Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-09-24
HEART OF THE WORLD.
BY H. RIDER HAGGkRD.
A Strange Story. Taken From Manuscript 30
GEeafhed by an Old Mexican Indian to His
Friend and CoErzde. IN English
nzn Named jones'
Copyrighted. 1894. BY H Rider Haggard
CHAPTER xxL-coSrrxUED

/ belElng gifts ana listening 10 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 signal
/ the feast began. 1t was long and joy
/ 0us, 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 carving
/ chairs. In these they seated them
selves, and a procession having been
! formed, very long and splendid, though
/ viii 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
hundreds of torches. Here in this
square were gathered all the population
of the City of the Heart. men, women
aud children, to grect the bride each of
them bearing flowers and a flaming
torch, and never have seen any sight
more beautiful than this of their well
come. The circuit of the square being
accomplished the procession halted at
the palace gates, and many hands were
stretched out 20 help the bride and
bridegroom from their filters.
1t was at this moment that l, who
vas standing near. felt man who was
wrapped in a large feather cloak push
past me, and saw that he held some
thing which CLEANED like knife. BY
instinct, as it were, l cried: beware,
my friend!' in Spanish, and in 50 pierre
ing a voice that it caught the Senor'S
ear. lie 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 Il 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. end when they did and began to
search for the man, he vas not to DC
found. Who he WIS or why he had at
tempted this covardly decd. was never
discovered. but for my part ] have little
doubt but that either lilzai himself or
some creature of his was wrapped ii
he dark feather cloak, and thought
thus Ia rid him of his rival. Indeed,
as tiEc.Tcnt on. this belief took firm
hold Of the mind Of the people, ard
::Gs one OF the causes that led to the
aappiug of TiiEaIs power and pOpulari-
ty. Very hastily the senCr 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 / saw him no more that night.
Within Il few days Of the senor's mar
rage VIC heard that Natal had been
.cizcd with E;cfsness, kind Of palsy,
l.. 6
arms that bafficd all skill. FOR months
lac lay in his house, growing gradually
svorac, 50 sad the physicians; but one
night remember it was three days
Previous TO the birth of Maya's child
hc appeared before Maya, tho senior
and myself, as we sat together in the
Talacc looking out upon the mooniit
garden At first we did not know him,
for never before had / seen sight so
dreadful. His body was bloated, one
arm, his left, was swathcd in bandages,
lIs head shook necessarily, and the lep-
rosy had seized his face, which was of
q lls:d hue.
DO not shrink from me- he began
in IL low. quivcring voice, as he gazcd
upon us with his whitening eye; surely
you should not shrink, seeing that all
of you arc partners in the crime that
llas made OF me the lCathsome thing /
am. Aye! deny it, if you will, but /
know l.. The vengeance of the god has
fallen upon lie, his false servant. and it
has fallen justly. Moreover, be assured
that ON you also shall tn 1T vengeance
also fall. for the Eye has seen, the
Mouth has told. and the Heart has
thought upon your doom.
''LCOl; upon me and learn how rich
are the wages of HIM who works in
EQUITY, and by my suIfcriugs strive to
count the measure of your own. Per-
chance your cup IS not yet full, per-
chance you have still greater sins to
work. but vengeance shall come, / tell |
you that vengeance shall come here and |
hereafter.
Il did this thing for my daughters |
sake-ycs, for love of her, my only |
child. She was ambitious and she de- !
sired this man, and thought to assure |
greatness 10 her and to her children after |
her Dut see her wine has been turned |
TO vinegar and her pleasant fruits to |
ashes. Her husband hates her with an |
cver-srrowing hate. Now they scarcely |
speak, or speak only to shower bitter |
words upon each others heads.
Moro. not for long will he be cacique |
of the Civ of the Heart. for his Jealous !
rage has sourcd all bis mind; his deeds |
arc deeds of oppression and injustice; |
already he is dctCstcd by the people. |!
ard even those who loved him turn /
from him and plot against him. Do you 1
know what they plot? They plot to |
make that child that shall be born of /
you. Maya, caciuuc in his room. and TO |
set YOU and your outland husband up /
as regents till it shall be of an age to /
govern
II. you have planned cunrin,Ely, and |
things looS well for you. but ! say that
they shall not prosper"
A,.rs. shaking his withcrcd arm in /
our saCcs. he turned and limped from
;hC chamber.
Now we sat gazing ut each other in
horror. for though we none of us had
any faith in the gcd he worshiped. In
our hearts we felt that this man spoke
truth. ard that the evil would overtake
us For moment Maya Ind her face
in her hands and vept, and then She
sprang up, and fire in her eyes had
dried her tears.
SO let il be-" she cried II care
nothing At the least won YOU, oh. my
love. and for some months, through ali
our troubles. have been happy at your
side, and. come good or come iii, moth
ing can rob me of my memories. But
for you, fear. OH my husband. fear
for you"
Aud. her passion past. she fang her
self into his arms and again began to
weep
IN tuc course the child was born. n
bc@utifui boy. alncst white in color,
with his mothers startil;c eyes, and on