Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-08-27
You and her, and these strangers, Jour

you and her, and these strangers, youl
| friends.
| ''She answered me with oontenps
saying that might do my worst, but
| she would have naught to say to me.
What happened afterward you know,
| Zibalbay, and you know also the dan
/ ger in which you stand to-day, now
that power has left you aud your very
/ life trembles in the balance"
He paused, and Zibalbay, who had
been listening to his words amazed,
turned to Maya and said sternly:
Does this man lie, daughter?"
As she was about to answer, though
what she meant to say do not know.
Tikal broke in:
This offer made to her, and, that
| it NAV be put beyond a doubt, now
make it to her and you again. If she
viii take me in marriage, for her sake
/ will put away Nahua. / will lay
down my rule and set you in your place
again, with liberty so long as you shall
live to work such follies as the gods
may suffer"
Zibalbay heard, and. rising, lifted
his head to the vault above him and
said:
Il thank thee, o God, who, in an
swer to my prayers, has shown me a
way of escape from the troubles that
beset me. Tikal, it shall be as you
wish, and we will swear our peace upon
the altar of the Heart. Doubtless
there will be trouble with Natal and
some of his following, but if we stand
together they can be overcome.
Your pardon, Zibalbay,7 I inter
ruPted; the Lady Maya has not
spoken"
Spoken he exclaimed. why,
what should she say?7
What / said to my Cousin Til1al yes
terday," she answered, setting her lips
and speaking very low; that will
have nothing to do with him"
Nothing to do with him, girl! Moth
ing to do with him! Why, he's your
affianced; you do not understand"
Il understand well, father, but for
naught that can be offered to me upon
the earth win l give myself in marriage
to a man who has treated you and me
as my Cousin Tikal has done, q man
who could not keep his oath to you or
wait for me one single year"
Cease to be foolish" said Zibalbay.
''Tilzal has erred, no doubt, but now he
would make atonement for his error,
and if l can forgive him so can you.
Think no more of the girls folly, Tikal,
but send for ink and parchment and
let us set down our contract"
Il have the paper here, lord" said
Tikal, drawing a roll from his breast,
but, pardon me, does the Lady Maya
consent?''
''Ay, av. she consents"
Il do not consent, father. and il you
drag me to the altar with yonder man
L will cry out to the people to protect
me, or, failing their aid, L viii seek
refuge in death by my own hand if
need be-"
Now Zibalbay turned upon his
daughter. trembling with rage, but,
checking himself of a sudden. said:
''Tikal, for n moment this girl of
mine is mad; leave US and come back
in some few hours, when You shall find
her of another mind. Go now, pray,
before words are said that cannot be
forgotten"
Til1al turned and went, and until the
gates at the far end of the hall had
claShed behind him and his guards
there was silence. Then Zibalbay
spoke to his daughter.
Girl, he said, Il know your heart,
and that your lips spoke lie when you
told US that it was because of TikaIS
forgetfulness of his VOW and troth that
you will not marry him. There is an
other reason of which you have not
spoken. This white man is the reason.
You have suffered yourself to look on
him with longing, and you cannot pluck
his image from your breast. Do not
speak truth?"
"You speak truth, father" she an
swered, placing her hand in that of the
senior as she said the words. ITO you,
at least, will not lie."
II thank you, daughter. Now, hear
me. Who and what are you that your
whims should stand between me and
the fulfillment of my lifelong desire,
between your people and their redemp-
ton? Must all these things come to
nothing because of the fancies of a
love-sick girl. whose poor beauty, as it
chances by favor of the gods, can avail
to bring them about?"
1T seems so, father" she said.
Everything else you, who are my
father, may require of me, even to my
life. but my honor is my own"
'What shall say to this headstrong
grip gasped Zibalbay. Speak, white
man, and say that you renounce her,
for surely your heart is not so wicked
that it will lead you to consent to this
folly. and to your own undoing, to
stand between her and her destiny"
Now all eyes were fixed upon the
senior, who turned pale in the lamp
light and answered slowly:
''Zibalbay, grievc to vex You, but
your daughters destiny and mine are
one, nor can command her to forsake
me and give herself in marriage TO q
man she hates"
''Yet it seems that you could COM
mand her TO break her plighted troth
for YOUR sake, oh, most honorable white
man. said Zibalbay with bitter laugh.
"Hearlien, friend Ignatio, for you at
least are not in love, tell your brother
there and this rebelliouS girl which
way their duty lies"
''Zibalbay." / said, 81 cannot plead
your cause and mine, though not to do
so be our destruction, seeing that |
have sworn that come what NAV i viii
not stand between these two. To-day,
for the second time in my life, my plans
are brought to nothing by the passion
of woman. Well, so it is fated, and
so let il be-"
Zibalbay did not answer me, but,
turning to the senior, said:
''Will you still cling to your purpose,
white man, and take advantage of my
daughters madness? If so, know that
your triumph shall be short, for when,
in some few hours, Tikal comes again,
will tell him all and give you over to
his kee ping to deal with as he wishes.
Answer. then, and for the last time.
Do you choose life or death?"
Il choose death" he answered. bold
Iy, ''if the price of life be the breaking
of my troth and the surrender OF my
bride to another man. If Ignatio here
cannot forget his oath, how much less
can forget mine which have sworn
ri