Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1896-04-29
HEART OF THE WORLD.
BY H. RIDER HAoGARp.
Strange Story, Taken From q x.,,~cr,,, n.
sseathed By an Old Mexican Indian TO HI,
Friend and Conrade, N E.siish.
man Nanel Joacs.
copyrisr:7a. 1894, by II Rider uaSss-a
CHAPTER Xiy--corr,,u.n

COPYRIGHTED. 1894 by IL Rider HaSes-d
CHAPTER xiX.-cosrrNuxp.
That day-it was the day previous to
The night ofthe rising of the waters on
which we were to appear before the
Council of the Heart, in the sanctuary
TiSal came to visit us. To Maya he
bowed low, but on the senior and my
self he looked with an angry eve, with
the eye, indeed, of one who would have
killed us if he dared.
First, he offered her his sympathy
upon the death of her father For this
she returned her thanks, quoting. how
ever, with flash of her old spirit, n
certain proverb of her own people, of
which the meaning is that the death of
one man is the breath of another
My father was your foe, Tillal," she
added, land now that he is gone you
will be able 20 sleep and reign in peace"
mot altogether SO, lady" he an
swered, seeing that he had left behind
him a more dangerous rival To my
power, namely, yourself l will not
hide from you, Maya, what you soon
must learn, that large portion of the
people, and with them many of the no.
bies accusing me of your fathers muir
der, clamor that | should be deposed
and that you should be set up in my
place as cacique of the City of the Heart
Some few days ago l might have
stilled their cutlery by commanding you
to be put to death, but now it is too
late, for since that time has fought for
you, and your death would doubtless
be followed by my own. When last we
met asked you certain tquestion, to
which you promised me an answer
when your father was dead or re-
covered, and to-day l have come to hear
that answer
while Zibalbay lived had much TO
offer him and you in exchange for your
hand. / offered it freely So high IA
value did l place upon it, now that it
seemed lost 20 me, that l was prepared
to lay down my power, TO suffer your
father 10 violate the laws and TO incur
the internal hate and active enmity of
Natal, his daughter and his party.
Now must make you lower bid, that
of equal power for yourself and for your
friends here, whatever they may desire
should you refuse me. this is the al
Tentative: Civil war in the city till one
of us is destroyed, and instant death as
the portion of your friends.
but, Maya, pray you not to refuse
me, for have something more TO offer
you, and it is my undying love. From
child have always loved you, MAYA
although you have treated me coldlv
enough, and now day by day love YOU
your father We're dead yonder in the will
derness, for then l had faith in Natal,
whom now / know to be a rogue and
Natal swore that il was written in the
stars. Even so would not have married
another woman, for my heart bled at
the loss of you, had not Natal made
marriage the price of his support. with
out which | could not hope TO be
anointed cacique, seeing that l had
many jealous enemies"
You have spoken, cousin" she an
swered, and your words have been
gentle, and yet if l understand you
right, some days since yOU were in two
minds as TO whether it would not be
better to murder me here in this dark
some hole where You placed us
If policy put any such thought into
my mind, Maya, love drove IL out again"
he answered with confusion,
$50 you admit that this was so, she
said. We'll, u day might come when
policy might breed the thought and
love, grown weary, prove not warm
enough to withcr it. Also il seems
that even now, you threaten these. my
companions, with death, should refuse
you your desire"
IF you should refuse me nv desire.
Maya, perhaps it will be for a secret
reason of your own" and he scowled at
the senior angrily, "a reason that the
death of these men, or one of them, will
remove"
BE sure of thing, Tilial," she broke
IN sharply, that such a wicked deed
would put an end forever TO your hopes
OF making me your wife. Now listen:
have heard your words and thev have
touched me somewhat. for | think that
although you have broken your oath to
my father, and your troth with me. at
heart you are honest in your love. Still
can give you no answer now, and for
this reason, that the answer does not
lie with me, but rather with the gods.
Tomorrow night we appear before
She High Court of the Council of the
Heart, and you yourself shall set the
several portions of the talisman in the
symbol that is on the altar in the sane
tuary, when the god shall declare his
purpose. BY that will and not by INV
own l must be guided in this and in all
other things" Tikal thought awhile
and answered:
And il nothing follows this cere-
mony and the oracles of the gods are
silent, what them"
Then, Tiltal," she answered. softly,
you may ask me again if i will be-
come your wife, and perhaps if the
council suffers il / shall not say you
nay. And now farewell. for grief still
shadows me, and l can talk no more"
IN