Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-12-14
Heart g THE WORLD.
BY r.. RIDER HAGGRRD.
Strange Story Manuscript Bequeathcd by an Old
hlexican Indian o His and an
Englishman Named
Copyrighted, 1894. By H Rider Hagsara

"As you will" she said, letting fall
his hand. "See, my father has found
the place and calls u.s."
We walked on to where the old man
stood.
Although trust you," said the old
man, syet must obey the oath, to
suffer no stranger to see the entrance
snasghter' and 0linaf0ld these foreign
She obeyed, and as she tied the
handkerchief about the senor's face l
heard her whisper: Tear not, will be
your eyes"
Then we were taken by the hand and
led some PAGES; then, as we judged
from the sounds, our guides moved
something heavy. Next we were con-
Quoted down steep incline through a
narrow passage. At length, after talk
ing many sharp turns, the passage
grew wider and the path smooth and
level.
Loose the bandages," said the voice
of Zibalbay.
Maya did so, and we looked round us
curiously to find that we stood at the
bottom Of deep cleft or volcanic rift
in the rock. This cleft was still easily
passable after centuries of disuse, and
from wall to wall. On either side of it
lowered sheer black cliffs.
By degrees the cleft narrowed until
1t ended In a tunnel.
We followed through the gloom till
presently spot of light appeared be-
fore us, and in another minute we
stood on the further side of the noun
tain.
Without pausing Zibalbay pushed on
down the hill, and suddenly turning to
the right stopped before the door Of a
house built Of hewn stone.
Enter" he said. land welcome to
the country of the People Of the
Heart"
AS the door was thrown open, light
from the fire within streamed through
1t, and a mans voice was heard asking:
who is there?"
into the room. At table placed be-
fore the fire sat man and
woman eating. us this the way
that you watch for my return?" he
asked in a stern voice. Haste now
and make food ready for US, for we are
starved with cold and hunger"
The man, who had risen, stood hest
tattng, but the woman, whose position
enabled her to see the face Of the speak
er, caught him by the arm, saying;
Down to your knees, husband. It
is the .cacique come back"
Pardon" cried the man, taking the
hint, "but to be frank, o lord, It has
been SO dinned into my ears down in
the city yonder that neither you nor the
Lady of the Heart would ever return
again that thought you must be
| ghosts, Yes, and so they will think in
the city, where have heard that Tikal
rules in your place"
heavily. eve left robes here, did we
not? Go, lay them out in the sleeping
chambers, and with them others for
these my guests, while the woman
makes food ready"
When they were gone on their er-
rands we gathered round the hearth to
bask in the luxury of its warmth.
Soon the Indian returned and an
nounced that our rooms we're ready.
Accordingly we followed him to small
sleeping room. Laid upon the beds
were linen robes and serapes made in
alternate bands of gray and black
feathers worked on to foundation OF
stout linen. Standing upon wooden
stools in corner of the room, half
filled with steaming water, We're two
basins, which the senior noticed with
establishment were made of hammered
| silver.
We put on the robes that had been
| provided and returned to the eating
room. Presently the curtain was drawn
and the Lady Maya joined US, but sc
changed that we started in astonish.
ment.
Different indeed was she to the i'll,
clad and travel-stained girl who had
been our companion for so many weeks
| Now she was dressed in a robe of snowy
white bordered with embroidery Of the
royal green and having the image o.
the heart traced in gold thread on the
breast. On her feet were sandals, also
worked in green, while round hel
throat, wrists, waist, and ankle.
shone circlets of dead gold. Her darl
hair no longer fell loose about her, bu
was twisted into simple knot and con
fined in u little golden net, and from
her shoulders hung a cloak of pur,
white feathers.
Il Zibalbay entered soon after followed
by the two Indians bearing food HI
was simply dressed in white toga
like robe, similar to that which hat
been given to the senior and myself,
cloak of black feathers, his shoulder
covered, and round his neck was hung
massive gold chain. to which was at
tached the emblem of the heart ais,
fashioned in plain gold.
1.-THE food is ready" said Zibalbay
"such as it is. BE seated. Nay, daugh
ter, you need not stand before me. w
are still fellow wanderers, all of us, ant
ceremony can wait till we are come t,
the City of the Heart"
Then we sat down and the Indian
waited on us. What the dishes con
sisted of we did not know. but after GU
long privations it seemed to us that w
had never eaten SO excellent meal
Already a difference to the senior coul,
be seen in Zibalbays mode of address
Formerly he had called him ''senor," O
even ''friend;' tonight when spealsin,
to him he used word which mean
"foreigner," or unknown one," an,
even myself he called by name withou
adding any title of respect.
Come hitler" said Zibalbay to tn
Indian, when he had handed us som
cigarettes. start now to the border
of the lake and advise the captain Q
the village of the corn growers that hi
lord has returned again, commandin
him in my name to furnish four travel
ing letters, to be here within five hour
after sunrise. Warn him also to hav
i. canoes in readiness to bear us across tn
lake, but as he values his life to send n
word of our coming to the city. &c
now, and swiftly"
The man bowed, and snatching
. spear and feather cloak from pc
near the door, vanished into the night
needless of the bowling wind and tn
sleet that thrashed upon the roof.
Then Zibalbay said: Come, daugf
ter, it is time Sorus to rest; our journe
has been long and you must be weary
Good night to you, my guests; to-mol