Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1896-05-06
HEART OF TEE WORLD.
BY H. RIDER HAGGARD.
q eersssc stcrJ, Taken From q Manuscript BE-
sue.ihed By an Old Mexican Indian TO Eis
Ffierd and Ccmrade, an English
man Named Jones.
copyrighted. lso,. b Fl Ride Hagxara
CHAPTER XXI
THE MARRIAGE OF MAYA

biihStli. buN az nc came lne most OF the
council rose and bowed to him. saving:
Hail TO you! Son of the Sea. Fa-
vored Of Heaven, Father foreordained
of the Deliverer to comet
Then he knew that the plot had sue
ceeded, and uttered great sigh OF re-
lief.
''HcaTken. white lord" said Natal.
for Tikal sat still and scowled on him
In silence, the gods have spoken by
their oracle. As Zibalbay thought SO
IL Is, and your feet have been led for "a
purpose 10 the gates of the City of the
Heart. Listen to the words of the
gods, and. taking the tablet, he read
TO him the false prophecy. Now
choose, white man. VIII You take the
Lady Maya to wife. or will You be put
TO death, in that. having wandered
to the City of the Heart, YOU refuse TO
obey the command of the gods?"
Now the senior thought, and an
swcred:
The man would be foolish who hest
tatcd between death and 50 fair and
sweet bride. Still. this is matter
that l cannot decide alone. What says
the Lady Maya"
'.Shc says answered Maya, that.
although this is IA marriage for which
she did not look and it is a new thing
tina; daughter of the Heart should
take 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 ont her hand to him.
He took 1t. and, bending down, kissed
her fingers, saying:
MAY l 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
er, rose and said:
"One thing more must be done.
brethren. before we leave this sanctua-
ry. and II Is 10 swear in these strangers
as members OF the council"
LAY, 1t j well thought of. Let them
he sworn, and remember that to break
the oatn - DEATH" was the answer
Ihcn we went out, accompanied by
Maya, Nattai 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
tie present at least we were no longer
II danger OF orr lives; more. the power
OF Natal was confirmed. and his
daughter was assured in her position
as the wife of Tikal, and the senior and
the Lady Maya Were about 10 attain
the fullDess of their desire and TO be de-
clarcd one in the presence of the peo-
pie.
Well, the thing was done. and il was
useless 10 regret il or TO think of the
future, 50 turning to Natal | asked
h.sl what was to happen on the pyra-
mid
"Thcre Will be a great gathering of
the people; he answered. ''as is Gus
tomary 1t dawn after the night Of the
Rising IF Waters. and there they will be
told al that has happened in the sane
tuary. and then, if it is their viii. Ii
kal wiz be confirmed as cacique. ne
cordlug TO the bargain, and either
to-day or tomorrow the white man
here VIII become the husband of the
Lady Maya, IN order" he added. with a
sneer. that OF their union may be
born the Dcliverer who is to be. Now.
If YOU are ready. it is time for us 10 60.
for the multitude is gathered and an
escort awaits rs without"
Leaving the palace we placed our
selves IL the center of party of no.
bleS ard guards who were IN attend
ancc. and marched across the COURTYARD
and M the steps of the pyramid. The
night " a. growing gray with the break
ing ot the. lawn. and in the pearly light
through which the stars shOnc family
we perceived that bands of priests and
MOBILES, wrapped in their broidered SER
apes. Tor me morning air was chilly.
stood ia 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 20 learn the
truth n % the death of Xibalbav. the
late % the strangers who had accompa
MED him from the unknown lands. the
decision OF the council as TO the success
Sor Ia The place and power of cacique.
and. lastly. whether or no the oracle of
the god had spoken 20 his priests upon
this or any other matter when the lost
ta.ismaE was set in it, place upon the
altar.
On reaching the altar seats were
given 20 Is among the Mobiles Of the
Heart. those 81 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 q great one, seeing that but
little rain falls in their country. and
thus they depended for a bountiful har-
vest upon the inundation Of the island
and II the low shores that Law around
the lake. 10y is waters swollen with the
melted snow 81 the great mountains on
the mainland. When the waters re-
treated then they planted their grain
IN rich land. made fertile without labor
TO themselves by the mud. whence be-
fore flc lake rose again they gathered
their corn and other crops.
When they had ended their PRAYING.
and gifts ~ fresh flowers had been
laid upon the altar bv beautiful chill
drcn chosen for that purpose Tika1
blessed nc people as high priest. and
inc ~inT4r ceremony came 90 an end