Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-08-06
thus bring some swift and awful fate
upon himself.

thus bring some swift and awful fate
upon himself.
He 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 are not for me to speak of, who
an, but a prisoner in a 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 a bleeding knife, we have done
all that we can do?"
Murdered hinl That they will say
in any case. Yes, there are doctors
here. and the best of them is Natal,
But, Maya. before 1 go, have you no
word for me?"
Maya. who was seated by the table,
her face buried in her hands, looked up
and said:
rs your heart stone that you can
trouble NE in such an hour? When my
father is recovered, or dead, I viii an
swer you, and not before"
80 be it. lady, he said. It'll then
I viii wait. And now. I 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 ibalbay
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?'
DO you wish to know?" asked
Maya, speaking for the first time.
Then bid your attendant stand back
and I will tell you. Ny father yonder
was smitten down while he cursed me
in his rage"
And why did he curse you, 1ady?"
For this reason: Tilal came to my
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. T"
Ito become his wife," said Natal in
amazement. 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 put away or kill your
daughter, in order that he may set me
in her place.
When Natal heard this his eyes
flashed and his very beard seemed to
bristle with rage.
He proposed that! He dared to pro-
pose that!' he gasped. 20, let him
have a care. l set him up, and perchance
I can pull him down again. Continue,
lady"
agreed to the offer. But if my father
accepted I refused. seeing that it is not
my wish to have more to do with tt
l1al. Then my father cursed me, and
while he cursed was stricken down"
You say 1t is not your wish to marry
Tikal,' lady Is it then your wish to
marry any other nan?"
Yes" she answered, letting her eyes
fall. Il love this white lord here.
whom you name Son of the Sea, and I
would become h is wife. But, Natal.
Tikal is very strong, and it may be, I'M
less l can find help elsewhere, that in
order to save the life OF the man love.
Of his friend and mine, Ignatio and my
own. shall be forced into the arms of
Tilsal.
But now ,rikal has asked me for
my answer. and l have told him that
l viii give it when my father is recov-
cred or dead. Perhar; it will be for
you to say what thai answer shall be,
for alone and in prison l ara not strong
now, do the people love me well enough
to depose Tilzal, and set me in my
fathers place. should he dep"
Il cannot say, lady" he answered
shortly, but at the least you will
scarcely ask me thus to bring about my
own and my daughters ruin. I will
be open with you. l gained over the
Council of the Heart to Tika1's cause,
and my price was that he should marry
my daughter, thereby satisfying her
love and my ambition Yes, l have
plotted to set Nahua on high, both for
her sake and for my own, seeing that
after the cacique l would be the chief
man in the city.
Can l then turn round and depose
him. and my daughter and myself with
him? And if I did what would be my
fate at your hands in the days to come?
deed, who has offered SO deadly an
affront to me and mine, hut it must be
in some other way than this. Tell me
now, lady, what is it that you desire
most: to be the cacique of this city by
your right Of birth or to marry the man
you love?"
Il desire to marry the man I love. :"
she answered, land to escape from this
place back with him to those lands
where white men live. I desire also
Ignatio should be given as much gold
as he needs to enable him to carry out
his purposes in the coast country yon-
der. II things can be brought about
thus Tikal and Nahua and their de-
for. a1-Cf1t 7 care r111a