Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1896-03-11
HEART OF THE WORLD.
BY II. RIDER HAooARD.
etrs.es Story, Taken From . Hs.sserips -.
Sseathed By IN Old Mexican Indian 20 His
Fis.d and Conrads, IN EngiisA-
nan Named Joocn.
Copyrighted, 1894. by H Rider Hass.ra
CHAPTER xL-CoN1rsuxn

land to rcplenish the race, and this Is
our law, a law that cannot be broken
under pain of death, that no man or
woman may leave our territories to seek
husband or wife of different blood.
THUS, then, it has come about that
the people have grown fewer and fewer,
wasting away like snow upon n noun
tain top in summer, till ut length they
are dwindled to few thousands, who
IN bygone days could count their num-
Der by tens and twenties of thousands
But an ancient prophecy has come
down to us from our forefathers, and il
Is that, when once more the two halves
of the symbol of the Heart are laid side
by side in their place upon the altar in
the sanctuary of the holy city, then
from that hour she shall grow great
again. Over this saying brooded long,
and often did pray to that God whom
! worship that might find that which
was lost, and save the people from
perishing.
AT length a voice spoke to me in o
dream answering my prayer, bidding
mo to wander forth from the country OF
the heart and follow the ancient road
toward the sea, for there. near to the
eastern shore, / should find that which
was lost
"Then 1 summoned the Council of the
Heart and told them of my dream and
that purposed to obey It. But they
made mock of me and said that /
might go If | wished, but that no man
of the people should accompany me
across the mountains, for that was
against the ancient law.
ITO be short" continued Zibalbay,
since my heart was set upon this mis-.
sion and my daughter yonder, who 10
willful, would not be gainsaid of her de-
sire to accompany me, Tilal, my
nephew, was placed over the city to
rule as cacique in my stead, until |
should return again.
''Alone we crossed the mountains.
and alone, following the traces of the
ancient road, we travelled through the
desert and the forest that lies beyond
1T, till at last we reached this secret
place.
"There is noneed to tell the rest of the
talo, for it is known to you. Now, if il
pleases you. let us hear yours, and
learn what purpose led you and your
companion here in time to save us from
the grip of that white devil who lies
dead upon the stairway"
Then spoke, telling TO Zibalbay and
his daughter the story of my life, and
of my great scheme to build up. again
that empire which fell in the day of
Montezuma.
Now you speak words that are after
my own heart" said the old man; but
tell me, how is it to be doneP'
by your help" l answered 'Men
are here in plenty, but to use them I
must have gold, whereas yonder. it
seems, you have gold and no l5.en.
Therefore ask of you some portion of
Your useless wealth, that by its help |
may lift up your people and my own.
Follow me to the city, and if | can
bring 1t about you shall have all that
you desire" he answered. Now.
daughter, lead me To my rest, for | an
overwhelmed not with toll and suffer-
ing, but with too much joy"
When he had gone the senior spoke to
me. This Is very well, Ignatio." he
said, and most interesting, but lust
now, as | may remind you. there are
things more pressing than the regener-
alton of the Indian race; for instance.
our own Gafety. Tomorrow, at the lat
est, men will come to seek those villains
who lie yonder, and if we are found
here 1T Seems likely that we shall be
shot down as murderers. Say, then,
what do you propose to do?"
Il propose, senior, that at the first
light of dawn we should take the mules
and ride away. The forest is dense and
IT will be difficult to find US in it: more
over, two days journey will take us
beyond the reach of white men. Tell
me, lady" ] added to Maya, who had
returned from the chamber, do you
know the road?'
Il know the road" she answered
but, sirs, before you take it, it is right
that l should tell you something
4oU have heard my fathers words
and they are true, every one OF them,
but they are not all the truth. He rules
that city Of which he has spoken to YOU
but the mobiles there are weary of his
rule, that at times is somewhat harsh
also they deem him mad IL was for
this reason that they suffered him to
wander forth, seeking the fulfllmeDt
OF prophecy in which none OF them
have faith, for they were certain that
he would perish in the wilderness and
return no more TO trouble them
Then why did they allow vou who
are his heir, TO accompany him. lady?'
because / would have IL so. / love
my father, and If he was doomed to die
because Il his folly, il was my wish to
die with him. Moreover, il YOU would
know this truth. 1 hate that city where
was bora and the man in il to whom
am destined to be married. and desired
to escape from ii if only for awhile"
And does that man hate You. lndv?"
No" she answered. turning her
head aside; but If he loves me / be
Heve th'lt be loves power more Had I
stayed. ny father would have appoint
ed me q rule in his place. and Tikal.
my ctnls.r, would have been next 10 the
throne, not on it; therefore it was that
he consented TO my going. or at least
/ think go.
'''SiFs. lean now that you are 10 ac-
company us 20 the City OF the Heart.
should we live TO reach IT,
Come II you will, but be warned, my
people are Jealous people. and the
name 4 = stranger " hBteful 10 them
Few such have ever reached the City Of
the Heart Tor many generations. and OF
these save one or two. none have es-
capped frCDI IL alive. They do not de-
sire new things. they have little lSnovI-
edge ~ the world beyond their walls.
and seek for none.
Nov, .irs. choose whether Won will
accompany us in our march toward the
City OF waters. or whether you will set
your face 20 the sea again and forget
lnat you Glanced 10 hear a certain story
from q wandering doctor, who.e mis-
fortune had made him mad. and an In
dian girl who tended him"
Now ] Listened 90 these words which
the lady Maya spoke very earnestly and
with power. and understood chat ia, 4,
meant much; they meant that i'm roipe,
% the City ~ the Heart we were. =. .bc
believed, going 20 our doom.
Lad, sid. 1T may well elarer
that deeth waits me y,rfcr br.
thithcr / shall go n my strength does
fail D.. r..gIr