The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1896-05-06

know what they plotp They plot to
make that child that shall be born of
you, Maya, cacique in his room, and to
set you and your optland husband up
as regents till it shall be of an age to
govern.
80, you have planned cunningly, and
things look well for you, but say that
they shall not prosper"
4 And, shaking his withered arm in
our faces, he turned and limped from
the chamber.
Now we sat gazing at each other in
horror, for though we none of us had
any faith in the god he worshiped, IN
our hearts we felt that this man spoke
truth, and that the evil would overtake
us. For moment Maya hid her face
in her hands and wept, and then she
sprang up, and a fire in her eyes had
dried her tears.
$50 let it be-" she cried. "I care
nothing. At the least won you, oh, my
love, and for some months, through all
our troubles, have been happy at your
side, and, come good or come i'll, moth
ing can rob me of my memories. But
for you, fear, oh, my husband! l fear
for you"
And, her passion past, she flung her
self into his arms and again began to
weep.
In due course the child was born, a
beautiful boy, almost white in color,
with his mothers saarlilSe eyes, and on
that same night we learned that Natal
had died in much torment and that
Nahua was delivered Of son.
~ do want htr n1NH MoJra
now risen from her bed, was seated
with her husband and myself. while
behind us stood waiting lady holding
the sleeping infant IN her arms, when
it was announced to us that an embas-
sy of the great lords of the council
sought speech with her. Presently
they entered, and the spokesman, the
Lord Dimas, bowed before her and set
out his mission, saying:
1--WE have come to you, Lady of the
Heart, on behalf of the council and o1
the people, to rejoice with you in youl
great happiness and to lay certain mat
ters of the state before you. For some
months the people have grown weary
of the expressions and cruelties O.
Tikal, who, in defiance of the laws O.
the land, has put many to death on sus
picion of their being concerned in plot'
against his power Further, but yes
terday it came to the ears of the coun
Gil, through the confession of ont
whom he had employed to execute hi
wicl1edness, that a plan was laid t.
murder your husband, your child anc
the Lord Ignatio here"
Indeed" said Maya, "and why wa
my name omitted from this list?"
Lady, we do not KNOW" he an
swered, "but it seems that the assas
sins had orders to take you living an,
to hide you away in secret part o
Tikal's house"
Now the senior sprang to his feet an
swore great oath to be avenged upo,
Tikal.
NAY, lord" said Dimas, "his perso
is holy, and must not be touched, no
need you have any further fear of hin
forl those whom he corrupted await
their trial, and he himself is watche
by day and night. Also not for Ion
will Til1al remain cacique Of the City I
the Heart, for the council have met i
secret session. to which you were nc
summoned, and have decreed that h
shall be deposed because of his iniqu
ties and in accordance with the desil
Of the people"
Can a cacique be deposed2" aske
Maya.
"Yes, lady, if he has broken the Law
for was not yonr father to be depose
for this same reason? Also Tilxal hole
his place not by right Of birth but h
treaty. You are the rightful heir
Zibalbay, Lady of the Heart"
SIT may be So" she answered coldl,
"but have renounced my claim, and
do not desire to go back upon II
word"
"If you have renounced it," said 0
mas, 'yonder is one to whom it passes
and he pointed to the sleeping infan
"Yonder is the child of prophecy, hoI
of the people, and he it is whom "
purpose to crown as our ruler, settir
you and your husband up to act for hi
till he reaches his full age"
"Nay," said Maya, ''for thus shall /
. become the mark of Tikal's rage and
put to death openly, or in secret, as
may chance"
Mot so, lady, for in that hour whe
he is proclaimed Tikal will be take
into safe keeping, where he shall abit
,, for so long as his life lasts"
"And when is this to be?" asked Il
senor.
Tomorrow, at noon, upon the pyr
!, mid, that the child may be solemn
anointed three days hence in the san
, tuary on the night of the Rising
, Waters"
"It is foolish to crown babe, al
neither nor my husband seek til
, greatness" said Maya. ''If Tikal Is
! be deposed because of his crimes let o.
:, of the great lords be set in his place Il
. til the child is old enough to rule"
. although you and your husband a
to command us in the future" answer
: Dimas, sternly, "till then you mt
obey, lady, for the voice of the coun
:. is supreme, and it carries out the w
= of its founder and invisible Preside1
= the Heart of Heaven. The council h
y determined that the Heaven-sent chi
;, of whom you are the earthly parer
y must take his own"
y "As you will," said Maya, with
= sigh, and presently they went.
q That evening the senior and after
- ed feast at the house of one of
mobiles. whence we returned somewl
4 = late. Having dismissed those who h
y escorted us, l walked with him as
y as the door OF his private chambe
u u purposing to leave him there, but
y bade me enter, for he wished to ts
I with me about the events of the d
! and this forthcoming ceremony of
y amounting OF the child.
u 4 Accordingly l did so, and passi
u through the first chamber we came
y % the second, beyond which lay his sle
" ing room. Here we halted by an op
70 window, and l approached lamp,
\ wished to smoke and had no Zig
=, - AS l bent over it something caul
= - my ear and listened, since it seen
- ~ to me that through the massive do