Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1896-03-18


stood.
Although trust YOU said the old
man. yet | must obey the oath to
suffer no stranger TO see the entrance
to the mountain gate. Come hither,
daughter. and blindfold these foreign
crS.
She obeved. and as She tied the
handkerchief about the Senor's face [
heard her whisper: Fear not, I will DO
your eyes.
Then we were taken by the hand and
led some PAGES: then, as we Judged
| from the sounds. our guides moved
| something heavy. Next we were con-
Quoted down a steep incline through IA
narrow passage. At length, after talk
ing many sharp turns. the passage
| grew wider and the path smooth aud
! level.
Loose the bandagcS." said the voice
OF /ibalbay.
Maya did 80. and we looked round us
curiously TO find that we stood at the
bottom of deep cleft or volcanic rift
in the rock. This cleft was still easily
passablc after centuries of disuse. and
did not measure more than forty PAGES
from wall TO wall. ON either side of IL
lowered sheer black cliffs
by degrees the cleft narrowed until
| it ended i'm a tunnel
We followed through the gloom till
presently Il spot of light appeared be-
fore us. and in another minute we
stood on the further side of the noun
tain.
without pausing Zibalbay pushed on
down the hill, and suddenly turning TO
the right stopped before the door OF a
house built of hcwn stone.
Enter he said. and welcome TO
the country of the People of the
Heart
AS the door was thrown open. light
from the fire within strcamcd through
1T, and mans voice was heard asking:
who is there
Without answering Zibalbay wa liked
into the room. At "a table placed be-
fore the fire sat a man and
woman eating. Is this the way
that you watch for my returu?" he
asked in IA stern voice. Haste now
and make food ready for Us. for we are
starved with cold and hunger"
The man, who had risen. stood hest
tating. but the woman. whose position
enabled her to see the face Of the speak
err, caught him by the arm. saying:
Down to your knees, husband. 1t
Is the caciguc come back
Pardon cried the man, taking the
hint, but To be frank. o lord. il has
been so dinncd into my ears down in
the city yonder that neither YOU nor the
Lady of the Heart would ever return
again that | thought Won must he
ghosts. Yes. and so they will think in
the city, where have heard that Tilal
rules in your place
Peace said Zibalbay. frowDing
heavily. I'VE left robes here. did we
not? Go, lay them out in the sleeping
chambers. and with them otEc,. for
these my guests, while the woman
makes food ready"
randS we gathered round the hearth to
basil in the luxury of its warmth
Soon the Indian returned and an
nounccd that our rooms were ready
Accordingly we followed him To "a small
sleeping room. Laid upon the beds
were linen robes and scrapes made in
alternate bands of gray and black
feathers worked on to a foundation of
stout linen. Standing upon wooden
stools i'll corner of the room, half
filled with Steaming water, were two
basins. which the senior noticed with
establishment were made of hammered
silver.
We put on the robes that had been
provided and returned to the eating
room. Presently the curtain was drawn
and the Lady Maya joined MS. but so
changed that we started in astonish-
ment.
Different indeed was she to the ILL
clad and travel-staincd girl who had
been our companion for so many weeks
Now she was dressed in robe Of snowv
white bordered with embroidery of the
royal green and having the image Of
the heart traced in gold thread on the
breast. On her feet were Banlais. also
worked IN green. while round her
throat. wrists. waist. and ankles
Shone ci.clets of dead gold. Her dark
hair no longer fell loose bout her. but
was twisted into Al simple knot and CON
fined i'll a little golden net. and from
her shoulders hung Il cloak Of pure
white feathers.
|ibalhay entered soon after followed
by the two Indians bearing food. He
was simply dressed in a white toaa-
like robe. similar tn that which had
been given To- the senior and myself. IL
cloak Of black feathers. his shoulders,
covered. and round his neck was hang "A
massive gold chain, to which was at
tachcd the emblem Of the heart also
fashioned in plain gold
The food il ready. said /ibalbav.
/ such aS IT. H. BE seated. Nay daugh-
ter. Tou necd not stand hcfrtc me- We
ar" still fellow wanderers. az of rs, ana
ceremony can wait til we are come to
The City OF the Heart.
Then We sat down and he Indians
waited on us. What thc dishes con-
sisted Of Wc did not know bat after our
long pr,vutiOns it seemed to us that We
had never eaten 50 excellent meal
Already = difference To the senior could
hc seen IN /ibalbav's mode Of address.
Formerly hc had called him senior" or
even "frjcnd;' tonight when speaking
2" him he used word which meant
foreigner" or unknown one" ard
even myself he called by name without
adding any title Of respect.
Come hithcr." said Iibalbav 10 the
Indian. wicn lac had handed ~ some
cigarettes. start u.yv t. the borders
~ the lake and advise the captaiu of
the village ~ thc corn growers that nj,
lord has returned again. commanding
hiu In my name 20 furnish four travel
iug letters. IT, bc ncrc within five hour,
after sunrise Warn him also To have
can"c~ i'm readiness g. bear ~ across the
lake. bat a. he values hi- life :o send no
word ~ our coming ip the city. Go.
now. and swiftly.
Tn" man bowed. and snafcl,ipg q
spear ard g feather cloak from utp
near The dopr. vanished into :Lc uight.
needless 81 Tho ho,ylinY .,lnd and the
-i"c' that thra he'd Gpou the ltof
Then /ibalhgg said. 'j ONE. daurt-
ter - i- time for us to- rex: orr Journey
has been long aud vC,, Yust he weary
food night to you. ms guests: tO-mol
row ] shall hope 90 bots, you better
Md with bow hc lrf tic room.