The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-01-04


O. 81
j the. boat, for all Of us were lost n our
own reflections, and the Indians were
awed to silence by the presence of their
lord, who alone seemed Impatient, since
from time to time. he pulled his beard
and muttereti to himself.
Before MS lay the tabled golden town
we had 30 longed to see. Soon our feet
would pass its white wells and cur eyes
behold it's ancient civilization.
n ssWhat waits us there?" whispered
the senior, and he locked at Maya.
She heard his words and shook her
head sadly There was no hope in her
eyes, which were dimmed with tears.
Then he turned to me as though for
comfort, and the easy fires OF enthusi-
asm burnt up within me and answered:
"Fear not, the goal is won and we shall
overcome all. difficulty and danger. The
useless wealth of yonder golden city
shall be ours; and by Its help shall
wreals the stored up vengeance OF ages
upon the oppressors OF my race and
build up great Indian dominion
Stretching from sea to sea, whereof this
city shall bs the hearth" He heard and
smiled, answering:
''It may be so, TOR your sake l trust
that 1t will be go, but We seek different
ends. Irnatio,' . and he looked again at
On we glided through the moonlight
end the silence, for from the town came
no sound save the cry Of the watchren
calling the hours as they kept their
guard along the ancient walls, till at
length we entered the shadow OF the
holy city. lying dark upon the waters,
and the Indians getting out their pad"
dies, for the wind no longer served us,
rowed the canoe up q stone-em banked
canal that led to water gate,
Now we halted in front Of the gate,
where there was no man to be seen. In
an impatient voice Zibalbay babe the
captain of the boat hail the guardian Of
the gate, and presently man came
down the steps yawning, and inquired
who was there.
II, the cacique," said Zibalbay.
"Open." =
Indeed! That Is strange" answered
the man, ssseeing that this night the
cacioue holds his marriage feast at the
palace wonder, and there is but one
cacioue of the people OF the Heart.
s'Get back to The mainland, wan
derers, and return in the daytime when
the gates stand wide"
Now when Zibalbay heard these
words ne cursed aloud in his anger; and
Maya started as though with JOY.
II tell you that | am libalbay
come home again, your lord and no
other" he cried, land You will be wise
to do my bidding"
The man stared and hesitated till the
captain of ths boat spoke to him, say
ing; $3.50, :, >,,,,,<, .,,,a .,,. -, .
fshes?. This is the lord zibalbay re-
turned from the dead"
Then he fastened to open the CUTE as
fast as his fear would let him.
Pardon, father, PARDON he cried.
prostrating himself, ''but the lord
Iikal, who rules in your place, has
given it out that you were dead In the
Wilderness. and commanded that your
name should be spoken NO more in the
city"
Zibalbay swept by him without
word. When he had passed up the
marble steps and through the waterway
pierced in the thickness of the frown-
ing walls he halted, and addressing
the captain of the boatmen, said:
''Let this man be scourged to-rnor-
row at noon in the market place, that
henceforth he may learn not to sleep
at his post"
On the further side Of the wall ran
wide street, bordered by splendid houses
built of white stone, which led to the
central square of the city, g. mile or
more away. Up this street we walked
swiftly in silence, and as we went l.
noticed that much OF it was grass
grown, and that many of the great
houses seemed to be deserted: indeed,
though light came from some OF the
latticed window places. could see no
sign of any human being.
''Here is the city, whispered the
senior to me. "but where the people"'
Doubtless they celebrate the we'd
ding feast in the great square" 1
answered. "Hark, hear them" ,
As L spoke the wind turned little,
and a sound of singing foated down it
that grew omentarily clearer as we
approached the square. Another five
minutes passed and we were entering
it.. 1t was a wide place, covering not
less than thirty acres of ground, and
in it's center rising 800 feet in the air
cleaned the pyramid of the Temple of
the Heart, crow ned by the holy fire that
flickered eterrally upon its summit.
In the open space between the walls
of the Enclosure Of the pyramid and
the great buildings that formed the
sides Of the square, the inhabitants Of
the city were gathered for their mid
night feast AL were dressed in white
robes, while many wore glittering
feather capes upon their shoulders, and
were crowned with wreaths OF flowers.
Some of them were dancing, some Of
them singing, while others watched the
tricks Of iugglers and bufoons. But
the most OF their number were seated
round little tables eating, drinking,
smoking, and making love, and we
noticed that at these tables the chill
dren seemed the most honorable guests,
and that everybody petted them and
waited on their words. Nothing could
be more beautiful or stranger to our
ewes than this innocent festival cele-
brated beneath the open sky and lighted
bv the moon. Yet the sight of it did
not please Zibalbay.
Along the sides of the square ran an
avenue of trees bearing white flowers
with heavy scent, and Zibalbay mo-
toned to us to follow him into their
shadow. Many of the tables were
placed just beyond the spread OF these
trees, so that be was able to stop, from
time to time. aud unseen himself, listen
to the talk that was passing at them.
Presently he halted thus opposite to a
table at which sat an oldish man and a
woman, young and pretty. What they
said interested him, and we who were
close by his side understood it, for the
difference between the dialect of these
people and the Maya tongue is so small
that even the senior had little difficulty
in following their talk.
ss,The feast is merry, tonight" said