San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-02-09

weekiiy He .nat neither r1s you nor t the
81 l thought you must be
es, and so they will think in
81, where l have heard that Tikal
IN your place"
face" said Zibalbay, frowning
lily. 1--WE left robes here, did we
Go, lay them out in the sleeping
ambers.. and with them ntha1e for
iese my guests, while the woman
makes food ready
When they were gone on their err
rands we gathered round the hearth to
bask in the luxury of its warmth.
Soon the Indian returned and an
nounced that our rooms were ready.
Accordingly we followed him to small
sleeping room. Laid upon the beds
were linen robes and serapes made in
alternate bands of gray and black
feathers worked on to a foundation of
stout linen. Standing upon wooden
stools in a corner of the room, half
filed with steaming water, were two
basins, which the senior noticed with
establishment were made of hammered
silver
We put on the robes that had been
provided and returned to the eating
room. Presently the curtain was drawn
and the Lady Maya joined us, but so
changed that we started in astonish-
ment.
Different indeed was she to the i'll
clad and travel-stained girl who had
been our companion for so many weeks.
Now shewas dressed in a robe of snowy
white bordered with embroidery of the
royal green and having the image of
the heart traced in gold thread on the
breast On her feet were sandals, also
worked IN green, while round her
throat, wrists, waist, and ankles
shone circlets of dead gold. Her dark
hair no longer fell loose about her, but
was twisted into simple knot and con-
fined in little golden net, and from
her shoulders hung a cloak of pure
white feathers.
Zibalbay entered soon after followed
by the two Indians bearing food. He
was simply dressed in white toga-
like robe, similar to that which had
been given to the senior and myself, a
cloak of black feathers, his shoulders
covered and round his neck was hung a
massive gold chain, to which was at
tached the emblem of the heart also
fashioned in plain gold.
1.-THE food is ready" said Zibalbay,
sssuch as it is. Be seated. Nay, daugh-
ter, you need not stand before me. We
are still fellow wanderers, all of us, and
ceremony can wait till we are come to
the City of the Heart"
Then we sat down and the Indians
waited on u.s. What the dishes con-
sisted of we did not know, but after our
long priyatj2ps It seemed to hs that we
had never eaten so excellent meal.
Already difference to the senior could
be seen in Zibalbay's mode of address.
Formerly he had called him "senor," or
: even ''friend;" tonight when speaking
to him he used word which meant
*foreigner," or unknown one," and
even myself he called by name without
adding any title of respect.
'Come hither," said Zibalbay to the
Indian, when he had handed us some
cigarettes. "Start now to the borders
Of the lake and advise the captain of
the village of the corn growers that his
lord has returned again, commanding
him in my name to furnish four travel
ing letters, to be here within five hours
after sunrise. Warn him also to have
canoes in readiness to bear US across the
lake, but as he values his life to send no
word of our coming to the city. Go,
dow, and swiftly"
The man bowed, and snatching a
spear and feather cloak from a peg
near the door, vanished into the night,
needless of the bowling wind and the
sleet that thrashed upon the roof.
Then Zibalbay said: "Come, daugh-
ter, 1t is time for us to rest; our journey
has been long and you must be weary,
Good night to you, my guests; to-mor
row shall hope to house you better.
And with a bow he left the room.
Maya rose to follow his example, and
49, l.a IL L. 1. -
which he touched with his lips.
slow good it is to taste tobacco
again" he said, as Maya went "Do yoI
know, friend. it seems to me that Zibal
bay has changed. / never was a grea
admirer of his character, but perhaps
do not understand it."
DO you not, senior? 1 think that
do. Like some Christian priests tn,
man is a fanatic, and, like myself,
dreamer. Also he is fsll of ambition
and tyrannical, one who will spar,
neither himself nor others where he ha
an end to gain.
'sThe object of his mission, and, in
deed. of his life, is to build up the fal
len empire of the City of the Heart. Il
short. senior, though 1 do not believ
in his gods, in Zibalbay's visions d
believe, seeing that they have led hir
W tnCs WhOcC uAhA 10 anu Jlld
neither of us can succeed without tn
other"
'eWhy not?"
Because need wealth and he need
men, and if he will give me the wealt
i can give him men in thousands"
II hear" answered the senior. 81
sounds simple enough, but perhaps 20
will both of you find that there al
difficulties in the way. What do nc
understand, nhowever, is what pal
Maya and are to play in this gran
y, affair, who are not anxious to regeI
crate race or build up an empire.
suppose that we are only spectators
the game"
"How can that be, senior, when she
Lady Of the Heart and heiress to h
father, and when" l added, droppir
my voice. you and she have grown
dear to one another.
mo, no, senior, you cannot be left o,
of this game: you are too deep in it 9
ready. At present he is well dispose
toward you, because he thinks that Il
oracle may declare you to be the son