The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1896-03-13
-.tc o.tru tao 0.Jrds. 10 yea,
4 ,.-ifi not lilo :"


Teas. ! will not lie"
! ak you, daughter. Now, hear
no and what are you that your
whims should stand between me and
the fulfillment of my lifelong desire,
between your people and their redemp-
ton? Must all these things come to
nothing because of the fancies of a
love-sicl1 girl. whose poor beauty, as it
chances by favor of the gods, can avail
to bring them about?"
at seems so, father" she said.
"Everything else you, who are my
father. may require of me, even to my
life. but my honor is my own"
What shall | say to this headstrong
grip" glsped Zibalbay. Speak, white
man, and say that you renounce her.
for surely your heart is not so wicked
that it will lead you to consent to this
folly, and to your own undoing, to
stand between her and her destiny"
Now all eyes were fixed upon the
senior, who turned pale in the lamp
light and answered slowly:
''Zibalbay. grieve to vex you, but
your daughters destiny and mine are
one. nor can command her to forsake
me and give herself in marriage to a
man she hates"
Yet it seems that you could COM
mand her to break her plighted troth
for your sake, oh. most honorable white
man. said Zibalbay with a bitter
laugh
"Hearlsen. friend Ignatio, for you at
least are not in love, tell your brother
there and this rebelliOus girl which
way their duty lies"
''Zibalbay.' | said. Il cannot plead
~ to 10
so be our destruction, seeing that |
have sworn that come what NAV will
not stand between these two. To-day,
for the second time in my life, my plans
are brought to nothing by the passion
of a woman. Well, so it is fated, and
so let it be-
Zibalbay did not answer me, but,
turning to the senior, said:
"Will you still cling to your purpose,
white man, and take advantage of my
daughters madness? If so, know that
your triumph shall be short, for when,
in some few hours, Tikal comes again,
l will tell him all and give you over to
his kee ping to deal with as he wishes.
Answer, then, and for the last time.
Do you choose life or death?"
Il choose DEATH" he answered, bold
ly, ''if the price of life be the breaking
of my troth and the surrender of my
bride to another man. If Ignatio here
cannot forget his oath, how much less
can forget mine which l have sworn
with this lady? Therefore, till the
Lady Maya renounces me, for COON or
evil, in death or in life, will cleave to
her"
''And in death or in life will cleave
to you. beloved, she said. Take such
vengeance as you wish upon us, my
father, yes, if you wish, give over this
man to whom my heart drew me across
the mountains and the desert. to die at
the hands of Tikal. but know that he
will hold me faster dead than he did
while he was alive. for into the valley
of death l shall follow him swiftly"
Now at last the rage of Zibalbay
broke loose, and it was terrible. Rising
from his seat he shook his cienched
hands above his daughters head and
cursed her, till in her fear she shrank
away from him to her lovers breast.
CAS- with my last breath" he cried,
81 pray that the curse of your gods, of
your country, of your ancestors, and of
me, your father, may rest upon you
and your children; may your desire
turn TO ashes in your mouth, and may
death rob you of its fruit; may your
heart break by inches for remorse and
sorrow and your name become kissing
and shame -"
He paused. gasping for breath, and
Maya fell at his knees sobbing: "Oh!
father, unsay those words and spare
me. Have you no pity for womans
hearth"
All he said, $50 much pity as you
have for my sorrows and gray hair
Why should l spare you, girl. who have
not spared your father? My curse is
spoken, and | will add this to it, that it
shall break your heart at last, ay, and
the heart of that man who has robbed
me of your duty and your love"
Then he suddenly ceased speaking,
his eyes grew empty. he stretched out
his arms and fell heavily to the floor