The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1896-04-29

would be visible to the whole multi
tude.
To the People Of the Heart the occa-
sion was great one, seeing that but
little rain falls in their country, and
thus they depended for bountiful har-
vest upon the inundation of the island |
and of the low shores that lay around
the lake, by it's waters swollen with the
melted snow of the great mountains on
the mainland. When the waters re-
treated then they planted their grain
in rich land, made fertile without labor
to themselves by the mud, whence be-
fore the lake rose again they gathered
their corn and other crops
When they had ended their praying
and gifts of fresh flowers had been
laid upon the altar by beautiful chill
dren chosen for that purpose, Tikal
blessed the people as high priest, and
the simple ceremony came to an end.
Then Natal rose to speak, telling
the people all things that had hap
pened, or so much Of them as was ex-
pedient that they should know. He
told them of the death of Zibalbay, OF
the setting of the lost talisman in the
symbol, and of the writing that was
sound therein, which he read aloud to:
them amid dead silence.
Then he told them how the Lady
Maya aud the senior had consented to
be married in obedience to the voice OF
the oracle, and lastly. how she, the
Lady Maya, had desired that her cousin,
Tikal, should continue to be cacique OF
the CITY of the Heart, that she might
have more leisure to attend upon her
heayen-sent husband and to be at rest
until that child was become a man,
whose wisdom and power should make
them even greater than their 1ore1a-.
theirs had been.
When he had finished there was
much applause and other expressions.
of Joy, and spokesman from among
the people asked when the marriage OF
the white man, Son OF the sea,
to the Lady Maya would take,
place This question she answered.
in person, saying modcstly that it was
her lords will tha1 it should take place
that very night in the banqucting hall
of the palace, and that great feast
should be celebrated in honor OF it.
After this the talking cameto an end,
Tikal having said no word good or bad
beyond such as the duties of his office
required, and, according to the custom
of the country, many people, noble and
simple, came forward to congratulate
her who was about to be made bride.
Weary of watching them and OF hear
= ing their pretty speeches, | took ad-
vantage Of the escort of friendly
noble and went to see the ceremony OF
the closing of the foodgate, q huge
block of marble that slid down groove
into Rchc prepared to receive it,
where it was fastened with great bars
of copper and sealed by certain officers
although, as l was told, the rising
water would not reach it for another
eight or ten day2.
About midday / returned to the
apartments that had been assigned tc
me in the palace, and hearing that the
;. senior was still in attendance on the Lady
Naya / ate my dinner alone with sucf
appetite as could find, and lay dowr
to sleep awhile.
I was awakened from my rest by the
senior. who arrived looking merry as HI
used to be before ever Mo!as came K
, lead us to the old Indian doctor and hi
daughter. and full of talk about thu
|, preparations for his wedding that night
. / listened to all he had to say and strov'
, earnestly to fall into his mood, but, a
suppose, without effect, for in the en'
he fell into mine, which was but sa'
!, one, and began to talk regretfully o
; the past and doubtfully OF the future
Now. / did my best to cheer him up
= but with little avail, for he shook hi
r head and said:
G "Indian as she is, love Maya dearly
a and no other woman has been or can b
so much to me, and yet am afraid, lgna
4 ito, for this marriage is ill-omened, an
:. pray that what has been begun i
!. trickery may not end in desolatior
y Also the future is black both for 20
q and me. You came here for certai
Y purpose and will desire to leave agai
4 to follow your purpose, nor, although
i take this lady to wife, do | wish t
spend my days in the City Of tn
J.. Heart. And yet it would seem that III
J. less we can escape, this IS what W
g must do"
"Let Us hope that we shall be able
n escape" answered.
II 81 doubt it" he safd, "for already
have discovered that though we /
" treated with all honor, yet we shall /
/. closely watched, or at least shall Il
n, certain reasons. Still come what ma.
Ia I trust that this marriage will make
a, breach in our friendship, Ignatio."
h 81 do not know, senior, though thin
d that for weeks its shadow has lain b
,r tween us, and fear lest that shade
er should deepen. Also it has been fate
or that women and their loves shou
is come between me, my ambitions ar
m nv friends. From the moment that n
I'd eyes fell upon Lady Maya, bound j.,
in the altar in the chapel OF the haciend
e. l felt that her great beauty wou
o, bring trouble upon us, and it wou
seem that my heart did not lie to me
as without answering the senior Ii
ne down on the bed, where he RENAME
ed whether sleeping or awake do n
a know, till the hour of sunset, when
was aroused by the arrival of sever
Of lords and attendants, who came to lei
IS him to the bath. On his return 9th
he messengers entered, bearing magni
be cent robes and jewels, the gift of La
,c- MayS. to be worn by him and by me
RI the ceremony. Then BARRIERS, havil
o. trimmed and scented his hair and bea
er according to the fashion of this peop
an he was declked out like victim for t
he sacrifice. So soon as all was prepar
, a the doors were flung wide, and {
be officers of the palace came throu
w. them, bearing wards of Office in tn
70, hands, accompanied by troop of sir
an inc girls chosen for their loveline
witch, to speak the truth, was I
mr. small. In tie midst of these offic'
no. and ladies the senior was placed, al
1d- followed by myself, who walked behi
lrd with heavy heart, he set out for
he banqueting hall.
ak AS we reached it the doors W.
yht thrown open and the singers set u
tly love song, pretty enough, but so fool
md that have forgotten it. We pas
,er- the threshold and found that the gr