Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-07-23

known to YOU that tonight 1 have
taken in marriage {Nahua the Beauti-
full. daughter of the high Lord Natal,
chief of the astronomers, keeper of the
sanctuary, and president of the Council
of the Heart, and her, in the presence
of YOU all, name as my first and law
full wife, the Sharer of my power and
your ruler under me, who, whatever be-
tide, cannot be put away from my bed
and throne, and as such call upon you
to salute her"
Thereupon the whole company bowed
themselves before Nahua. who flushed
with pride and JOY, and repeated. as
with one voice:
Hail to thee, Lady of the Heart,
whom it has pleased the gods to lift up
and bless May children be given to
you and with them happiness and power
for many years"
Mobiles went on Tikal. when this
ceremony was finished, Tomorrow a
year will have gone by since Zibalbay,
nv uncle, who was cacique before me,
and the Lady Maya, my affianced bride,
left the city upon certain mission.
Before they departed it was agreed
that / should rule as next heir during
the absence of Zibalbay and his daugh-
ter, and that if they should not return
within two years then their heritage
should be mine forever.
II
with sorrow, for then, as now, / held
that my uncle was mad. and in his mad
ness went to doom, taking with him his
daughter, whom I loved. Yet when
they were gone fulfilled it to the let
ter, but trouble arose among the peo-
pie, for they will not listen to the voice
of one who is not their anointed lord.
but say: we will wait until Zibalbay
comes again, and hear his command
11pOn these matters
$50 it came about that many pressed
it on me that for the sake of the people
and the welfare of the place, I should
shorten the period of my regency and
suffer myself to be anointed. But re-
Numbering my promise l answered
might, two full years must be COM
pleted before I sat me down in the
place of my fathers.
ITO this mind then / held till three
days since, when some of the people
refused to get them to their labor, say
ing that the high priest alone had au-
thority over them, and there was no
high priest in the city. Then in my
perpleXity / took counsel with the lord
Natal, master of the stars, and he con-
suited with the stars on my behalf.
''An night long he searched the heav-
ems, and he read in them that Zibalbay,
who, led by a lying dream, broke
through the laws of the land and wan
dered across the mountains, has paid
the price of his folly and is dead in the
wilderness, together with his daughter
that was my affianced and the Lady of
the Heart. Is it not so. Mattai?''
Now the person addressed, stout
man with a bald head and quick. shift
ing eyes and a thick and grizzled beard,
stepped forward and said, bowling:
eff my wisdom was not at fault, such
L. - - 49, n Il
Mobiles" went on Tillal. ssyou
the testimony of Natal, whose
voice is the voice of truth. For these
reasons also, she to whom I was aft
anced being dead, have taken to wife
Nahua, the daughter of Natal. Say,
do you accept us?'
Now some few of the company were
silent, but the rest cried:
I'VE accept you, Til1al and Nahua,
and long may you rule over us accord
ing to the ancient customs of the land. :"
sit is well, my brethren" answered
Tilzal. "And now, before we drink the
parting cup, have any Of you aught to
say to me?''
II have something to say" cried Iii
balbay in loud voice from the shad-
ows where we stood at the far end of
the hall. At the sound of this voice,
the tones of which he seemed to know,
Tikal started and rose in fear, but re-
covering himself said:
Advance from the shadow, whoever
you are, and say your say where men
may see you"
Turning to his daughter and to us,
Zibalbay babe us follow him and do as
he did. Then, yelling his face with
corner of his robe, he walked up the
hall, the crowd of mobiles and ladies
opening a path, till we stood before the
throne. Here he uncovered himself, as
we did also, and, standing sideways, so
that he should be seen both by Tilzal
and all that company, he opened his
lips to speak. Before a word could pass
them a cry of establishment broke from
the mobiles. and of sudden the scepter
fell from the hand of Tikal and rolled
along the floor.
''Zibalbay!' said the cry. 'sIt is Iii
balbay come back, or the ghost of him
and with him the Lady of the Hearth
''Ay, nobles," he said in quiet voice,
although his hand shook with rage, cit
is l. Zibalbay. your lord, come home,
and not too soon, as it would seem.
What. my nephew. were you so hungry
for my place and power that you must
break the oath you swore upon the
Heart and seize them before the APP
pointed time? And you, Natal, have
sInitten you with curse, that you
prophesy falsely, saying that it was
written in the stars that we who are
alive were dead, and thereby lifting up
your daughter to the seat of the Lady