Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-08-13
CHAPTER XIV.
HOW zIpALBAY CANE HOME.


Fer awhile we stood unnoticed in the
shadow of the doorway, observing this
strange and beautiful scene, till, as Iii
b.ibIy was about to advance to the
throne, the lord Til1al held up his scep-
ter rs Il signal, and suddenly the women
ceased from their dance and song. AT
the sight of the uplifted Scepter Zibal-
bay halted again, and drew back
further into the shadow, motioning us
10 do likewise. Then Tilial began to
speak in rich, deep voice that filed
the hall:
Councillors and mobiles of the
Heart" he said, land you high-born
ladies. wives, and daughters of the
mobiles. hear me. But yesterday, as you
know, took upon myself the place and
power of my forcfathers, and by your
wish and will was proclaimed the sole
chief ruler of the people of the Heart.
Now. have hidden you to my mar
-iage feast, that you may grace my
nuotials and share my joy. For be it
known to You that tonight ! have
taken in marriage Nahua the Beauti-
fuI. daughter of the high Lord Natal,
chief of the astronomers, keeper of the
sanctuary, and president of the Council
of the Heart, and her, in the presence
IF YOU all, 1 name as my first and law
Iul wife, the sharer OF my power and
your ruler under me, who, whatever be-
tile. cannot be put away from my bed
and throne, and as such | call upon you
to salute her"
Thcrcupon the whole company bowed
themselves before Nahua, who flushed
with pride and JOY, and repeated. as
with one voice:
Hail to thee, Lady of the Heart,
whom it has pleased the gods to lift up
and bless. Nav children be given to
YOU and with them happiness and power
for many years"
Mobiles" went on Tilsal. when this
ceremony vas finished, Tomorrow a
year will have gone by since Zibalbay,
nv uncle, who was cacique before me,
and the Lady Maya. my atfianced bride,
! left the city upon certain mission.
Before they departed it was agreed
that | should rule as next heir during
: the absence of Zibalbay and his daugh-
| ter, and that if they should not return
/ within two years then their heritage
I should be mine forever.
TO this agreement I set my narae
nth sorrow, for then, as now, held
| that nv uncle was mad. and in his mad
| ncss; went to doom, taking with him his
/ daughter. whom l loved. Yet when
| they were gone / fulfilled il 20 the let
| ter, hut trouble arose among the peo-
| pie. for they will not listen to the voice
! Of one who is not their anointed lord.
/ but say: We will wait until Zibalbay
| comes again, and hear his command
upon these matters
$50 it came about that many pressed
! il on me that for the sake of the people
| and the welfare of the place, / should
| shorten the period of my regency and
/ su4T~: "N>Pelf to be anointcd. But re-
membering my promise / answered
| thera sharply. saving that come what
! plotted before / sat me down in the
! place of my fathers
TO this mind then I held till three
/ DAYS since, when some of the people
| refused to get them to their labor, say
| ing that the high priest alone had au-
/ thority over them, and there was no
/ hial, priest in the city Then in my
| ,7..-s5Sst-Sity ! took counsel with the lord
/ Natal, master of the stars, and he con-
suited with the stars on my behalf.
''All night long he searched the heav-
ems. and he read in them that Zibslbay,
wht,. led by a lying dream, broke
through the laws of tine land and wan
| dercd across the mountains, has paid
the price Of his folly and IS dead in the
wilderness, together with his daughter
that was my affianced and the Lady OF
the Heart. Is il not SO, Mattai?
Now the person addressed. stout
man with n bald head and quick, shift
ing eyes and thick and griZzled beard,
stepped forward and said, bowling:
III my wisdom was not ut fault, such
! was the messaRe OF the stars. o lord