them
selves, and a procession having been
formed, very long and splendid, though
i will not stay to describe it, we started
to march round the great square to the
sound of music and singing, our path
being lit by the light Of the moon and
square were gathered all the population
of the City of the Heart, men, women
and children, to greet the bride, each of
them bearing flowers and a flaming
torch, and never have I seen any sight
more beautiful than this of their well
come. The circuit of the square being
accomplished the procession halted at
p
stretched out to help the bride and
bridegroom from their filters.
1t was at this moment that l, who
was standing near, felt a man who was
wrapped in q large feather cloak push
past me, and saw that he held some
thing which cleaned like a knife. By
instinct, as it were. cried: Beware,
my friend!" in Spanish, and in so pierre
ing voice that it caught the senor's
ear. He swung round, for already he
was standing on his feet, and as he
turned the man in the cloak rushed at
him and stabbed with the knife. But
being warned the senior was too quick
for him. Springing to one side with
the same movement he dealt the would
be murderer great buffet, that caused
him to drop the knife and sent him
staggering into the dense shadow of
the archway. For some seconds no one
seemed to understand what had hap
pened, and when they did apd began to
search for the man, he was not to be
found. Who he was or why he had at
tempted this cowardly deed, was never
discovered, but for my part have little
doubt but that either Tikal himself or
some creature of his was wrapped in
the dark feather cloak, and thought
thus to rid him of his rival. Indeed,
as time went on, this belief took firm
hold of the mind of the people, and
was one of the causes that led to the
sapping of Tilzal's power and populari-
ty. Very hastily the senior assured the
lords in attendance, who crowded
around him, that he had received no
manner of hurt. and then, after speak
ing few brief words of thanks he
withdrew into the palace with his wife
and l saw him no more that night.
Within few days of the senor'S mar
riage we heard that Natal had been
seized with sickness, kind of palsy,
aogether with leprous condition of the
arms that baff1ed all skill. For months
he lay in his house, growing gradually
worse, so said the physicians; but one
night remember it was three days
previous to the birth of Maya's child
he appeared before Maya, the senior
and myself, as we sat together in the
palace looking out upon the moOnIt
garden. At first we did not know him,
for never before had / seen a sight so
dreadful. His body was bloated. one
arm, his left, was swathed in bandages,
his head shook necessarily, and the lep-
rosy had seized his face, which was of
a livid hue.
do not shrink from me-" he began
in a low, quivering voice. as he gazed
upon US with his whitening eye; surely
you should not shrink, seeing that all
of you are partners in the crime that
has made of me the loathsome thing /
am. Aye! deny it, if you will. but
know it. The vengeance of the god has
fallen upon me, his false servant. and it
has fallen justly. Moreover. be assured