The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1896-09-10


Maya being placed in the cehter and
the senior and myself on either side of |
her. Next the priest of the Records
rose and announced that the business
before the council was the trial of |
three of its members, Maya, Lady of |
the Heart. the white man, Son of the |
sea. and Ignatio, the Wanderers q Lord |
of the Heart from beyond the mountains. |
upon the charge of having broken their |
oaths, which they took as members of
the council. Having read this forma,
accusation the priest set out the case
against us, clearly but briefly:
ION this very night of the festival of
the Rising Waters a year ago" he
began, you strangers, among other
things, swore upon the altar, setting
in pledge your souls and bodies for the
fulfillment of the oath, that without
the consent of this high brotherhood
you would not attempt TO leave the
gates of the City of the Heart. Yet but
the other day you were overtaken and
seized in the act of flying across the
mountains to the wilderness beyond
Nor is this all of your crime, for with
you was that infant, born of the white
man and the Lady of the Heart, the
heaven-scnt child of prophecy, OF
whom you wiclsedly sought to rob us
and the people. Say now, how do you
plead to these charges?"
1--WE plead guilty" answered Maya,
but we ask to be heard in our own de-
fense. Listen, lords: since that night
when we were married by your com.
mand my husband and myself have
been doggcd by murder, and yonder,
as High Priest of the Heart and pres
dent of your councils, he sits who
would have murdered us.
II see among you this night some OF
those who waited on me upon the day
of our escape, having the Lord Dimas
at the head of them. What did they
tell me? That a plot had been discov-
cred, made by this TilSal, TO murder
my husband, my child and my friend.
Ignatio, the Wanderer. They told me
also that TilSal would be deposcd be-
cause of this and his other crimes, and
that the infant in my arms would this
very night be anointed cacique of the
People of the Heart. Is it not SO,
Dimas?"
at is so, lady," he answered, 'and
| 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 Tilal sprang from his seat, bu,
Dimas turned upon him and said
| sternly:
Keep silent, lord. or speak only to
| fulfill the duties of your place. Yoai
trial shall be just. but know that there
is no hope of escape for you till 1t is
done, seeing that your guards are dis
armed and all the paths are watched.
Tilkal seated himself again and Maya
went on:
''On that very night of the coming o.
Lord Dimas, when was alone in my
chamber, Lady Nahua, the wife o
! TilSal, crept upon me and strove I,
murder this my child" and she set GU
hearing her cries for help. had entered
the chamber and seized and bounC
| Nahua.
Then il was. brethren, that terro
took MS and we fed, seeking to escap
a land where we could not live in safet,
from one hour to another This is ou
sin, and we leave our punishment il
your hands. Surely it was better tha
we should strive to save the child S
that he might live to play his par;
whatever that may be, than that h
should be kept here to be butchered b
those whom you have raised up to rul
you"
When Maya had finished her speec
the senor and l addressed She counc
in turn, confirming all that she ha
said and submitting ourselves to tn
Judgment of the brotherhood.
Now we were commanded to fa
back, while the council consulted tC
gether, and there we awaited our doom
Presently we were brought forwar
again, and TilSal spoke to MS, sayin
that our sentence was postponed ii
the charge against Nahua, the daughte
of Natal, and against himself, Tilia
the cacique and high priest of the Cit
of the Heart, had been considered, ado
ing, in a slow and triumphant voice:
Let Nahua, the daughter of Malta
who awaits without, be brought int
the presence of the Heart
We heard and gathered up our cou
age to meet the advancing fate, for "
knew that death was on us, and thi
for us there was no more pity or escap
The door opened and Nahua can
. through 1t, dressed in the robes of h,
rank, and wearing the green diadc
: that could be carried only by the wi
: or mother of the cacique.
What is your pleasure with m
: lords?' she said pre- udly after she ha
made her obeisance to the altar.
Then the priest of the Records ro
t and read the charge, namely, that 81
! had attempted with her own hand to {
> murder upon the body of the infal
, child of Maya, Lady of the Heart, ar
} her husband, the white man, and all
that she had aided and abetted Tiku
her husband, in various acts of cruel
: and misgovernment that were alleg'
g against him, asking her what 81
S pleaded in answer.
ITO the last charge, not guilty,
she said. Let Tilxal defend his ov
I sins. To the first, guilty. ! did q
( tempt to put an end to yonder brat, b
r Maya discovered me, and | was caug
{ and bound"
Surely, brethren" said Dimas, RI
t ing, 1--WE need carry this matter no fu
!, ther. We have heard the evidence
E Lady Maya and the others, and NO
{ Nahua confesses to her crime. 81
1 confesses that she attempted to tai
e the life of him whom she knew to
4 the sacred child, the hope of the Pc
= pie of the Heart, and for such sin
= seems to me that there is but one pu
e ishment, though it is terrible, and s.
q who must suffer it is a woman and
S high rank"
"Stayi" broke in Nahua- "You ha
v not heard me ont, and have the rig
J. to speak before am condemned to d
s You charge me with having attempts
n to take the life of the sacred child, L
e hope of the People of the Heart, al
il had done this, doubtless i should
o worthy of your doom, whereas. in trut
t am worthy of your praise.
e Lords of the Heart, this child who
you adore, the Heaven-sent child