Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-04-02
CHAPTER XXI
THE MARRIAGE or MAYA.

THE MARRIAGE or MAYA
Presently the door opened, and thu
senior was brought into the sanctuary
as he thought to his death, for saw
that his teeth were set. and that his
hand clenchcd, as though to defend
himself, but as he came the most OF the
council rose and bowed to him, saving
"IIail to you. Son Of the Sea. IA.
vorcd OF Heaven, Father foreordained
Of the Deivercr 10 GOMEZ"
Then he knew that the plot had sue.
ceeded, and uttered great sigh OF re-.
lief.
"IIeaikcn, white lord" said Natal,
lor 1'kal sat still and scowlcd on him
In silence, the gods have spoken by
their oracle As Zibalbay thought X
It Is, and your feet have been led for Q
purpose TO the gates Of the City Of the
Heart. Listen TO the words Of thu
gods,' and, taking the tablet, he read
10 him the false prophecy. Nov
choose, white man. VIII you take the
Lady Maya to wife, or win you be put
to death, In that, having wandered
to the City Of the Heart, you refuse tc
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 a bride. Still, this is matter
that cannot decide alone What says
the Lady Maya"
"She says answered Maya, that,
although this Is marriage for which
she did not look and it Is new thing
that o daughter Of the Heart should
take a 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 1t. and. bending down, kissed
her fingers, saying.
MAY be worthy Of your choice,
lady"
Now, thought that the ceremonies
were finished and was glad. for grew
weary Of assisting at this farce. but
the old priest, Zibalbay's foster broth
cr, rose ind said.
zone thing more must be done,
brethren, before we leave this sanctua-
ry, ind 1t Is to swear in these strangers
as members of the council"
"Ay! 1t Is well thought Of. Let them
be sworn, and remember that to break
the oath Is 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
the present at least we were no longer
In danger Of our lives; more, the power
Of Natal was confirmed, and his
daughter was assured In her position
Us 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 II was
useless to regret II or TO think Of the
future, so turning to Natal asked
him what was to happen on the pyra-
MID.
"There will be a great gathering Of
the people" he answered, las 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, II It Is their will, II.
kal will be confirmed as cacique, &C.
cording to the bargain, and either
to-day or tomorrow the white man
here will become the husband Of the
Indy Maya, In order he added, with a
sneer, that Of their union may be
born the Dellverer who Is TO be. Now,
II you are ready, It Is time for us to 90,
for the multitude is gathered and an
escort awaits us without"
Leaving the palace we placed our
selves In the center Of party Of no.
bles and guards who were in attend
ance, and marched across the courtyard
and up the steps Of the pyramid. The
night wasgrowing gray with the break
ing of the dawn, and in the pcarly light
through which the stars shone family
we perceived that bands of priests and
mobiles, wrapped in their broilcrcd ser.
apes, for the morning mir was chilly.
stood in their appointed places round
the altar.
In front Of them were ranged the
dense masses Of the people, drawn here
to make their prayers upon this feast
day, and also by desire to learn the
truth as to the death OF Mhulbay. the
fate OF the strangers who had aceompa
MED him from the unknown lands, the
decision Of the council as to the success.
SCR to the place and power of cacique.
and, lastly, whether or no the oracle Of
the god had spoken to mis- priests upon
this or any other matter when the lost
talisman was set IN It's place upon the
altar.
On reaching the altar seats were
given to MS among the Mobiles of the
Heart, those Of Maya and the senior be.
ing placed in such fashion that they
would be visible to the whole multi
tude.
To the People Of the Heart the occa
sion was a great one. seeing tina. but
little rain falls in their country. and
thus they depended for a bountiful har.
vest upon the inunda,ion of the island
and OF the low shores that lay around
the lake, by its waters swollen with the
melted snow Of the great mountains on
the mainland When the waters re.
treated then thcy planted their frain
in rich land made fertile without labor
to themselves by the mud, whence be-