The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-01-04
CHAPTER XIII.
J-%1 rvrso nan,n

At sunrise on the following day l lit
fire by which to prepare soup for the
senior. who still slept, and as I was en-
gagged thus saw the lady Maya walk
ing toward me and noticed that her
hands and feet were swollen.
Sonora said, bowling before her,
II humbly congratulate you upon your
dangers. Last night I said words to
you in my grief that should not have
been spoken, for it is my fault that [
am apt to be unjust to women. Now [
crave your pardon, and will add that
if III atonement for my past injustice [
can serve you in any way now and
afterward / pray you to command me-"
She listened, and answered:
Il thank you for your kind words,
Don Ignatio. If you wish to show your
self my friend it is in your power to do
SO You have guessed my secret, there
fore am not ashamed to repeat that
the senior yonder has become every
thing TO me, though as vet | may be
little to him. l ask you then to swear
upon the Heart that you will do moth
ing to separate u.s.. that whatever may
be our need you will help us by all
means in your reach"
"You ask me to swear a large oath,
sonora, and one that deals with the fu-
ture, Of which we have no knowledge"
I answered, hcsitating.
Il do, senior; but remember, were it
not for me at this moment your friend
who sleeps Wonder like q child would
be stiff in death. Remember, also, that
You have ends to gain III the City OF
the Heart, where it will be well for you
to have me as friend should we ever
live to reach it."
''There is no need to threaten me,
sonora" answered, Il promise that l
will not stand between you and the
senior. But see, he awakes, and his
solp is ready
She took the pot off the fire, skinned
it, and poured the contents into gourd.
Then she walked to the hammock and
said: ';Senor, here is your soup
Tie vas but newly awakened, and
looked at her vacantly.
Tell me. Maya, he said, what has
happened?"
Last evening" she&began, sin pick
ing flower for me you were bitten by
snake and very nearly died"
II know" he answered. eco on"
"After the danger of the poison was
past you became thirsty, SO thirsty that
you were dying OF it, and there was no
water to give you"
Eyes, yes" he said; ut was agony. I
pray that 1 may never suffer SO again.
But I drank water and lived. Who
brought it to me?"
1T came from the cueva, that place
which we examined before you were
bitten"
WHO went down the cueva to get itP
The place is unclimba BILE"
II went down"
ho ia in ma cement SYO11l
It is not possible. Do not jest Tell
me the truth Quick; am tired"
II am not jesting. Listen, senior.
You were dying for want of water. 1
could not bear it, and knew that my
father would not be back in time; so
took the water skin and some torches
and went, without saying anything to
Ignatio. The place was hard to climb
and the adventure strange: but came
through it safely"
The senior heard. bnt made no answer.
He only stretched out his arms toward
her, and there in the wilderness did
they plight their troth.
Remember, am but an Indian girl"
she murmured presently, "and you are
one OF the white lords Of the earth. Is
it well that you should love me?'
1T is we'll" he answered; 'for you
are bIlG uOUleSL WOHldu tIht AdSS
known. and you have saved my life"
zibalbay did not return until past
midday, when he appeared with the
water. 4
''Does he still live9" he asked Of
Maya.
Eyes, father"
HE must be strong, then" he an
swered. II thought that the want OF
water would have killed him ere now"
He has had water, father. | de-
<scended Che cueva and fetched It, she
added after moments pause.
The old man looked at her, amazed.
How came it that you found col1r-s
age to go down that place, daugh ter?"
he asked at length
The desire to save friend gave me
courage she answered, letting her eyes
fall beneath his gaze. II knew that you
could not be back in time, so went. =
Zibalbay pondered awhile. then said:
.. ,si i think THAT you would have done
better to let him die, daughter, for I
believe that this white man will bring
/ trodble upon us. It has: pleased the
godsto preserve yon alive. Remenb Der:
that your life belongs to them and that
Won must fol low the pat hat they
5 have chosen. Remember also. shat one
:, \ NJ