Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-10-01

WlUlOuI locking II.
we took seats that had been prepared
Tor US IN the open space before the altar,
Maya being placed in the center 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 Wanderer, a 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 for1na,
accusation the priest set out the case
against us, clearly but briefly:
On 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 plcdge your souls and bodies for the
fultillnent of the oath, that without
the consent of this high brotherhood
you would not attempt to leave the
gates q 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 tAls all of your crime, for with
you wasthat infant, born of the white
man and the Lady of the Heart, the
Y.
whom you wickcdly sought to rob us
and the people. Say now, how do you
plead to t4ese charges?"
1--WE pied guilty" answered MAYA,
but we ak to be heard in our own de-
Tense. Lisen, lords: since that night
when we we're married by your com
mand my husband and myself have
been doggd b. murder, and Wonder,
as High Prist Of the Heart and pres;-
dent of yor councils, he sits who
would have lurdered US.
Il see am:Ig you this night some of
those who wited on me upon the day
OF our escape having the Lord Dimas
at the head them. What did they
tell me? Tha "a plot had been discov-
cred, made b. this Tikal, to murder
my husband, NJ child and my friend.
| lgnatio, the WHdere-. They told me
also that Tika would be deposcd be-
cause of this an his other crimes, and
| that the infant my arms would this
very night be aDintcd cacique of the
| People of the Ieart. Is it not so,
| Dina S?'
1T is so, lady he answered, land
| learn that You ar not the only ones
who are ON trial his night. Though
! your case is tallcuirst. that of Tixal.
| the high priest, an others viii follow;
! but till then, in Write of his rank and Of
| fee, he sits as presicnt of our council"
Now Tillal spranefrOm his seat, but
Dimas turned upe him. and said,
| sternly:
keep silent, lore or speak only to
| fulfill the duties OF 5ur place Yoxr
trial shall be just, brl1noyv that there
is no hope of escapefor you till it is
done, seeing that yor guards are dis
armed and all the pats are watched"
| TTil-,I cao4nI him, r.
went on:
lon that very night the coming of
Lord Dimas, when | as alone in my
chamber, Lady Nahu; the wife of
| Til1al, crept upon me nd strove tc
murder this my child" I'D she set out
the story telling how t. senior and l.
hearing her cries for he, had entered
the chamber and SEIZE and bound
Nahua.
"Then it was. brethre that terror
took us and we fed, seelzg to escape
n land where we could motive in safety
| from one hour to another This is our
sin, and we leave our p1ishment in
your hands. Surely it wabetter that
| we should strive to save he child so
that he might live to pls his part,
whatever that may be, thu that he
should be kept here to be blehered bv
those whom you have raiseup to rule
| you"
When Maya had finished er speech
the senior and addressed Il council
in turn, confirming all thashe had
said and submitting ourselvs to the
| Judgment of the brotherhood.
Now we were communicate fall
back, while the council con:ted to-
gcther, and there we awaited o.doon.
Presently we were brought Eward
again, and TilSal spoke TO usAavinc
that our sentence was postpoM till
| the charge against Nahua, the dsfhter
of Natal, and against himselfEkal.
the cacique and high priest of ITCHY
of the Heart, had been considcre add
ing. in slow and triumphant VOC
Let Nahua, the daughter of Mai,
who awaits without, be broughmto
the presence of the Heart"
We heard and gathered up our AR
age to meet the advancing fate, .fcSe
knew that death was on us, and 1t
for us there was no more pity or eScR
The door opened and Nahua cYe
through it, dressed in the robes of
rank, and wearing the green diadt
that could be carried only by the W.
or mother of the cacique.
what is your pleasure with nj
lords?" she said pro IDLY after she haI
made her obeisance to the altar.
and read the charge, namely, that sh
had attempted with her own hand to d
murder upon the body of the infar
child of Maya, Lady of the Heart, an
her husband, the white man, and ais
that she had aided and allotted Tika
her husband, in various acts of cruelt
and misgovcrnment that were alfeGe
against him, asking her what sh
pleaded in answer.
ITO the last charge, mot guilty,
she said. Let Tillal defend his ow
sins. To the first, guilty. ! did a
tempt to put an end to yonder brat, bu
Maya discovered me, and I was caugh
and bound
Surely, brethren" said Dimas, ri:
ing, we need carry this matter no flu
Their We have heard the evidence {
Lady Maya and the others, and no.
Nahua confesses to her crime. Sh
confesses that she attempted to TAX
the life of him whom she knew to b
the sacred child, the hope of the PEI
pie of the Heart, and for such c sin
seems to me that there is but one pun
ishment. though it is terrible, and sh
who must suffer it is woman and {
high rank.
'-Stay!" broke in Nahua You hav
not heard me out, and l have the rigI
to speak before am condemned to dix
You charge me with having attempte
to take the life of the sacred child, til
hope of the People of the Heart an
had | done this, doubtless l should b
worthy of your doom, whereas, in trutl
am worthy of your praise.
Lords of the Heart, this child whoi
you adore, the Hcaven-sent child {
Y,roDhrcy- whom tO-uiTht Won wO,1l