Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1896-04-29

See, this Hall of the Dead is
full; there Is no place left for
me or my descendants, and surely
that is an evil omen. "Well," she added
with sigh, what does it matter
where they set us when we are dead?'
Then we went on defiling before the
silent company of the golden dead,
till passing through n hall, we stood in
front of n little door over which burned
great lamps This door was guarded
by two priests with drawn swords,
which they pointed towards us a sign
that we should halt. Then the priests
who had escorted us so far fell back b.
hind, and we were left alone.
Give the sign, keepers OF the gate"
said Maya
Thereupon one of the men with
drawn swords did So and after a few
moments delay the doors opened and
we entered the sanctuary.
In front of the altar was an open
space, and beyond its circle, each wear
ing the orders of his spiritual rank sat
the Brethren of the Heart, according
to their degree, to the number of thirty
six
Led by Maya, we advanced into the
open space before the altar. and stood
there in silence. At length one of the
brethren, he who sat nearest TO the
door, rose, aud, addressing Tilcal, said:
Keeper of the Heart, one who claims
TO be of our company stands before you,
and with her two for whom she vouches.
BE pleased to prove them by the voice
of their sponsor, that their mouths may
be opened and their prayers come to
the ears of the council"
AT his words two of the brethren
rose and blindfolded the senior and my
self lest we should see the sacred signs,
with all of which, indeed, was well ac-
quainted; but Maya they did not blind
fold. Then we heard T'ikal asking:
How are you named who are strange
TO our eyes?" and the voice of MAYA in
our ears cautioned us to he silent
We are named the Son of the Sea
and lgnatio the Wanderer," answered
the voice of Maya.
Son of the Sea and Ignatio the Wan
derer' why come you here" asked
Tikal, through the gate on which is
written. Death to the Stranger"
Because we have prayer to utter,
an Offering to make and because. al
though we dwell in a far land. we are
the servants of the Heart" answered
Maya.
Then the various signs of the ritual
were made by Maya.
strangers" said Tikal, ''your mouths
are opened in the sanctuary according
TO the ancient form, and it is lawful for
the council to listen TO your prayer
Speak then without fear" Then /
spoke, saying:
Brethren. for so / will dare TO call
you, seeing that also. though a stran-
ger, am of the brotherhood of the
Heart, as can prove to You if need be,
ay, and higher in rank than any pres
ent here, unless it be you, o Keeper of
the Heart. On my own behalf on be-
half of my brother, who also is of our
company, and on behalf of Maya, the
Lady of the Heart. daughter of him
who ruled You, and heircss to his DOW
er, speak and make my prayer to You.
1T would seem that we three, to-
gether with Zibalbay, who is dead. and
therefore beyond your Judgment, have
violated the laws of this city. we by
daring TO enter it's gates, and Zibalbay
and the Lady Maya by leading us to
those gates. For this crime we should
have been put to death eight days ago
upon the pyramid had not the Lady
Maya claimed a right to have our cause
laid before this high tribunal. In her
case, and in that of her father, this was
conceded, and l pray now that the
same clemency may be extended to me
and 20 my brother"
Upon what grounds do you claim
this, stranger?" asked TilIal
Upon the ground that we arc breth-
rem of the Utmost circle of the Heart,
and, therefore, have committed no
crime in visiting this city. which is free
TO Us by the right of our rank and
Office
Now there was a murmur of true"
from the council behind me. and Tikal
also said true" but added: If YOU
are brethren of the inmost circle of the
Heart you are free from offcnse. but
+rg+ IL -
which as yet you have not done. A
brother of the Utmost circle knows its
mysteries, and can answer the secret
questions. Come. let US put You TO the
test, but first let the white man be re-
moved from the sanctuary, for in this
matter each must answer Tor himself
Accordingly the senior was led away.
and the doors having been closed and
the lamps shaded. the oldest and most
instructed of the councillors stood for
ward and put TO me the test with manv
questions. all of which / answered
readily. Then they commanded me to
stand before the altar. and. rs Keeper
OF the Heart. to open the Heart i'm the
highest degree. This did also. though
afterward they told me that my ritual
differed in some particulars from their
own.
After that took up my parable and
iuS9t4oitu IucIn tlll AZ length none
could answer me, no not even
the high priest or Natal. and thev con
fessed humbly that / was more in
structed than any one of them, and be-
cause of this from that day forward I
was held in veneration in the CITY of
the Heart.
Now was given a seat among the
brethren. the highest, indeed, after
those OF the high priest and the great
officers, and the senior was sent for.
lie entered with downcast look. and
while Maya and watched him sadly his
examination began. II was not long.
AT the second question he became
confused, used angry language in
Spanish and English. and broke down
Brethren" said Tikal. and there was
joy IN his eve as he spoke. cit seems
that we need not trouble further with
this impostOr. BY daring 20 enter our
city he has earned the penalty Of death.
moreover he has blackcued his crime
by claiming 20 be one Of our brother
hood, whereas he scarcely knows the
simplest password Is 10 your will that
he should be taken 90 his fate? ESQ.
speak the word OF doom"
Now Maya rose aHrighted. and mo-
tioning 90 her 90 be silent, I spoke. saw
ing.
Hear me before that fatal word is
spoken, which cannot be recalled! This
man IS OF our brotherhood. though he
has not been admitted 90 the FINER cir