Owingsville outlook. [volume] (Owingsville, Ky.) 1879-192?, 1896-06-04
HEART OF THE WORLD.
BY n. RIDER HAGoARD.
oopyrishted. 1894, by n. Rider Hasgard
CHAPTER XXI
TIE MARRIAGS OF MAYA

CHAPTER XXI
TIE NARRIAGy OF MAYA
Y Presently the dooy opened, and the
Enor was brought into the sanctuary,
rs ne thought 70 his death. for i saw
That his teeth were set, and that his
hand clenched. as though TO defend
himself. but as he came the most Of the
Council rose and bowed to him, saying:
Hail TO you'll Son of the Sea, Fa-
Sored of Heaven. Father foreordained
bf the Deliverer TO GOMEZ
\ Then he knew that the plot had sue
eeeded, and uttered a great sigh of re-
lief.
"Hearken, white lord" said Natal,
for Tikal sat still and scowled on him
In silence, ''the gods have spoken by
their oracle. As Zibalbay thought SO
II Is, and your feet have been led for
purpose to che gates of the City of the
Heart. Listen to the words of the
kods. and. taking the tablet, he read
10 him the false prophecy. Now
Lady Maya G. wife. Or WIN WOW be put
10 death, n 'ha;. having zvandered
- the City o. t,.,. Hear. you refuse to
hhev liia con a.anA ~ he gods"
: Nov ,afe seno. -hought, and an
fvered q
Sue nan would be fool SD who hest
sted>5etween death AM so fair and
eweet Q bride. Stiil, this is matter
that cannot decide alone. What says
khe Lady Maya"
g'She saws answered Maya, that,
Although this Is a marriage for which
khe did not look and IL Is q new thing
HAT a daughter of the Heart should
lake q stranger of less ancient blood to
husband, the Will of Heaven is her
viii, and the lord that Heaven chooses
Dor her shall be her lord" and she
btretched out her hand to him.
I he took it, and, bending down, kissed
her fingers, saying:
/. May be worthy of your choice,
tadyS
Nov, thought that the ceremonies
were finished and was glad, for l grew
bweary of assisting at this farce, but
the old priest, Zibalbay's foster broth
kr, rose aud said:
! Zone thing more must be done,
brethren, before we leave this sanctua-
kv. ana il is to swear in these strangers
ks nembArs of the council"
"Ayi 10 Is well thought of. Let them
be sworn, and remember that to break
the oath Is death" was the answer.
Then We went out, accompanied by
Maya. Natal and the escort of priests,
passed through the halls and passages
but into the courtyard of the temple
Ind thence TO apartments In the palace
where we refreshed ourselves with
Hood, for we were weary. The trick had
kucceeded, the ordeal was past, and fol
The present at least we We're no longcl
IA danger of our lives: more, the power
81 Natal was confirmed. and hi,
tiaurhter was assured In her position
as the wife Of Tikal, and the senior and
the Lady Maya were about TO attain
the fullness of their desire and to be de
Elared one in the presence OF the PEG
bic.
Well, the thing was done, and Il wa
bSeiess to regret 1t or to think Of tbs
future. SO turning to Natal j asked
him what was 10 happen on the pyra
hid.
"There VIII be . great gathering o
the people, he answered, las is Gus
tomary at dawn after the night of thu
Rising Of Waters, and there they will b
bold all that has happened in the sane
tuary. and then, IL It is their will. III
krai will be confirmed as cacique. ac
eordinc to the bargain, and eithel
to-day or tomorrow the white maj
here will become the husband of tn,
LADY Maya, In order" he added, with |
sneer, that OF their union may b
born the Deliverer who is 10 be. Now
II Won are ready, IL Is time for US to go
kor the multitude is gathered and 81
kscort awaits us without"
Leaving the palace we placed our
Selves in the center of a party of no
bles and guards who were IN attend
tnce, and marched across the aourtyar'
md up the steps of the pyramid. Thl
hight was growing gray with the break
lnf of the dawn, and in the pearly ligh
Through which the stars shone faintil
i've pereeiyed that bands of priests ans
mobiles, wrapped in their broidered ser
hpes, for the morning air was chilly
efeod in their appointed places roun'
the altar.
In front of them were ranged tn
bense masses of the people. drawn her
10 make their prayers upon this feas
hay, and also by desire 70 learn tn
truth as to the death of Zibalbay, tn
hate of the strangers who had accompa
hied him from the unknown lands, tn
decision of the council as TO the success
eor TO the place and power of aacique
Ind, lastly, whether or no the oracle o
The god had spoken to his priests upol
his or any other matter when the los
kaiisnuan was set in It's place upon th
kltar.
On reaching the altar seats wer
Given to us among the Mobiles of tn
Heart. those of Maya end the senior be
Ing placed in such fashion that the.
would be visible to the whole Rplti
tode.
TO the People Of the Heart the occs
Zion was a great one. seeing shat bu
little rain falls In their country, AM
Illus hey depended for bountifui bar
Vest upon the inundation of the islam
khd of the low shores that lay aroun'
The lake. by its waters swollen with tn
helted snow Of the great mountains OF
khA mainland When the waters re
treated then they planted their grail
Il rich land, made fertile without labo
70 themselves by the mud, whence be
lore the lake rose again they gathers
kheir corn and other crops.
When they bad ended their praying
nd gifts of fresh flowers had bee
Iaid upon the altar by bsautiful chill
6ren chosen for that purposs. Tika
pleased the people % high priest, 81
HE simple ceremony cane TO an end.
Then11Iattai rose TO speak. tellini
Ne people all things that had hap
bsDed, OF so much a them as was ex