The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1896-04-08
CHAPTER XVIII
TIE PLOT,

Springing forward, but too late to
save him, the senior and | lifted Zibal-
bay from the ground and laid him on
couch. Peeping over our shoulders
Maya caught sight of his ghastly face
and the foam upon his lips.
so, he is dead!" she moaned; my
father is dead, and he died cursing
me-"
NO" said the senior, "he is not dead,
for his heart stirs. Bring water,
Maya"
She obeyed, and for hard upon two
hours we struggled to restore his sense,
but in vain; life fingered, indeed, but
we could not stir him from his stupor.
At length, as we were resting, wearied
with our fruitless labor, the gates
opened and Tikal came again.
"What now?" he asked, seeing the
form of Zibalbay stretched upon the
couch. ''Does the old man sleep?"
"Yes, he sleeps" answered the senior,
"and | think that he will wake no
more. The words he spoke to you to-
day are coming true, and that which
you took from him by force will soon
be yours by right"
"No," answered Tillal, 'by right, it
will be the Lady Mayas yonder, though
by force it may remain mine, unless, in
deed, she gives it me of her own free
will. But, say, how did this come
about?"
Now broke in hastily, fearing lest
the senor should say too much, and
thus bring some swift and awful fate
upon himself.
"Ile was worn out with the fatigue of
our journey and the eXcitements Of
yesterday. After You had left he be-
gan to talk of your proposals. and sud-
denly was taken with this fit. These
matters arc not for me tospcalz of, who
am but prisoner in = strange land,
still, lord, it will not look well if he,
who once was cacique of this city dies
here and unattended. for then people,
may say that you have murdered him.
Have you no doctors who can be sum
moned to attend him, for without drugs,
or even bleeding knife, we have done
all that we can do?"
Murdered him! That they will say
in any case. Yes, there are doctors
here, and the best of them is Natal,
my father-in-law. will send him.
But, Maya, before / go, have you no,
word for me?"
Maya, who was seated by the table,.
her face buried in her hands, looked up
and said:
''Is your heart stone that you can
trouble me in such an hour? When my
father is recovered, or dead, will an,
swer you, and not before"
$50 be it, lady" he said. It'll then,
/ will wait. And now, l must get
hence, for there may be trouble in the
city when this news reaches it."
Awhile passed and Natal appeared
before us followed by one who carried
his scales and medicines. Without
speaking he came to where Zibalbay
lay and examined him by the light of a
lamp. Then he poured medicines down
his throat and waited as though he
expected to see him rise, but he neither
rose nor stirred.
"a bad case" he said, 81 fear that
he will awake no more. How came he
thus?"
$50 YOU wish to know" asked
MAYA, speaking for the first time.
"Then bid your attendant stand back
and will tell you. My father yonder
was smitten down while he cursed me
in his rage"
"And why did he curse you, lady?"
'For this reason: Til1al came to my
father, and, in the presence Of us all,
offered to set him in his lawful place
again and to suffer him to carry out
his schemes, whatever they might be,
if would consent to become his Wife \
ITO become his wifel'' said Natal in
aniazement 'How could you become
his wife when he is married? Can there
be two ladies of the Hearth"
"No," answered Maya quietly, but
the proposal of Tikal, my cousin, is that
he should either pct away or kils your