Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-04-23
HEART Of THE WORLD.
by II. RIDER HAcoARD.
Strange Story. Taken From Manuscript Bsqssahsd BY an on
Mexican Indian to Ills Friend and comrade, -
Englshman Named jones'


~ might De thought That after Iikai
was gone we should have spoken to-
gether OF what had passed, and OF the
dangers that lay before us. But this
was not so; think we felt. all OF US,
that there was nothing more to be said:
II Is useless to fight against Fate, and
u Is still more useless TO be afraid OF
him, seeing that whatever we do or
leave undone, he has his will OF us at
last.
30 we sat and chattcd OF indifferent
Things our lie at the mine at Cumarvo,
that night which we spent IN the
hacienda OF Santa Cruz, the death OF
our brave companion, Molas, and l
know not what besides Presently the
child awoke, and Its parents occupied
themselves with 1t, finding resem'
plances 70 each other IN Its tiny Tea
lures, while walked up and down the
nall, counting the lamps, smoking and
wondering where should be by this
time on the morrow.
Az length the gates opened, Tor now
u was almost the middle OF the night,
ana there came through them Dmas
ana guard OF priests. Inc Ola man
bowed before us ana SAID that the time
nad come 70 lead US before the council
IN the sanctuary but that we were 70
nave no rear seeing that from al that
NC naa peen aoie W iearn our onense
would De ieniently dealt WITH
Maya asked what was 70 become o.
inc MIAMI, which couid not DC ie1t
alone, ana ne replied tnat she must
orlng IL WIN her, whereon sne began
70 wrap IL IN Q serape;;,
am, Tour care Is needless, saia Dmas'
lhere III q secret way W tne sanctu-
ary from TINS place, BY which l pro
pose 70 iead you 10 order tnat tne chlid,
our iord' snall not pe exposed 70 inc
raw coid OF inc n'gnI
linen ne LOOK . ounch OF Keys rom
MS girdie' ana, handing Them 70 one
VINO accompanied MN, ieliow priest
ana MEMBER OF tne council, ne com,
named MN 70 80 forward WIN severa!
o. the escort 20 open the doors ana
ilgnt lamps IN .he passage tnat lay ne
tween us ana the sanctuary. me
priest went ana, having waited awhile
we followed MN, 70 find him standing
oy the marble wall winch separated
inc passages from the sanctuary.
Vn seeing us approaching ne gave me
signs, which were answered from with
mi next ne opened the false door with
SILVER Key leaving tne Key ana tne
Duneh 70 wilch II was attached liked IN
III, LOCK- Tor Dlmas 10 lake as ne passed.
ms however the old priest did not
40, Tor ne thought that we should oil
return by the passage, and as we
stepped INTO the sanctuary he con-
tented himself with closing the door
without iock'ng H.
we TOOK seats that had been prepared
Tor us IN the open space before the altar,
Maya being placed IN the center and
the senior ana myself on either side OF
her Next the priest OF the Records
rose ana announced that the business
Deiore the council was the trial OF
three OF its members, Maya, Lady OF
49, - '"s
sea, ana lgnatio, the Wanderer, q Lord
OF the Heart from beyond the mountains,
upon the charge OF having broken their
oaths' which they TOOK as members OF
the council. Having read this formal
accusation the priest set out the case
against us, clearly but briefly;
ION this very night Of the festival Of
the Rising Waters year age" he
began, "you strangers, among other
things, swore upon the altar, setting
In pledge your souls and bodies for the
fulfllment Of the oath, that without
the consent Of this high brotherhood
you would not attempt to leave the
gates OF the City Of the Heart. Yet but
the other day you were overtaken and
seized In the act Of flying across the
mountains to the wilderness beyond.
Nor Is this all Of your crime, for with
you was that infant, born of the white
man md the Lady of the Heart, the
heaven-scnt child Of prophecy, of
whom you wickedly sought to rob us
and the people Say now, how do you
plead to these charges?"
1--WE plead guilty" answered Maya,
but we ask to be heard in oar own de-
Tense. Listen, lords: since that night |
when we were married bv your com
snall give pince 70 yours, Maya.
Once before ! held out the hand
Of pence 70 You. MAYA, but You refused
IT and tric'icl me, and from that refusal
has sprunr the death of vour father and |