The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1896-05-06
HEART OF THE WORLD.
BY H. RIDER HAooARD.
A Strange Story, Taken From Manuscript BE-
queathed by an Old Mexican Indian TO His
Friend and COmrade, IN English'
man Named Jones.
Copyrighted, 1894, by H Rider Haggard.
CHAPTER XXlI.-CoNT1NuED.

CHAPTER XXlL-CoNTINUED
While the senior and his wife were re-
ceiving gifts and listening to pretty
speeches, number of attendants had
brought tables laden with every sort of
food from behind the pillars, where
they had been prepared, and at signal
the feast began. 1t was long and joy
GUS, though joy seemed to have faded
from the face of Maya, who sat at the
head of it, neither eating nor drinking,
but from time to time lifting the red
eye from her breast, as though it
scorched her skin.
At length she rose, and, accompanied
by her husband, walked howing down
the hall to the courtyard, where bear
ers waiteR for them with carrying
chairs. In these they seated them
selves, and a procession having been
formed, very long and splendid, though
j will not stay to describe it, we started
to march round the great square to the
sound of music and singing, our path
being lit by the light of the moon and
hundreds of torches. Here in this
square were gathered all the population
of the City Of the Heart, men, women
and children, to greet the bride, each of
them bearing flowers and a flaming
torch, and never have seen any sight
more beautiful than this of their well
come. The circuit Of the square being
accomplished the procession halted at
the palace gates, and many hands were
stretched out to help the bride and
bridegroom from their litterS.
1t was at this moment that l, who
was standing near, felt man who was
wrapped in large feather cloak push
past me, and saw that he held some
thing which cleaned like knife. By
instinct, as it were, cried: Beware,
my friend!" in Spanish, and in so pierre
ing voice that it caught the senor's
ear. He swung round, for already he
was standing on his feet, and as he
turned the man in the cloak rushed at
him and stabbed with the knife. But
being warned the senior was too quick
for him. Springing to one side with
the same movement he dealt the would
be murderer great buffet, that caused
him to drop the knife and sent him
staggering into the dense shadow of
the archway For some seconds no one
seemed to understand what had hap
pened, and when they did and began to
found. Who he was or why he had at
tempted this cowardly deed, was never
discovered, but for my part have little
doubt but that either Tikal himself or
some creature of his was wrapped in
the dark feather cloak, and thought
thus to rid him of mis- rival. Indeed,
as time went on, this belief took firm
hold of the mind of the people, and
Al hot Loo 70 ha
sapping of Tikal's power and populari-
ty, Very hastily the senior assured the
lords in attendance, who crowded
around him, that he had received no
manner of hurt, and then, after speak
ing few brief words OF thanks he
Withdrew into the palace with his wife
and saw him no more that night.
Within few days of the senor's mar
rage we heard that Natal had been
seized with sickness, kind Of palsy
qogether with a leprous condition OF the
arms that bafled all skill. For months
he lay in his house, growing gradually
worse, so SAID the physicians; but one
night-I remember it was three days
previous to the birth of Maya's child
he appeared before Maya, the senol
i and myself, as we sat together in the
palace looking out upon the moonlit
garden. At first we did not know him
Tor never before had seen a sight *
dreadful. His body was bloated, one
arm, his left, was swathed in bandages
his head shook necessarily, and the lep
ROSY had seized his face, which was O.
livid hue.
.sDo not shrink from me, he bega1
in low, quivering voice, as he gazec
upon us with his whitening eye; "surel.
YOU should not shrink, seeing that al
Of YOU are partners in the crime tina
has made OF me the loathsome thing
am. Ayel deny it, If you will, but
know it. The vengeance of the god ha
/ fallen upon me, his false servant, and l
las fallen Justly. Moreover, be assure'
that on YOU also shall that vengeanc
also fall, for the Eye has seen, tn
Mouth has told, and the Heart ha
thought upon your doom.
.'Look upon me and learn how ricl
N are the wages of HIM who works in
iouity, and by my sufferings strive t
count the measure of your own. Pei
chance your cup Is not yet full, pei
chance You have still greater sins t
work. but vengeance shall come, tel
YOU that vengeance shall come here an
M hereafter.
II did this thing for my daughter
sake-yes, for love of her, my onl
child. She was ambitious and she d'
sired this man, and thought to assur
greatness to herand to her children afte
IN her But see her wine has been turne
" vinegar and her pleasant fruits
ashes. Her husband hates her with a
cyer-growing hate, Now they scarcel
sneak, or speak only to shower bite
words upon each others heads.
s'More, not for long will he be caciqu
Of the City OF the Heart, for his jealol
I N ,ra1e has soured all his mind; his deco
y Are deeds OF oppression and injustic