Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-08-27
HEART OF THE WORLD.
BY H. RIDER HAGGARD.
4 Strange Story. Taken From O Manuscript Be.
queathed by m Old Mexican Indian to Iiis
Friend and Conradc, en- English
man Named Jones.
Copyrighted. 1894. by H. Rider Haggard
CHAPTER XXI
THE MARRIAGE OF MAYA.

THE MARRIAGE OF MAYA.
Presently the door opened, and the
senior was brought into the san ctuary,
as he thought to 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! Son of the Sea. Fa-
vored of Heaven, Father foreordained
of the Dcliverer to comet"
Then he knew that the plot had sue
ceeded, and uttered a great sigh Of re-
lief
'sHearken, white lord" said Natal,
for Til1al sat still and scowled on him
in silence, ''the gods have spoken by
their oracle. AS 'Zibalbay thought so
it is, and your feet have been led for a
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. Now
choose, white man. Will you take the
Lady Maya to wife, OF will you be put
to death, in that, having wandered
to the City of the Heart, you refuse to
obey the command of the gods?''
Now the senior thought, and an
Swered:
1.-The man would be foolish who hest
tated between death and so fair and
sweet bride. Still, this is a matter
that cannot decide alone. What says
the Lazy maya!
''She says" answered Maya, ''that,
although this is a marriage for which
she did not look and it is a new thing
that daughter of the Heart should
take stranger of less ancient blood to
husband, the will 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 it. and, bending down, kissed
her fingers, saying:
May l be worthy of your choice.
lady"
Now, thought that the ceremonies
were finished and was glad, for l grew
weary of assisting at this farce. but
the old priest, Zibalbay's foster broth
er, rose and said:
Zone thing more must be done.
brethren. before we leave this sanctua-
ry, and it is to swear in these strangers
as members of the council
''Ay! it is well thought of. Let them
be sworn, and remember that to break
the oath rs DEATH 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
and thence to apartments in the palace,
where we refreshed ourselves with
food, for we were weary The trick had
succeeded, the ordeal was past, and for
in danger of our lives; more. the power
of Natal was confirmed, and his
daughter 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-
clared one in the presence of the peo-
pie.
Well, the thing was done, and it was
useless to regret it or to think of the
future. SO turning to Natal | asked
him what was to happen on the pyra-
mia.
There will be a great gathering of
the people" he answered. ''as is Gus
tomary at dawn after the night of the
Rising of Waters, and there they will be
told all that has happened in the sane
tuary and then, if it is their will, I'll
lzal will be confirmed as cacique. ac-
cording to 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 a
sneer, that of their union may be
born the Deliverer who is to be. Now,
if you are ready, it is time for MS to go,
for the multitude is gathered and an
escort awaits US without"