Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-09-03

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toward the door, there to be met by the
senior. who seized her and held her fast.
CHAPTER XIII
OUR FLIGHT AND HOW 1T ENDED
''How came this lady here, Maya, and
what does she seek?" the senior asked
81 do not know how she came -
gasped his wife. 81 had begun to pre-
pare myself for sleep when, looking
into yonder mirror, 1 saw her behind
me having in her hand a naked knife
and searching the room with her eyes,
Presently they fell upon the cradle,
and, lifting the knife, She took a step
toward it. Then / turned and gripped
her, holding her as well as I was able,
but she was too strong for me and
dragged me forward, so that had it not
been for Ignatio here by now she
us this true?" said the senior to
Nahua.
1T is true, white man, she answered.
"Why do you desire to kill one so in
nocent?" he asked again.
SIS it not natural that should wish
to destroy the child who is to supplant
nv child. and to break the heart of the
Nahua answered su1lenly. Among
many other things I have learned,
white man, of that ceremony which is
to take place tomorrow, whereat my
husband is to be deposed and my child
dishonored, that they may make room
for you and your child. you, the white
wanderer, and your son. the heaven
born, the foreordained."
''What have we to do with these
things, 0 woman with the heart of
puma?" he asked. ''If Tilzal is to be
driven from his place, it is because of
his crimes"
And if you and yours are to be set
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because of your virtues; and yet, black
hearted knave that you are, l tell you
that l know all the truth. I know
how you forged the prophecy setting
the false for the true within the holy
symbol of the heart. know also that
my father helped you to the deed; for,
although he is dead, he wrote down
that tale before he died and gave it to
me, together with the true prophecy
that you dared to steal from the holy
sanctuary.
Eyes, have the proofs, and when
needful I will show them. I did not
| come here to do murder, at least upon
the infant. but the sight of it sleeping
in its cradle overcame me, and of a
sudden determined to wreak my VEN
geance upon it and upon its mother.
In this have failed, but when de-
nounce you to the council, then / shall
not fail; then you will be known for
W1idU you ore, dnu OlC CuO OcdU1 GIltC
you deserve"
1T comes into my mind, husband, %
said Maya, coldly, ''that if we would
save our own lives we must rob this
woman of hers. Such q doom she has
richly earned, nor will any blame US
when they learn what was her errand
here
SIT seems that it is So" answered,
sadly, ''and yet the thing is awful"
sit is awful, but it must be DONE"
said the senior, land it falls on me to do
it for the sake of my wife and child"
Now he stepped to where Nahua lay
and knelt beside her, and we two drew
aside, sick at heart, and hid our faces
us again.
us it done?" asked Maya, hoarse1y.
'sNo, nor will it be by me-" he an
swered, in a fierce voice; 'Sooner would
/ choke the breath out of nv own body
than strangle this defenseless woman,
cruel-hearted murderess though she is.
If she is to be killed, some other man
must do the deed"
''Then it will remain undone," said
Maya. .sAnd now, since we have thus
determined, let us think of fight, for
the night draws on, and in fight is our
only hope"
What, then, is to be done with this
woman?" I asked. I'VE cannot take
her with u.s.
'sNo, but we can leave her here,
gagged and bound, till they chance to
find her." answered the senior.
''Hearken. Nahua, we spare you. and
to do it 60 forth to our own deaths.
May your fierce heart learn q lesson of
mercy from the deed. Farewell
Two hours had gone by and three fig