Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-03-12
HEART Of THE WORLD.
BY III. RIDER HAGCARD.
Strange Story. Taken From Manuscript Bequeathe BY eli oa
Mexican Indian to Ills Friend and comrade, az
EngIshman Named JONES'
Copyrighted. 1904, BY H. Rider Hassard

~, ne Is dead" sne moaned; my
father is dead, and he died cursing
me-"
no" said the senior, "he Is not dead,
for his heart stirs Bring water,
Maya"
She obeyed, and for hard upon two
hours we struggled to restore his sense,
but in vain; life fingered, indeed, but
we could not stir him from his stupor.
At length, as we were resting, wearied
with our fruitless labor, the gates
opened and Tilsal came again.
what now?" he asked, seeing the
form of Zibalbay stretched upon the
couch. "Does the old man sleep?"
Eyes, he sleeps" answered the senior,
land | think that he will wake no
more. The words he spoke TO you to-
day are coming true, and that which
you took from him by force will soon
be yours by right"
NO" answered Tikal, "by right, 1t
will be the Lady Maya's yonder, though
by force 1t may remain mine, unless, in
deed, she gives 1t me Of her own free
will. But, say, how did this come
ab0ut?"
Now ! broke In hastily, fearing lest
the senior should say too much, and
thus bring some swift and awful fate
upon himself
HE was worn out with the fatigue OF
our journey and the excitements Of
yesterday. After you had left he be-
gan to talk OF your proposals, and sud
denly was taken with this ut. These
matters are not tor me tospeak OF, who
on! but a prisoner in o strange land,
still, lord, it will not look well II he
who once was cacique OF this city dies
here and unattended, for then people
may say that you have murdered him.
Have you no doctors who can DC sum
moned to attend HIM, ior without drugs,
or even bleeding knife, we nave done
all that we can do? -.
Murdered him! That they will say
In any case. Yes, there are doctors
mere, ana the pest o! then IS Mattal'
my father-in-law' l will send him.
But, Maya, before CO. have you no
word for meY'
Maya, who was seated by the table,
her face buried in her hands, looked up
and said:
rs your heart stone that you can
trouble me in such an hour? when my
father is recovered, or dead, will an
swer you, and not before
80 De it, LADY, he said. It'll then
! will wait, And now must get
hence. for there may be trouble in the
city when this news reaches It," :.
Awhile passed and Natal appeared
before us followed by one who carried
his scales and medicines. Without
speaking he came TO where lioalbay
lay and examined him by the light OF
lamp. Then he poured medicines down
his throat and waited as though he
expected to see him rise, but he neither
rose nor stirred.
"A bad case" he said, VI fear that
he will awake no more. How came he
thus?' =.
DO you wish to know. asked
Maya, speaking for the first time.
"Theu bid your attendant stand back
and will tell you. MY father yonder
was smitten down while heicursed me
in his rage
And why did he curse YOU LADY,"
For this reason' Tikal came to my
father, and in the presence OF US all
offered to set him in his lawful place
again and to suffer him to carry out
his schemes, whatever they might be,
II would consent 10 become ms wlie. :
ITO become his wifc!' said Natal in
amazement. "llow could you become
his wife when he is married? Gan there
be two ladies' OF The Heart?
NO answered Maya quietly, put
the proposal OF Iikal, my cousin, Is that
he should either put. away or XIII your
daughter, in order that he may set me
IN her place.
When Natal heard this his eyes
flashed and his very beard seemed 70
bristle with rage.
"He proposed that! lie dared TO pro-
pose that! he gasped' ~ let him
have a care. set HIM up, ana perchance
| can pull him down again commune
lady"
ne proposed IT, ana my iather
agreed to the Offer l,ut II my rather
accepted ! refused. seeing that ~ IS not
my wish to have more to DO with II,
kal: linen my iather cursed me, ana
while he cursed was stricken down"
u You say 1t Is not your wish to marry
Tikal,' lady. Is 1t then your wish TO