Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-02-20
HEART OF TIE WORLD.
RY II. RIDER HAGGARD.
Strange Story From Manuscript Bequeathd by an oa
Mexican Indian to His Friend and comrade, an
EngIshman Named Jones'
Copyrighted. 1904, by H Rider Hassard

of the Enclosure of the pyramid and
the great buildings that formed the
sides of the square, the inhabitants Of
the city were gathered for their mid
night feast. All were dressed in white
robes, while many wore glittering
feather capes upon their shoulders, and
were crowned with wreaths Of flowers.
Some OF them were dancing, some OF
them singing, while others watched the
tricks Of jugglers and buffoons. But
the most Of their number were seated
round little tables eating, drinking,
smoking, and making love, and we
noticed that at these tables the chill
dren seemed the most honorable guests,
and that everybody petted them and
waited on their words. Nothing could
be more beautiful or stranger to our
eyes than this innocent festival cele-
brated beneath the open sky and lighted
by the moon. Yet the sight of it did
not please Zibalbay.
Along the sides of the square ran an
avenue Of trees bearing white flowers
with heavy scent, and zibalbay mo-
toned to us to follow him into their
shadow. Many of the tables were
placed Just beyond the spread of these
trees, so that he was able to stop, from
| time to time and, unseen himself, listen
/ to the talk that was passing at them.
Presently he halted thus opposite to
table at which sat an oldish man and
woman, young and pretty. What they
said interested him, and we who were
close by his side understood it, for the
difference between the dialect Of these
people and the Maya tongue is SO small
that even the senior had little difficulty
in following their talk.
"The feast Is merry, tonight" said
the man.
Eyes, husband" answered his COM
panion, land so it should be, seeing
that yesterday the lord Tikal was
elected cacique by the Council of the
Heart, and to-day he was welded in
the presence of the people to Nahua,
the beautiful child OF the lord Natal"
ut was fine sight" said the man,
Though for my part think l. S,fly to
proclaim him cacique Zibelbey might
yet come back and then"
"Zioalbay will never come back, hus-
band, or the Lady Maya, either. They
have persisted in the wilderness long
ago. For her ! am. sorry, because she
was SO lovely and different from other
great ladies, but do not grieve much
for him, for he was a hard tasllmaster
to us common people, also he waa
stingy. Why, Tikal has given more
feasts during the last ten months than
zibalbay gave in as many years, more
over he has relaxed the laws so that we
poor women may now wear ornaments
like our betters." And she glanced ut
Q gold bracelet upon her wrist.
ut Is easy to be generous with the
goods of Others" answered the man.
"zibalbay was the bee who stored,
Tikal is the wasp who eats. They say
that the old fellow asmad, but do not
believed it. | think that he was a greater
man than the rest of lis, that was all,
who saw the wasting of the people and
desired to find the means to stop it."
Certainly he was mad" answered
the woman. slow could he stop the
wasting of the people by taking his
daughter to wander in the wilderness
till they died of starvation, both of
them? If anybody dwclls out yonder,
1t is a folk of white devils Of whom we
have heard, who kill and enslave the
Indians that they may rob them Of
their wealth, and we do not desire that
such should be shown the way to our
city Also what does 1t matter to us II
the people do waste? We have all things
that we wish. Those who come after
us must see to 1t"
"Yet, wife, have heard you say that
you desired children" Suddenly the
woman's face grew sad,
"Ah!" she answered, "if Zibalbay
will give me a child will take back all
my words about him and proclaim him
the wisest Of men, instead Of what he
Is, or rather was-an old fool gone
crazy with vanity and too much pray
Ing. But he Is dead, and If he were not
he could never do this; that Is beyond
The power of the gods themselves, If,
indeed, the gods are anything except
dream. So what is the use of talking
about him; let me enjoy the feast that
Tkal gives us, husband, and do not
speak Of children, lest | should weep,
and learn to hate those Of my sisters
who have been blessed with them"
Then at a sign from zibalbay we
moved on, but Maya, hanging back for
/ moment, whispered:
"Look at my fathers face. Never
nave | seen him so angry. Yet these
,idings are not altogether i'll, and she
,lanced at the senior
Now Zibalbay walked on swiftly,
pulling at his beard and muttering to
himself, till we came TO great arch
way where two soldiers armed with
copper spears stood on guard chatting
With women in the crowd that gathered
round the open door, and eating sweet
meats, which they offered them. ri.
,albay covered his face with the cor
Ter of his robe, and bidding us do like
wise, began to walk through the arch
way, whereupon the two soldiers, cross
ng their spears, demanded his name
nd title
"By whose orders do you ask2" said
,ibalbav