The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1896-08-27

her who was about to be made a bride.
Weary of watching them and OF hear
ing their pretty speeches, l took adj
vantage of the escort of a friendly
noble and went to see the ceremony of
the closing of the fioodgate, a huge
block of marble that slid down a groove
into niche prepared To receive 1t,
where it was fastened with great bars
of copper and sealed by certain officers,
although, as | was told, the rising
water would not reach it for another
eight or ten days.
About midday l returned to the
apartments that had been assigned to
me in the palace, and hearing that the
senior was still in attendance on the Lady
Maya | ate my dinner alone with such
appetite as / could find, and lay down
to sleep awhile.
i was awakened from my rest by the
senior, who arrived looking merry as he
used to be before ever Molas came to
lead us to the old Indian doctor and his
daughter, and full of talk about the
preparations for his wedding that night.
/ listened to all he had to say and strove
earnestly to fall into his mood, but, as
suppose, without effect, for in the end
he fell into mine, which was but sad
one, and began to talk regretfully of
the past and doubtfully of the future.
Now. | did my best TO cheer him up,
but with little avail, for he shook his
head and said
Indian as she is, love Maya dearly,
and no other woman has been or can be
so much to me. and yet am afraid, Igna-
ito, for this marriage is ill-omened. and
pray that what has been begun in
trickery may not end in desolation.
Also the future is black both for you
and me. You came here for certain
purpose and will desire to leave again
to follow your purpose, nor, although |
take this lady to wife. do | wish TO
spend my days in the City of the
Heart. And yet it would seem that un-
less we can escape, this is what we
must do"
Let us hope that we shall be able to
! escape" / answered.
81 doubt it," he said, "for already
have discovered that though we be
treated with all honor, yet we shall be
closely watched, or at least shall for
certain reasons. Still come what may,
| / trust that this marriage will make nc
breach in our friendship, Ignatio."
II do not know, senior, though think
that for weeks its shadow has lain be
tween us. and fear lest that shadow
should deepen. Also it has been fated
that women and their loves should
come between me, my ambitions and
my friends. From the moment that my
eyes fell upon Lady Maya, bound to
the altar ip the chapel of the hacienda.
] felt that her great beauty would
bring trouble upon MS. and it would
seem that my heart did not lie to me. ,
Without answering the senior lay
down on the bed, where he remained,
| h.t C1a nr lFn | moi
know, till the hour of sunset, when he
was aroused by the arrival of several
lords and attendants, who came to lead
him to the bath. On his return other
messengers entered, bearing magnii
cent robes and jewels, the gift of Lady
Maya, to be worn by him and by me a,
the ceremony. Then BARRIERS, having
trimmed and scented his hair and beard
according to the fashion of this people
he was decl<ed out like IA victim for the
sacrifice So soon as all was prepared
the doors were flung wide, and sis
officers of the palace came through
them, bearing wands of office in theii
hands. accompanied by troop of sing
ing girls chosen for their loveliness
which. to speak the truth, was no
small. In the midst of these officers
and ladies the senor was placed, and
followed by myself, who walked behind
with heavy heart, he set out for tn,
banquoting hall.
AS we reached it the doors wer,
thrown open and the singers set up {
love song, pretty enough, but so foolish
that | have forgotten it. We passed
the threshold and found that the grea
hall was crowded with guests arrayeC
in their most brilliant attire, WHEREOF
the lamplight shone bravely Through
this company we walked till we reached
an open space at the far end of the hall
around which, in a semicircle, sat th'
members of the Council of the Heart
Tikal and his wife being placed in th'
center of them, having Natal on thei
right, and on their left that old priest
Dimas, the foster brother of Zibalbay
who had administered the oath to us.
As we advanced. with one exception
all the council rose and bowed to tn,
senior. That exception was Tikal, VIII,
stared straight before him and did no
move. Scarcely had they resumed thei
seats when the sound of singing wa
heard again. mingled with that o
music. and far away, at the foot of th
long hall, appeared band of musician
playing upon pipes of reeds, clad in tn
royal livery of green AMI crowned witt
oak leaves. After the musician
marched, or, rather, danced, numbe
Of young girls robed in white only, an,
carry ing white lilies in their hands
which they threw upon the floor to b
trodden by the feet of the bride.
Next came Maya herself, sight O
beauty such as stirred even my col,
heart and caused me to think NOR
gently of the senior, who had becom
party to a trick to win her. She ais
was arrayed in white, embro idered wit
gold, and having the symbol of tn
Heart blaZoned on her breast; abou
her waist and neck were girdlc an
collar of precious emeralds; on her hea
was set tiara of perfect pearls takcl
in past ages from the shellfish of tn
lake, and round her wrists and ankle
were bangles of dead gold. Her way
ing hair hung loose almost to her san
dalcd feet, and in her hand, as token O
her rank, she bore little golden seer
ter. having at one end a great pear
and at the other a heart-shaped EN-
erald
Now the bridegroom and the brid
stood together in the open space SUI
rounded by the half circle of the Coun
ell of the Heart. among whom wa
given IL seat, while behind them wer
arranged the musicians and singin
girls. and behind these again presse
the glittering audience of marriag
guests.
When all were at their places hcl
aid arose and cried out the names an
titles of the pair. reciting briefly tina
they were to be wed by the direct cou
mand of the guardian god of the city
by the wish of the Council of the Heart