The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-07-25
CHAPTER XXI
THE MARRIAGE OF MAYA.


Presently the door opened, and the
senior was brought into the sanctuary,
as he thought TO his death, for saw
that his teeth were set. and that his
hand clenched, rs though to defend
himself, but as he came the most OF the
council rose aud bowed TO him, saying:
Hail TO you'll Son of the Sea, Fa-
vored OF Heaven, Father forcordained
of the Delivcrer to Gomez
Then he knew that the plot had sue
eeeded, and uttered a great sigh OF re-
liof
"Hearlxen. white lord" said Natal,
for Tilxal sat still and scowled on him
In silence, "the gods have spoken by
their oracle. AS Zibalbay thought SO
il Is, and your feet have been led for n
purpose TO the gates of the City of the
Heart Listen to the words OF the
gods" and. taking the tablet, he read
To him the false prophecy. Nov
choose, white man. WIN you take the
Lady Maya to wife, or VIII you be put
10 death, In that, having wandered
to the City of the Heart, you refuse 20
obey the command of the gods?"
Now the senior thought, and an
swercd:
"The man would be foolish who hest
tated between death and so fair and
sweet bride. Still, this Is matter
that cannot decide alone. What says
the Lady Maya"
"She says answered Maya, that,
although this Is n marriage for which
she did not look and IL is a new thing
that daughter Of the Heart should
take n stranger OF less ancient blood to
husband, the win OF Heaven Is her
will, and the lord that Heaven chooses
for her shall be her lord" and she
stretched out her hand TO him.
He took 1t, and, bending down, kissed
her fingers, saying:.
May l be worthy OF your choice,
lady"
Now, thought that the ceremonies
we're finished and was glad, for / grew
weary of assisting at this farce. but
the old priest, Zibalbay's foster broth
err, rose and said:
Zone thing more must be done,
brethren, before we leave this sanctua-
nv, and IL is TO swear in these strangers
as members of the council"
"Ayi IL is well thought OF. Let them
be sworn, and remember that TO break
the oath is deaeh," was the answer.
Then we went out, accompanied by
Maya, Natal and the escort OF priests,
passed through the halls and passages
out into the courtyard OF the temple
where we refreshed ourselves with
food, for we were weary. The trick had
succeeded, the ordeal was past, and for
the present at least we were no longer
In danger of our lives; more, the power
OF Natal was confirmed, and his
daughter wns assured In her position
AS the wife OF Til5al, and the senior and
the Lady Maya were about 10 attain
the fullDess of their desire and TO be de-
clared one in the presence of the peo-
pie.
Well, the thing was done, and 10 was
useless To regret IL or TO think OF tho
future, SO turning TO Natal / asked
him what was to happen on the pyra-
mid.
"There will be a great gathering of
the people," he answered, las Is GUS
tomary at dawn after the night OF tho
Rising of Waters, and there they will be
told all that has happened In the sane
tuarv. and then, II IL II their win, tt
lxal will be confirmed as cacique, ac-
cording 10 the bargain, and either
to-day or tomorrow the white man
here will become the husband of the
Lady Maya, In order" he added, with n
sheer, 'sthat OF their union may be
born the Delivcrer who Is to be. Now,
II you are ready, II Is time for us TO GO,
for the multitude Is gathered and an
escort awaits Ms without" h
Leaving the palace we placed our
selves In the center of n party OF mo-
bles and guards who were IN attend
ance, and marched across the courtyard
and up the steps OF the pyramid: The
night was growing gray with the break
ing of the dawn. and In the pearly light
through which the stars shone faintly
we perceived that bands OF priests and
mobiles. wrapped In their broidercd ser
apes, for the morning air was chilly,
stood In their appointed places round
the altar.
In front OF them were ranged the
dense masses Of the people, drawn here
20 make their prayers upon this feast
dny, ana nlso by desire 90 learn the
truth rs to the death of Zibalbay, the
fate of the strangers who had accompa.
MED him from the unknown lands, the
decision OF the council as TO the succes-
sor TO the place and power OF cacique.
and, lastly, whether or no the oracle OF
the god had spoken TO his priests upon
this or any other matter when the lost
talismsn was set In It's place upon tho