Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1896-04-15
you and her. and thess strangers, your

saving that might do INV worst. but
she would have naught To say to me.
What happened afterward YOU know.
Zibalbay. and you know also the dan
ger in which you stand to-day. now
that power has left YOU and your very
life trembles i'm the balance"
He paused. and Zibalbay. who had
been listening to his wordr amazed,
turned To Maya and said steruly:
Does this man lie, daughtcr?''
As she was about To answer, though
what she meant To say 1 do not know,
Til<al broke in:
This offer l made TO her, and. that
IL may bc put beyond doubt, now |
make il To her and YOU again. II She
/ Will take me in marriage, for her sake
l will put away Nahua. | will lay
down my rule and set you in your place
again, with liberty so long as you shall
live to work such follies as the gods
may suffer"
Zbalbay heard, and. rising. lifted
ms head To the vault above him and
said:
II thank thee. q God. who. in an
swer to my prayers. has shown me a
way of escape from the troubles that
beset me. Tikal. il shall be as YOU
wish. and we will swear our peace upon
the altar of the Heart. Doubtless
there will be trouble with Mattai and
some of his following, but if we stand
together they can be overcome"
Your pardon, Zibalbay," 1 inter
rupted; the Lady Maya has not
spoken.
Spoken" he exclaimed. 'Why.
what should she say?"
What said to my Cousin Til1al YES
terday. she answered. setting her lips
and speaking very low: that | will
have nothing To do with him"
Nothing to do with him. girl. Moth
ing To do with him! Why. hes your
aitianced; you do not understand
Il understand well. father. but for
naught that can be offered to me upon
the earth will give myself in marriage
TO a man who has treated you and me
as my Cousin Tikal has done. a man
who could not keep his oath to you or
wait for me one single wear"
Cease to be foolish said Zibalbay.
"llkal has erred, no doubt. but now he
would make atonement for his error.
and an; # can forgive him so can You.
Think no more of the girls folly. Tilxal.
but send for ink and parchment and
let us set down our contract"
~ have the paper here, lord" said
Tilal, drawing "A roll from his breast.
but. pardon me, does the Lady MAYA
consent
"Ay. ay, she consents"
90 not consent. father. ana n You
drag ne To the altar with yonder man
/ will cry out to the people to protect
me. or. failing their aid, | will seek
refuge in death by my own land if
need be"
Now Iibalbay turned upon his
daughter, trembling with rage. but.
checking himself of sudden. said:
''Tillal. for a moment this girl of
mine is mad; leave us and come back
in some few hours, when Won shall find
her of another mind. Go now. / pray.
before words are said that cannot be
forgotten"
Tikal turned and went. and until the
gates N the far end of the hall had
FLASHED behind him and his guards
there was silence. Then Zibalbay
spoke To his daughter.
Girl" he said. Il know your heart,
and that your lips spoke lie when you
told us that 1T was because of TilIal's
forgctfulncss of his VOW and troth that
you viii not marry him. There is an
other reason of which you have not
spoken. This white man is the reason
l on have suffered yourself to- look on
h!m with longing. and you cannot pluck
his image from your breast. 10 / not
speak truth?'
"lou speak truth, father" she an
swcred. placing her hand in that of the
|
at least. | will not lie
Il thank you, daughter. Now. hear
me. Who and what are YOU that your
whimS should stand between me and
the fultillment of my lifelong desire.
between your people and their redcmp-
ton? Must all these things come to
nothing because of the fancies of Il
love-sici girl, whose poor beauty. a. it
chances by favor of the gods. can avail
to bring them about?"
1t seems so, father" she said
'Evcrything else you. who are INV
father, may require of me. even to my
life. but my honor is my own
What shall say TO this headstronp
girl?' gasped Zibalbay. Speak. white
man. and say that YOU renounce her.
Tor surely your heart is not 50 wicked
that 1T will lead you to consent to this
folly. and to your own undoing. to
stand between her and her destiny"
Now all eyes We're fixed upon the
senior. who turned pale in the lamp
light and answered slowly:
'Llbalbay. grievc TO vcN YOU. but
your daughters destiny and mine are
one. nor can | command her to forsabc
me and give herself in marriage to a
man she hates"
ct 1T seems that YOU could com
mand her To break her pligited t.'oth
''A F''i Ndhf. VII. iIl'l~i llflilJIfDlc Wnltp
man. said /ibalbay with a bitter laugh.
''flearllen. friend Ignatio. for YOU at
least are not in love. tell your brother
there and this rebellious girl which
way their duty lies
'/ibalbay." | said. II cannot plead
your cause and mine. though not 10 do
so be our destruction. seeing that
have sworn that come what NAV / will
not stand between these two To-day.
for the second time in nv life nv plan,
are brought To nothing 10y the passion
OF q woman. Well. so it is fated, and
50 let il he.
/ibalbav did not answer me. but.
turning TO the scno-. said:
will YOU still cling To your purpose
white man. and take advantage Of my
daughter, madness? II so. know that
your triumph shall Ice short for when.
IN some few hours. Tikal comes again.
! VIII tell him all and give YOU over To
hi- lScc ping to deal with ~ hc wishes.
Answer. then. and for the last time.
Do Won choose life or dcath?"
Il choose death" hc answered. bold
ly. III tine price 81 life b. the breaking
~ my troth and thu. surrender Of nav
bride 90 another man II lpnatio here
cannot forget his oath hos, much less
can FORGET mine which / have sworn
with this lady? Therefore. tin '.e
Lady Maya rcnounccs inc. fJr COON or
evil. IN death or in life. viii clcave 60
her.