Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1896-03-25
,.ptnin o, the boa. spo,ss 20 h,m. ~.

fishes? This is the lord Zibalbay re-
turned from the dead"
Then he FASTENED to open the gate as
fast as his fear would let him.
pardon, father, PARDON he cried
prostrating himself, but the lord
| TilSal. who rules in your place, has
| given il out that you were dead in the
| wilderness. and commanded that your
name should be spoken no more in the
city"
Zibalbay swept by him without
word. When he had passed up the
marble steps and through the waterway
| pierced in the thickness OF the frown-
ing walls ne halted, and addressing
the captain of the boatmeYa, said:
Let this man be scourged to-mor-
row ut noon in the market place, that
henceforth he may learn not to slecp
at his post"
On the further side of the wall ran a
wide street, bordered by splendid houses
built of white stone, which led to the
central square of the city, n mile or
more away. Up this street we walked
swiftly in silence, and as we went /
noticed that much of il was grass
grown, and that many of the great
houses seemed to be deserted: indeed,
though light came from some of the
latticed window places. could see no
sign of any human being.
here is the city, whispered the
senior to me, but where the people?"
Doubtless they celebrate the we'd
ding feast in the great square," |
answered. "HarS, hear them"
As L spoke the wind turned "A little,
and sound of singing floated down it
that grew momentarily clearer as we
approached the square. Another five
minutes passed and we were entering
IT. 1t was wide place, covering not
less than thirty acres of ground, and
in its center rising 800 feet in the air
cleaned the pyramid of the Temple of
the Heart, crowned by the holy fire that
fiickered cternally upon it's summit
In the open space between the walls
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 glitterinp
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 jugglcrs and butfoons 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
y
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 il did
not please Zibalbay.
Along the sides of the square ran an
avenue of trees bearing white flowers
with a 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 a
table at which sat an oldi.h man and a
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.
Yes, husband" answered his com
panion, and 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. {"
1T was fine sight," said the man.
though for my part think it early to
proclaim him cacique. Zibalbay might
yet come back and then"
"Iibalbay 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 l do not grieve much
for him, for he was hard taskmaster
to us common people, also he was
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 at
gold bracelet upon her wrist.
1t is easy to be generous with the
| goods of others" answered the man.
Zibalbay was the bee who stored
Tikal is the wasp who cats. They say
that the old fellow was mad but do not
believe 1t. / think that he was a greater
man than the rest of us, 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. How 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? II anybody dwells out yonde-.
l it is TX of white devils of whom we
| have he'd, 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 il matter to us il
| the people do waste? We have all things
| that we wish. Those who come after
/ us must see TO it."
Yet, wife, / have heard you say that
| you desired children" Suddenly the
/ woman's face grew sad,
Ali! she answered, "if Zibalbav
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 IL he were not
/ he could never do this; that is beyond
/ the power Of the gods themselves. IL.
| indeed, the gods are anything except n
/ dream. SO what is the use of talking
abor: him; let me enjoy the feast that
| Tikal gives us, husband, and do not
/ speak Of children, lest | should weep.
and learn 20 hate those Of my sisters
/ who have been blessed with them"
Then at a sign from Zibalbav we
moved on, but Maya, hanging back for
I moment, whispered:
Look at my fathers face. Never
have j seen him so angry. Yet these