Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-12-31
CHAPTER XVIII
TIE PLOT.

THE PLOT.
Spriuging forward, but too late to
save him, the senior and lifted Zibal-
bay from the ground and laid him on a
couch. Peeping over our shoulders
Maya caught sight of his CHASTITY face
and the foam upon his lips.
30, he is dcad!" she moaned; .'iny
father is dead, and he died cursing
me-"
"No," said the senior, "he is not dead,
for his heart stirs. Bring water,
Maya"
She obeyed, and for hard upon two
hours we struggled to restore his sense,
but in vain; life fingered, indeed, but
we could not stir him from his stupor.
At length, as we were resting, wearied
with our fruitless labor, the gates
opened and Tilsal came again.
what now?" he asked, seeing the
form of zibalbay stretched upon the
couch. docs the old man sleep?"
Eyes, he sleeps" answered the senior,
sand think that he will wake no
more. The words he spoke to you to-
day are coming true, and that which
you took from him by force will soon
be yours by right"
NO" answered TilSal, "by right, it
will be the Lady Maya's yonder, though
by force it may remain mine, unless, in
deed, she gives it me Of her own free
will. But, say, how did this come
about?"
Now broke in hastily, fearing lest
the senior should say too much, and
thus bring some swift and awful fate
upon himself
He was worn out with the fatigue Of
our journey and the excitements Of
yesterday. After you had left he be-
gan to talk of your proposals, and sud
denly was taken with this fit. These
matters are not for me to speak of, who
an, but a prisoner in strange land,
still, lord, it will not look we'll if he
who once was cacique of this city dies
here and unattended. for then people
may say that you have murdered him.
Have you no doctors who can be sum-
moned to attend him, for without drugs,
or even bleeding knife, we have done
all that we can do?"
Murdered himl That they will say
In any case. Yes, there are doctors
here, and the best OF them is Natal,
my father-in-law. l will send him.
But, Maya, before go, have you no
word for 1ne?"
Maya, who was seated by the table,
her face buried in her hands, looked up
and saidi
lis your heart stone that you can
trouble me in such an hoJr? When my
father is recovered, or dead, | will am
swer you, and not before"
$50 be it, lady" he said It'll then
I will wait. And now, l must get
hence, for there may be trouble in the
city when this news reaches It,"
Awhile passed and Natal appeared
before us followed by one who carried
his scales and medicines. Without
speaking he came to where Zibalbay
lay and examined him by the light of a
lamp. Then he poured medicines down
expected to see him rise, but he neither
rose, nor stirred.
"a bad CASE" he said, II fear that
he will awake no more. How came he
thus?"
''Do you wish to know2" asked
Maya, speaking for the first time.
Then bid your attendant stand back
and will tell you. My father yonder
was smitten down while he cursed me
in his rage
''And why did he curse you, lady?"
For this reason: Til1al came to my
father, and, in the presence of us all,
offered to set him in his lawful place
again and to suffer him to carry out
his schemes, whatever they might be,
II would consent to become his wife. !"
To become his wifel' said Natal in
amazement, "How could you become
! his wife when he is married? Can there
be two ladies of the Hearth"
No." answered Maya quietly, "but
the proposal of TilSal, my cousin, is that
he should either put away or kill your
daughter, in order that he may set me
in her place"
When Natal heard this his eyes
flashed and his very beard seemed to
bristle with rage.
He proposed that! He dared to pro-
pose that!' he gasped. 20, let him
have care. Isethim up, and perchance
can pull him down again. Continue,
LADY,"
"He proposed 1t, and my father
agreed to the offer. But if my father
accepted refused, seeing that it is not
my wish to have more to do with Tt
kal. Then my father cursed me, and
while he cursed was stricken down"
You say it is not your wish to marry
Tikal,. lady. Is it then your wish to
marry any other man?"
YES" she answered, letting her eyes
fall. II love this white lord here,
whom you name Son of the Sea, and ]
would become h is wife. But, Natal,
Tikal is very strong, and it may be, UNI
less ! can find help elsewhere, that in
order to save the life OF the man love,
OF his friend and mine, Ignatio and my
own, | shall be forced into the arms Of
Tilkal.
"But now Tilsal has asked me for
my answer. and have told him that
will give it when my father is recoy-
cred or dead. Perhaps it will be for
you to say what that answer shall be,
for alone and in prison l am not strong