Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-09-03


asYoa have forged this writing, Mat
tai, she said. ''and now you desire that
should set it in the symbol, for You
are mindful of that curse which is
written in the ritual In short, If you
do not fear the vengeance of the god,
you fear the vengeance OF the order
ITO speak the truth. lady, / Gear
both. Still, you must make your choice,
and swiftly
Now she turned to us. saying:
advise me- friends, for | know not
what to answer. In the faith of my
people I have lost faith, and it IS to
yours that look for comfort, and yet
the deed seems awful, for If we are not
worshipers of the nameless god, still we
are all of us brethren of the ancieU:
mysteries of the Heart, and to do this
thing would be to break our solemn
oaths Come, let us put it to vote, and
do you, who are the oldest and the
wisest among US, vote first, Ignatio."
80 be it." l answered. For my
part / give my voias against the trick.
Of the gods of your people know moth
ing and think less, but l am the master
of our order in nv own land, and l will
not offend against it. Still, in THIS
matter your lives are at stake as well
as mine: therefore, if of the three OF
us two are in favor of the act will BE-
bound by their decision"
Good, let it be So" said Maya. land
now, beloved, speak and tell us whether
YOU choose death and a clean con-
science, or life and my love to gladden.
it." and she looked into his face with
her beautiful eyes. and half stretched
out her arms as though she would clasp
him to her breast.
II have no choice" he said. 81 do
not fear to die, if need be; but | should
be no man were / to choose death while
it is your wish that / should live. Like
Ignatio, l say that the gods of this city
are to me nothing more than idols, and
to deceive that which does not exist Is
impossible. For the rest, became
Brother of the Heart not by my own
wish. but by accident; therefore, on tins
Doint. nv conscience pricks me little.
Il will do your wish, Maya, and Il
YOU think it better that we should die,
WHY / 1T us die and make an end"
NAY" she answered with flash OF
reckless passion, Il think it better thai
we should live far from this unlucky
| city, and there be happy in each others
! love. For your sake my fathers curse
| has fallen on me, and after 1t all Other
maledictions of gods or men will be
| light as feathers.
Little do [ care for veng eance tC
I come IL 1OE OIllN ODS oIAH4O y 80 l. A@A~J
| call you husband.
.Iil-omened words" muttered Mat
tai. shivering little; '.wOrds that only
| a woman would utter, but so be it.
As he spoke thought heard a faint
| Groan come from the man upon the
couch. l glanced anxiously at Zabai
| bay to find that 1 must have been mis-
| taken. or, at least, that it had not pro
ceeded from his lips, for he lay there
rigid and senseless as a corpse.
The vote is taken,' said. ''Whar
next. Mattai?'
! Follow me-" he answered. land !
! will show you secret path from thi:
! chamber to the sanctuary beneath
| Nav. YOU need not fear to leave him
for ii his life still burns within him it i
| asleep. But stay, where is the tails
man? That will be necessary to US"
Il have onc-half," l answered, ''th'
| other is about Zibalbay's neck"
Find it." he said sternly to the Lad.
Maya. Nay, you must"