Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-08-06

FLASHED behind him and his guards
there was silence. Then Zibalbay
spoke to his daughter.
Girl, he said, II know your heart,
and that your lips spoke a lie when you
told us that it was because Of Tikal's
you will not marry him. There is an
other reason of which you have not
spoken. This white man is the reason.
You have suffered yourself to look on
him with longing, and you cannot pluck
his image from your breast. Do not
speak truth?"
''You speak truth, father she an
swered, placing her hand in that OF the
senior as she said the words. ITO you,
at least, will not lie"
81 thank you, daughter. Now, hear
me. Who and what are you that your
whims should stand between me and
the fulfllment of my lifelong desire,
between your people and their redemp-
ton? Must all these things come to
love-Sick girl. whose poor beauty, as it
chances by favor of the gods, can avail
to bring them about?'
ssIt seems so, father she said.
Everything else you. who are my
father, may require of me, even to my
life. but my honor is my own
'sWhat shall I say to this headstrong
man, and say that you renounce her,
for surely your heart is not SO wicked
that it will lead you to consent to this
folly, and to your own undoing, to
stand between her and her destiny
Now all eyes were fixed upon the
senior, who turned pale in the lamp
light and answered slowly:
crr.ioua To uay ron 1711
your daughters destiny and mine are
one, nor can command her to forsake
me and give herself in marriage to
man she hates"
''Yet it seems that you could COM
mand her to break her p1ighted troth
for your sake, oh. most honorable white
man, said Zibalbay with a bitter laugh.
"Hearken, friend Ignatio, for you at
least are not in love- tell your brother
there and this rebellious girl which
way their duty lies"
'sZibalbay.'' said. 81 cannot plead
your cause and mine, though not to do
SO be our destruction, seeing that /
have sworn that come what may l will
not stand between these two. To-day,
for the second time in my life, my plans
are brought to nothing by the passion
of a woman Well, so it is fated, and
so let it be-"
Zibalbay did not answer me. but,
turning to the senior, said:
Twill you still cling to your purpose,
white man. and take advantage of my
daughters madness? If so, know that
your triumph shall be short, for when,
in some few hours, Tikal comes again,
I will tell him all and give you over to
his kee ping to deal with as he wishes.
Answer, then, and for the last time.
Do you choose life or death?"
81 choose DEATH" he answered, bold
ly, eff the price of life be the breaking
of my troth and the surrender of my
bride to another man. If Ignatio here
cannot forget his oath, how much less
can forget mine which 1 have sworn
with this lady? Therefore, till the
Lady Maya renOunceS me, for coon or
evil, in death or in life, will cleave to
her.
''And in death or in life will cleave
to you. beloved" she said. 'Take such
vengeance as you wish upon us, my
father, yes, if you wish. give over this
man to whom my heart drew me across
the mountains and the desert, to die at
the hands of Tika1, but know that he
will hold me faster dead than he did
while he was alive, for into the valley
of death shall follow him swiftly"
Now at last the rage of Zibalbay
broke loose, and it was terrible. Rising
from his seat he shook his c1enchcd
hands above his daughters head and
cursed her. till in her fear she shrank
away from him to her lovers breast.
'-As with my last breath" he cried,
81 pray that the curse OF your gods. of
your country. of your ancestors. and of
me, your father, may rest upon You
and your children; may your desire
turn to ashes in your mouth, and may
death rob you of its fruit; may you1.
heart break by inches for rernorse and
sorrow and your name become a Kissing
and shame -
He paused, gasping for breath, and
Maya fell at his knees sobbing: "Ohi
father, unsay those words and spare
me. Have you no pity for a womans
hearth
''Ah!' he said. $50 much pity as you
have for my sorrows and gray hair.
Why should I spare you, girl, who have
not spared your father? Ny curse is
spoken, and will add this to it, that it
shall break your heart at last, ay, and
the heart of that man who has robbed
me of your duty and your love-"
Then he suddenly ceased speaking,
his eyes grew empty, he stretched out
his arms and fell heavily to the floor.
CHAPTER XVIII
THE PLOT.
Spriuging forward, but too late to
save him. the senior and l lifted Zibal
-