Owingsville outlook. [volume] (Owingsville, Ky.) 1879-192?, 1896-06-18

We took seats that had been prepared
for MS In the open space before the altar,
Maya being placed in the center and
the senior and myself ON either side OF
her. Next the priest of the Records
rose and announced that the business
before the council was the trial of
three Of it, members, Maya, Lady of
the Heart, the white man. Son of the
sea; and lgna.io. the Wandcrcr, Lord
of the Heart from beyond the mountains,
upon the charge of having broken their
oaths, which they took rs members of
the council. Having read this formal
accusation the priest set out the case
against us, clearly hut briefly:
ION this very night of the festival of
the Rising Waters n year ago" he
began, 'you strangers, among other
things, sworc upon the altar, setting
in pledge your souls and bodies for the
fuliillment of the oath, that without
the consent of this high brotherhood
You would not attempt to leave the
gateu of the City of the Heart. Yet but
The other day You were overtakcn and
seized in the act of flying across the
mountains 10 the wilderness beyond.
Nor is this all of your crime, for with
you was that infant, born of the white
man and the Lady of the Heart, the
heaven-scnt child of prophecy, of
whom You wickedly sought 10 rob us
and the people. Say now, how do you
plead To these charges"
I'VE plead guilty" answered Maya,
but we ask to he heard in our own de-
Tense. Listen. lords: since that night
when we were married 10y your com
mand my husband and myself have
been doggcd by murder, and yonder,
as High Priest of the Heart and presi-
dent of your councils, he sits who
would have murdered us.
Il see among you this night some of
those who waited ON me upon the day
of our escape, having 0hc Lord Dimas
at the head Of them. What did they
tell me? That a plot had been discov-
cred, made by this Tikal, to murder
nv husband, my child and my friend,
ICnatio. the Naudercr. They told me
also that TilSal would be depoGcd be-
cause of this and his other crimes, and
that the infant in my arms would this
very night bc anointcd cacique of the
People of the Heart. Is it not so,
Dimas?"
1t is 81, lady" he answered, land
learn that You are not the only ones
who are ON trial this night. Though
your ease is taken first, that of Tikal,
the high priest, and others will follow;
but till then. in virtue of his rank and of
fee, he sits as president of our council"
Now TilSal sprang from his scat, but
Dimas turned upon him and said,
stcrnly:
Keep silent, lord. or speak only to
fulfill the duties of your place. Your
trial shall be just. hut know that there
Is no hope of escape for You till it is
done, seeing that your guards are dis
armed and all the paths are watched"
Tillal seated himself again and Maya
went on:
ION that very night of the coming of
Lord nimas. when | was alone in nv
chamber, Lady Nahua, the wife of
Tikal, crept upon me and strove to
murder this my child, and she set out
the story telling how the senior and i,
hearing her cries for help, had entered
the chamber and seized and bound
Nahua.
Then it was, brethren, that terror
took us and we fled, seeking to escape
n land where we could not live in safety
from one hour to another. This is our
sin, and we leave our punishment in
your hands. Surely it was better that
we should strive to save the child so
that he might live to play his part,
whatever that may be, than that he
should be kept here to be butchcrcd by
those whom You have raised up to rule
you"
When Maya had finished her speech
the senior and | addressed the council
in turn, confirming all that she had
said and submitting ourselves to the
Judgment of the brotherhood.
Now we were 1nmmanlnl IN fall
back, while the council consulted to-
gether, and there we awaited our doom.
Presently we were brought forward
again, and Tikal spoke to us, saying
that our sentence was postponed till
the charge against Nahua, the daughter
of Natal, and against himself, Tikal,
the cacique and high priest of the City
of the Heart, had been considered, add
ing, In q slow and triumphant voice:
LET Nahua, the daughter of Natal,
who awaits without, be brought into
the presence of the Heart"
We heard and gathered up our eour-
age to meet the advancing fate, for we
knew that death was on US, and that
for MS there was no more pity or escape
The door opened and Nahua came
through 1t, dressed in the robes of her
rank, and wearing the green diadem
that could be carried only by the wife
or mother of the cacique.
''Whst is your pleasure with me,
lords?' she said pre- udly after she had
made her obeisance to the altar.
Then the priest of the Records rose
and read the charge, namely, that she
had attempted with her own hand to do
murder upon the body of the infant
child of Maya, Lady of the Heart, and
her husband, the white man, and also
that she had aided and abetted Tikal,
her husband. in various acts of cruelty,
and misgovernment that were alleged
against him, asking her what she
pleaded in answer.
i 40 the -! charge, met guilty."
she s;fI! '..L II'Jai md his own
sins. T TO- e-., .y,i.Iyr 1 did at
tempt to pul su abd pnder brat, but
Maya discovered ga. was caught
and bouad."
''Susely, brethren" Sd D.-r s, rs
ing, 1--WE need carr Tins ma 10 err
thcr. We have heard the evidence Of
Eadv Maya and the others, and nov
Nahua confesses to her crime. She
confesses that she attempted to take
the life of him whom she knew to be
the sacred child, the hope of the Peo-
pie of the Heart, and for such a sin il
seems to me that there is but one pun
ishment, though it is terrible, and she
who must suffer ii is a woman and of
high rank"
"Stayi" broke in NAHUM. "You have
not heard me out, and have the right
to speak before / am condemned tc die
You charge me with having attempted
to take the life of the sacred child, the
hope of the People of the Heart and
had l done this, doubtless j should be
worthy of your doom, whereas, in truth,
1 am worthy of your praise.
Lords of the Heart, this child whom
you adore, the Heaven-sent child of
prophecy, whom tonight you would
anoint as your cacique, deposing Tikal,
my husband, and who, as You believe,
shall be the star to light our race to
greatness and to victory, is living lie,
fraud and bastard!''
Now a confusion broke out among
the council, and angry voices called to
her to cease her blasphemies, but she
won silence and went on:
Hear me out, pray you, for even il
/ wished II | should not dare TO speak
thus at random, but am prepared with
proof of every word utter. You think
that would have killed this child to
wiring the heart of my rival Maya, and,
indeed, l wish to wiring it, and that
indeed, wish to set him there. and yet
these were not my reasons for the deed.
tTo BE CoNrINUEpl