The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-06-20


that should rule as next heir during
the absence Of Zibalbay and his daugh-
ter, and that II they should not return
within two years then their heritage
should be mine forever.
ITO this agreement / set my name
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 / loved. Yet when
they were gone fulfilled II TO the let
ter, but trouble arose among the peo-
pie. for they will not listen 10 the voice
OF one who Is not their anointed lord,
but say: We win wait until Zibalbay
comes again, and hear his command
upon these matters
$50 IL came about that many pressed
IL on me that for the sake of the people
and the welfare of the place, l should
shorten the period OF my regency and
suffer myself to be anointed. But re-
Numbering my promise I answered
them sharply, saying that come what
might, two full years must be com
pleted before / sat me down In the
place of my fathers
"To 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.
"All 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 IL not so, Mattai?"
Now the person addressed, a stout
man with bald head and quick, shift
ing eyes and thick and grizzled beard,
stepped forward and said, bowling:
"lf my wisdom was not at fault, such
was the message of the stars, o lord. I"
Mobiles" went on Tikal, you
have heard my testimony and
the testimony of Natal. whose
voice Is the voice Of truth. For these
reasons also, she to whom l was affl-
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:
1--WE accept you, Tikal and Nahua,
and long may you rule over us accord
ing 90 the ancient customs OF the land. "
1T Is well, my brethren" answered
Tilxal. "And now, before we drink the
parting cup, have any of you aught TO
say TO me?"
III have something TO say" cried IL
balbay in loud voice from the shad-
ows where we stood at the far erd Of
the hall. At the sound OF this voice,
the tones Of which he seemed to know,
Tilsal 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 a
corner of his robe, he walked up the
hall, the crowd OF mobiles and ladies
opening 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 TilSal
and all that company, he opened his
lips 20 speak. Before a word could pass
them cry OF establishment broke from
the mobiles, and of n sudden the scepter
fell from the hand of Tikal and rolled
along the floor.
"Zibalbay!" said the cry. at 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, lit
Is /, Zibalbay, your lord, come home,
and not too soon, as IL 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
you lost your skill, or have the gods
4.
prophecy falsely, saying that IL was
written in the stars that we who are
alive were dead, and thereby lifting up
your daughter TO the seat of the Lady
OF the Heart.
"Nay, do not answer me. Standing
yonder l have heard all your story.
And say 20 you, TilSal, that You are
foresworn traitor, and to you, Natal,
that you are n charlatan and liar, who
have dared 10 use the holy art for your
own ends and the advancement of your
house. On both of you l will be
avenged. ny, and on all these who have
allotted you in your crimes. Guards,
seize that man, and the lord Natal
with him, and let them be held fast till
shall judge them"
The soldiers that stood on either side
OF the thrones hesitated for moment,
then advanced toward TilSal, as though
70 lay hands upon him in obedience 10
Zibalbays order. But Nahua rose and
waved them off, saying:
What you dare TO touch your
anointed lord2 Back. say TO you, II
you would save yourself from the doom
OF sacrilege Living or dead, the day
of Zibalbay Is done. for the Council OF
the Heart has set his crown upon the
brow OF Tikal, and, whether for good
or III, their decree cannot be changed
'Ayl" said TilSal, whose courage had
come back 60 him. THE lady Nahua
speaks truth. Touch me not IL you
would live to look upon the sun"
But all the while he spoke his eyes
were fixed upon Maya, whose beauti-
full face he watched as though Il were
that OF some lost love risen from the
dead
Now, as Zibalbay was about 20 speak
again. Natal, the astronomer. bowed
before him and said: