The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1896-04-03

are brethren OF the Utmost circle or the
Heart you are free from offense, but
first you must prove that this is SO
which as yet you have not done.
brother of the Utmost circle knows its
mysteries, and can answer the secret
questions. Come. let us put you to the
test, but first let the white man be re
moved from the sanctuary, for in this
matter each must answer for himself
Accordingly the senior was led away
and the doors having been closed and
the lamps shaded, the oldest and most
instructed of the councillors stood for
ward and put to me the test with many
questions, all of which l answered
readily Then they commanded me to
stand before the altar, and, as Keeper
of the Heart, to open the Heart in the
highest degree. This did also, though
afterward they told me that my ritual
differed in some particulars from their
own.
After that took up my parable and
questioned them till at length none
could answer me, no, not even
the high priest or Natal, and they con-
fessed humbly that l was more in
structed than any one of them, and be-
cause of this from that day forward l
was held in veneration in the City of
the Heart.
Now l was given a seat among the
brethren, the highest, indeed, after
| those of the high priest and the great
| officers, and the senior was sent for.
He entered with downcast look, and
while Maya and watched him sadly his
examination began. 1t was not long.
At the second question he became
confused, used angry language in
Spanish and English, and broke down.
Brethren" said Tikal, and there was
| JOY in his eye as he spoke, lit seems
that we need not trouble further with
this impostor. By daring to enter our
city he has earned the penalty of death,
moreover he has blackened his crime
by claiming to be one of our brother
hood, whereas he scarcely knows the
simplest password. Is it your will that
he should be taken to his fate? II SO,
speak the word of DOOM"
Now Maya rose affrighted, and mo-
tioning to her to be silent, l spoke, say
ing:
Hear me before that fatal word is
spoken, which cannot be recalled! This
man is of our brotherhood, though he
has not been admitted to the inner cir
cles, and has forgotten those of the
mysteries which were taught to him at
his initiation. Listen and l will tell you
how he came to join the Order of the
Heart" And l told them all that tale
of my rescue by the senior, and told
them also all the story of our meeting
with Zibalbay, and of our journey to
the City of the Heart, speaking to them
for an hour or more, while they listened
earnestly.
When l had done they debated as to
the fate of the senior, and, though by
only one vote, decided that if | had
nothing more to urge on his behalf, he
must straightway die.
Il have something more to urge"
said, though it has to do with the
mysteries of your religion rather than
with those of our order. 1t was the
belief of Zibalbay, who is dead, that
when the two halves of the ancient
talisman, the halves Night and Morn
ing. that together make the perfect
Day. are set in their place in the sym
Dol which once they filed before the
dividing of the people, then it shall be
made clear what part must be played
by each of us wanderers in the fate that
is to be. To this end did Zibalbay I'M
dertake his journey, and 10! here is that
which he went to seek" and | drew
the taliSman from my breast. Take it
Tikal, and lay it with its fellow in the
place that is prepared for them, so that
we may learn, and all your people may
learn. what truth there is in the vi
sions of Zibalbay."
THAT is our desire" answered Tikal,
taking the severed emerald and its
counterpart, which Maya gave to him.
Let the white man, Son of the Sea,
be placed without the sanctuary and
guarded there awhile, for at least he
will gain time to prepare himself for
death. Fear not, lady" he added,
noting Maya's anxious face, mo harm
shall be done to him till this matter of
the prophecy is made clear"
Now for the second time the senior
was removed. and when he was gone
Tillal spoke, tracing the history of the
prophecy SO far as it was known, and
reciting lis substance; that when once
more the two halves of the symbol of
the Heart were laid side by side in their
place on the altar in the sanctuary,
then from that hour the people should
be great again.
In all this" he said, Il have little
faith; still Zibalbay, who in his way
vas wise, believed in it, and the story
Having gone abroad, the people clamor
shat it should be put to the test. Is
this your viii alSo?"
1t is our will" answered the coun-
ciilors-
Good. Then let it be done, and on
your heads be it if harm should come
of it. Natal, the council commands
you to set these fragments in the hol-
low of the symbol"
If that be the will of the council l
have no choice but to obey" said
Natal. Yet, though none else have
done so, give my voice against it, for
l hold that this is childishness, and
never did l know any good to spring
from prophecies" and he paused as
though waiting for an answer.
''Obey! Obeyr' said the council, for
curiosity had got hold of them, and
they craned their necl1s forward to see
what might happen.
obey" repeated Tikal. But beware
how you shake the symbol. lest we
should perish in the doom of waters"
Then Natal set the two halves of
the talisman in the hollow of the
Heart, and as before, in the midst of
an utter silence, the heart opened like
a flower Leaning forward, saw the
eye within its hollow. but it seemed to
40 Gro hoI faIa1 fro,,, tho