The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1896-03-11
CHAPTER XIII,

At sunrise on the following day lit
q fire by which to prepare soup for the
senior, who still slept, and as was en->
gagged thus l saw the lady Maya walk
ing toward me and noticed that her |
hands and feet were swollen.
"Senora," said, bowing before her,
81 humbly congratulate you upon your
courage and your escape from great
dangers. Last night | said words to
you in my grief that should not have
been spoken, for it is my fault that
am apt to be unjust to women. Now
crave your pardon, and | will add that
if in atonement for my past injustice
can serve you in any way now and
afterward pray you to command me-"
She listened, and answered:
II thank you for your kind words,
Don Ignatio. If you wish to show your
self my friend it is in your power to do
so. You have guessed my secret, there
fore am not ashamed to repeat that
| the senior yonder has become every
thing to me, though as yet / may be
little to him. l ask you then to swear
upon the Heart that you will do moth
ing to separate us, that whatever may
be our need you will help us by all
means in your reach"
''You ask me to swear large oath,
sonora, and one that deals with the fu-
ture, of which we have no knowledge"
/ answered, hesitating.
81 do, senor; but remember, were 1t
not for me at this moment your friend
who sleeps yonder like child would
be stiff in death. Remember, also, that
you have ends to gain in the City OF
the Heart, where it will be well for you
to have me as friend should we eve
live to reach 1t.
"There is no need to threater
senora," answered, II promis
will not stand between yor 49, -
senior. But see, he awab' onJ i'. q
soup is ready" IS. and =
She took the pot off y ''iiu
it, and poured the co. me fire sl,,
Then she walked ltents into mn
said: "Senor, he Q the hap "a gou
He was bu' n, is your 4mock a
looked at he . newly p soup"
"Tell m' gacantly .wakened, a
happened' Maya o.,a ..4
ing = evening
asr lower f. )" she began, Sin pi,
lake an1 Jr me you were bitten
II knor very nearly died"
"Afte "" he answered. go on"
Il past 1r the danger of the poison W
Q yor you became thirsty, so thirsty til
We're %ying of it, and there was
d ''ater a. to give you"
fec,, yes" he said; sit was agony.
st PraTy that l may never suffer SO aga
ae . 1T / drank water and lived. w
to Drought 1t to me?"
l'J ut came from the cueva, that pla
lst which we examined before you we
or bitten"
Ter "Who went down the cueva to get
er The place is unclimbab1e."
to II went down"
it, "Youl" he said, in amazement, "Yo
er 1t is not possible. Do not lest. Tt
re- me the truth. Quick; am tired"
Il am not jesting. Listen, senc
TX, You were dying for want OF water.
ed could not bear 1t, and knew that n
va father would not be back in time; So
,r- took the water skin and some torch
and went, without saying anything
he Ignatio. The place was hard to elm
n, and the adventure strange; but cnn
so through it safely"
IN The senior heard, but made no answe
ee He only stretched out his arms iowa,
k her, and there in the wilderness a
ty they plight their troth.
lg Remember, lam but an Indian girl
#, she murmured presently, ''and YOU al
g. one of the white lords OF the earth
le it well that you should love me?s
is 1T is well, /" he answered; "for yo
are the noblest woman that i Ia,
ID known, and you have saved my life.p
I'd libalbay did not return until pal
IS midday, when he appeared with Il
water
es docs he still live?" he asked
N Maya
et 'sYes, father"
d he must be strong, shonsa he d,