Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-12-17

tricks OF jugglers and buHoonS. 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,
waited on their words. Nothing could
be more beautiful or stranger to our
eyes than this innocent festival cele-
brated beneath the open sky and lighted
by the moon. Yet the sight of 1t 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 he was able to stop, from
time to time. and unseen himself, listen
to the talk that was passing at them.
Presently he halted thus opposite to
table at which sat an oldish man and
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.
1.-THE feast is merry, tonight" said
the man.
Eyes, husband" answered his COM
panion, land so it should be, seeing
that yesterday the lord Tikal was
elected cacique by the Council of the
Heart, and to-day he was welded in
the presence of the people to Nahua,
the beautiful child of the lord Natal"
sit was fine sight, said the man,
though for my part think it early to
proclaim him cacique. Zibalbay might
yet come back and then"
''Zipalbay will never come back, hus-
band, or the Lady Maya, either. They
have persisted in the wilderness long
ago. For her am sorry, because she
was so lovely and different from other
great ladies, but do not grieve much
for him, for he was hard taskmaster
to us common people, also he was
feasts during the last ten months than
Zibalbay gave In as many years, more-
over he has relaxed the laws so that we
poor women may now wear ornaments
like our betters." And she glanced at
q gold bracelet upon her wrist.
ut is easy to be generous with the
goods of Others" answered the man.
s'Zibalbay was the bee who stored,
Tilsal is the wasp who eats They say
that the old fellow was mad but do not
believe it. think that he was a greater
man than the rest of us, that was all,
who saw the wasting of the people and
desired to find the means to stop it."
Certainly he was mad" answered
the woman. "How could he stop the
wasting Of the people by taking his
till they died of starvation, both of
them? If anybody dwells out yonder,
1t is folk of white devils of whom we
have heard, who kill and enslave the
Indians that they may rob them Of
their wealth, and we do not desire that
such should be shown the way to our
city. Also what does it matter to us if
the people do waste? We have all things
that we wish. Those who come after
us must see to it."
"Yet, wife, have heard you say that
you desired children" Suddenly the
woman's face grew sad,
"Ahl" she answered, ''if Zibalbay
will give me child will take back all
my words about him and proclaim him
the wisest of men, instead of what he
is, or rather was-an old fool gone
crazy with vanity and too much pray
he could never do this; that is beyond
the power of the gods themselves, If,
indeed, the gods are anything except a
dream. So what is the use of talking
about him; let me enjoy the feast that
Tikal gives us, husband, and do not
speak of children, lest / should weep,
and learn to hate those of my sisters
who have been blessed with them"
Then at sign from Zibalbay we
moved on, but Maya, hanging back for
moment, whispered:
"Look at my fathers face. Never
have seen him SO angry. Yet these
tidings are not altogether ill.," and she
glanced at the senior.
Now Mbalbay walked on swiftly,
pulling at his beard and muttering to
himself, till we came to great arch
way where two soldiers armed with
copper spears stood on guard, chatting
with women in the crowd that gathered
meats, which they offered them. III.
balbay covered his face with the cor
ner Of his robe, and bidding us do like
wise, began to walk through the arch
way, whereupon the two soldiers, cross
ing their spears, demanded his name
and title.
"By whose orders do you aslk?" said
Zibalbay.
"By the orders of our lord, the ca
Clique, who celebrates his marriage feast
with the mobiles, his guests" answered
one of them. "Say, are you of their
number, who come so late?"
Then Zibalbay uncovered his face
and said:
"Look at me, man. Did l command
you to shut my own doors against me?"
He looked and gasped:
ut is the cacique come home again"
s'How, then, do you say that you keep
the doors by order of the cacique? Can
there be two caciques in the City of the
Hearth" asked Zibalbay in bitter
voice, and, without waiting for an an
swer, he walked on followed by the
three of us into the plaza or court yard
Of the palace, where many fountains
splashed upon the marble pavements.
Passing beneath a colonnade, and
through an open doorway whence light
flowed, we found ourselves in great
chamber one hundred feet or more in
length, having roof of paneled cedar,
supported by double row of wooden
columns exquisitely carved, between
which were set tables laden with fruit
and flowers, drinking vessels and other
ornaments of gold.
At the far end of this place was a
small table, and behind it, seated upon
throne-like chairs, were man and a
| woman, having an armed guard on
either side of them.
The man was magnificently dressed
in a white robe broidered with the sym
Dol of the heart and glittering feather
cloak. Upon his brow was circle Of
| cold from which rose n plume of green