Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-07-30

his hand. ''See, my father has found
the place and calls us"
We walked on to where the old man
stood.
Although trust you" said the old
man, yet l must obey the oath, to
suffer no stranger to see the entrance
TO the mountain gate. Come hither,
daughter, and blindfoId these foreign
eTs."
She obeyed, and as she tied the
handkerchief about the senor's face I
heard her whisper: Fear not, viii be
your eyes"
Then we were taken by the hand and
led some PAGES; then, as we judged
from the sounds, our guides moved
Quoted down a steep incline through
narrow passage. At length, after TAX
ing many sharp turns, the passage
grew wider and the path smooth and
level
''Loose the bandages, said the voice
of Zibalbay.
Maya did so, and we looked round Us
curiously to find that we stood at the
bottom of a deep cleft or volcanic rift
in the rock. This cleft was still easily
passable after centuries of disuse, and
did not measure more than forty PAGES
from wall to wall. On either side of it
lowered sheer black cliffs.
By degrees the cleft narrowed until
1t ended in a tunnel.
We followed through the gloom till
presently spot of light appeared be-
fore us, and in another minute we
stood on the further side OF the noun
tain.
. Without pausing Zibalbay pushed on
down the hill, and suddenly turning to
the right stopped before the door of g
house built of hewn stone.
Enter" he said, land welcome to
the country of the People of the
Heart"
As the door was thrown open, light
from the fire within streamed through
it, and mans voice was heard asking:
''Who is there?"
Without answering Zibalbay walked
into the room. At a table placed be-
fore the fire sat man and
woman eating. lis Ehis the way
that you watch for my return?" he
asked in a stern voice. Haste now
and make food ready for US, for we are
starved with cold and hunger"
The man, who had risen, stood hesi-
tating, but the woman, whose position
enabled her to see the face of the speak
er, caught him by the arm, saying:
Down to your knees, husband. II
is the cacique come back"
Pardon" cried the man, taking the
hint, 'but to be frank, o lord, it has
been so dinned into my ears down in
the city yonder that neither you nor the
Lady of the Heart would ever return
again that l thought you must be
ghosts. Yes, and so they viii think in
the city, where have heard that Tika1
rules in your place"
Peace" said Zibalbay, frowninR
heavily. 1--WE left robes here, did we
not? Go, lay them out in the sleeping
IL l. L 3 III g.
these my guests, while the woman
makes food ready"
When they were gone on their err
rands we gathered round the hearth to
baslI in the luxury of its warmth.
Soon the Indian returned and an
nounced that our rooms were ready.
Accordingly we followed him to small
sleeping room. Laid upon the beds
were linen robes and serapes made in
alternate bands of gray and black
feathers worked on to foundation of
stout linen. Standing upon wooden
stools in corner of the room, half
filed with steaming water, were two
basins, which the senior noticed with
establishment were made of hammered
silver.
We put on the robes that had been
provided and returned to the eating
room. Presently the curtain was drawn
and the Lady Maya joined us, but so
changed that we started in astonish-
ment.
Different indeed was she to the ILL
clad and travel-stained girl who had
been our companion for so many weeks.
Now she was dressed in a robe of snowy
white bordered with embroidery of the
royal green and having the image of
the heart traced in gold thread on the
breast. On her feet were sandals, also
worked IN green. while round her
throat, wrists, waist, and ankles
shone circlets of dead gold. Her dark
hair no longer fell loose about her, but
was twisted into a simple knot and con-
fined in little golden net, and from
her shoulders hung cloak of pure
white feathers.
Zibalbay entered soon after followed
by the two Indians bearing food. He
was simply dressed in a white toga-
like robe, similar to that which had
been given to the senior and myself, a
cloak of black feathers, his shoulders
covered, and round his neck was hung a
massive gold chain, to which was at
tached the emblem of the heart also
fashioned in plain gold.
THE food is ready" said Zibalbay,
''such as it is. Be seated. Nay, daugh-
ter, you need not stand before me. We
are still fellow wanderers, all of us, and
ceremony can wait till we are come to
the City of the Heart.
Then we sat down and the Indians
waited on us. What the dishes con-
sisted of we did not know, but after our
long privations it seemed to us that we
had never eaten so excellent a meal.
Already difference to the senior could
be seen in Zibalbay's mode of address.
Formerly he had called him "senor," or
even ''friend;" tonight when speaking
to him he used a word which meant
s'foreipner," or unknown one" and
even myself he called by name without
adding any title Of respect.
Come hither," said Zibalbay to the
Indian, when he had handed us some
cigarettes. start now to the borders
of the lake and advise the captain OF
the village of the corn growers that his
lord has returned again, commanding
him in my name to furnish four travel
ing letters, to be here within five hours
after sunrise. Warn him also to have
canoes in readiness to bear us across tho
lake, but as he values his life to sond no
word OF our coming to the city. TO-
now, and swiftly"
The man bowed, and snatchinR .
spear and feather cloak from peg
fear the door, vanished into the n1Shtp
needless of the bowling wind and the
sleet that thrashed upon the roof:
Then Zibalbay said: Come, daugh"
ter, it is time for US to rest; our journey
has been long and you must be weary.
Good night to you, my guests; to-moE-
row / shall hope to house you better.
And with bow he left the room.
Maya rose to follow his example, ana