Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-06-11

/ men ne lOOkeG at me awhile. and
asked, slowly:
Say, brother. are you sick at
hearth
Nov. lord. when heard those words
OF which you know the meaning was
SO astounded that I almost fell back
ward down the ruined stair. but recov-
ering myself tried him with sign. and
To- he answered it. Then I tried him
with the second sign, and the third,
and the fourth. and SO on up TO the
twelfth, and he answered them all,
though not always as we use them.
Then | paused. and he said:
on have passed the door of the
sanctuary; enter, brother, and draw on
to the altar
''But l shook my head, for l could
not. Next he tried me with various
signs and strange words that have to
do with the iurnost mysteries. but was
not able to answer them, though at
times I saw their drift.
You have some knowledge he
said, yet You but stand at the foot of
the pyramid. whereas 1 watch the stars
from its crest, warming my hands at
the eternal fire.
None of my order have more,
lord answered, save the very high
est
"Then there are higher in the land?'
he asked, eagerly, but started sudden
ly, and, looking round, went on without
waiting for an answer: You are in Sor-
row, child of the heart. and have come
from one who was sick to the death: to
your business, and perchance we will
speak of these matters afterwards
First. lord said, L have brought
an Offering and l set down basket at
his feet.
Gifts are good between brethren
he replied; moreover, in this barren
place food is welcome. Come hither.
daughter, and take what this stranger
brings
''As he spoke a lady came forward
through the archway, dressed. like her
father, in a white robe of fine fabric,
but somewhat worn. 1 looked at her.
and it is truth. lord, that for the second
time l went near to falling. for so
great was the loneliness of this girl
that my heart turned to water within
me.
THE lady, whose name was Maya,
looked at me carelessly, and took the
basket. Following her through the
archway to the terrace beyond, l set out
the matter of my wife's illness to the
doctor-or rather to him who passes as
a doctor, and who is named Zibalbav
or Watcher-praying that he would
come to the village and minister to
her.
So 1t would be Of little use, brother
he said, sadl;-. seeing that your wife is
now dead. / felt her spirit pass US as
We talked together in the gateway
''Then taking my hand Iibalb bay. the |
Watcher, spoke great words to me in q !
solemn voice that seemed to soothe me |
as the song of n mother soothes Il rest |
less child, for he talked with certainty |
as one who has knowledge and vision |
of those who have gone beyond.
I" 'Listenn he went on. L come from |
far with this maiden, my daughter. and !
we are not what we seem, but who and |
what we are now is not the hour to |
tell. This is the purpose of our COM |
ing-to find that which Is not one, but /
divided; that which is not lost, but |
hidden. Perchance. brother, you can |
point the path to it. and he paused |
and looked at me with his piercing |
eyes.
words had reference. for are they not q
part of the ritual of the service, Open
ing of the Hearth
"'It is enough said. Vow, lord, |
what do you desire?'
'''I desire to know where that which
is hidden can be brought to light, and
if it dwells in this land, for have |
journeyed far to seek it.
have i beheid t With i my eyes, and he
guards it who is its keeper
Can you lead me 20 him, brother?'
No, for I have &c such commands;
but perhaps 1 can bring him to you.
though 4 must journey by sea and land
to find Mnl-that is. if he wills to come.
Give me proofs. lord, or do not start
on this Grand
''Will he believe that which you
have seen with you,. cycs?'
- lie viii. believe it, for he has trust
ed me from Childhood
Then 1ooll.' said the man, and.
opening his robe ut the neck, he bneeled
down in the light Of the fire.
''Therc, lord, upon his breast hung
that which has been hidden from our
sight since the sons of Quctzal, the god,
ruled in the land, the counterpart of
the severed symbol which is upon your
breast. That is all my story, lord
Now I. Ignatio. listened amazed, for
the thing was marve.OuS.
Did the man send me no further
messagc?" / asked.
None. He asked me if had money,
and without waiting to be answered he
gave me two handouts os Jumps of
nodded gold from hide bag. whereof
each lump was stamped with the SYM
boil of the heart"
LET me see ore" [ said.
''Alas, my lord Irnatio, I have none. /
Not far from the ruined temple where
Zibalbay and his daughter 3oiourned is |
the hacienda of Santa Cruz. and there, |
as you may have heard. dwell Z gang
of men under the leadership of one /
Dom Pedro Moreno who are by profess !
sion srnugglers. highway robbers and !
murderers. though they pretend to /
earn a living by the cultivation Of coffee |
and cocoa.
'As it CHANGED in iouracyin@ home !
wards. l fell into the hands OF some of |
these men. They searched ne. and, |
finding Jumps of gold in my pocket, |
handed them over to Don Pedro him |
self, who rode up whom he saw that |
they had the fish in their net. lie ex-
amined the gold closely. and asked me !
whence it came. At first l refused 20 !
answer. whcreupon he said that l !
should bc confined in Il dungeon at the t
hacienda until such time as chose to .
speak.
'.Theu. being mad to get back to my
village and learn the fate of NY wife. l i
found my tongue and spoke the truth. /
saying that the gold was given me in |
exchanges for food by an old Indian /
doctor. who dwelt with his daughter /
in ruined temple in the forest. |
"'Mother of Ueavenr said Don Pedro. |
4 have heard of this man before; but, !
now I know the kind of merchandise in ,
which he trades. think that l must |
pay him visit and learn what mill it !;
1yaS Stap,nn1 ,t