Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-01-14
HEART OF THE WORLD.
ny II. RIDER HAGGARD.
Strange Story Manuscript Bequeathed by an Old
Mexican Indian His andc omrade, an
Engishman Named
Copyrighted. 1894, BY Il Rider Haeeard

| ceiving gifts and listening to pretty
! speeches, a number of attendants had
brought tables laden with every sort of
food from behind the pillars, where
they had been prepared, and at a signal
the feast began. 1t was long and Joy
GUS, though joy seemed to have faded
4 from the face of Maya, who sat at the
head of it, neither eating nor drinking,
but from time to time lifting the red
eye from her breast. as though it
I scorched her skin.
AT length she rose, and, accompanied
by her husband, walked bowling down
the hall to the courtyard, where bear
ers waited for them with carrying
chairs. In these they seated them
selves, and procession having been
formed, very long and splendid, though
will not stay to describe it, we started
to march round the great square to the
sound of music and singing, our path
being lit by the light of the moon and
hundreds of torches. Here in this
square were gathered all the population
of the City of the Heart, men, women
and children, to greet the bride, each of
them bearing flowers and flaming
| torch, and never have seen any sight
more beautiful than this of their well
come. The circuit of the square being
accomplished the procession halted at
the palace gates, and many hands were
stretched out to help the bride and
bridegroom from their filters.
1t was at this moment that l, who
was standing near, felt man who was
wrapped in large feather cloak push
past me, and saw that he held some
thing which CLEANED like a knife. By
instinct, as it We're, cried: Beware,
my friend!' in Spanish, and in so pierre
ing voice that it caught the senor's
ear. He swung round, for already he
was standing on his feet, and as he
turned the man in the cloak rushed at
him and stabbed with the knife. But
being warned the senior was too quick
for him. Springing to one side with
the same movement he dealt the would
be murderer great buffet, that caused
him to drop the knife and sent him
| staggering into the dense shadow of
the archway. For some seconds no one
seemed to understand what had hap
pened, and when they did and began to
search for the man, he was not to be
| found. Who he was or why he had at
tempted this cowardly deed, was never
discovered, but for my part have little
doubt but that either Tikal himself or
some creature of his was wrapped in
the dark feather cloak, and thought
thus to rid him of his rival. Indeed,
as time went on, this belief took firm
hold of the mind of the people, and
was one of the causes that led to the
sapping of Tilsal's power and populari-
ty. Very hastily the senior assured the
lords in attendance, who crowded
around him, that he had received no
manner of hurt, and then, after speak
ing few brief words of thanks he
withdrew into the palace with his wife
| and saw him no more that night.
Within few days of the senor's mar
riage we heard that Natal had been
seized with sickness, kind of palsy,
| together with leprous condition of the
arms that batfied all skill. For months
| he lay in his house, growing gradually
worse, SO said the physicians; but one
| night remember it was three days
| previous to the birth of Maya's child
he appeared before Maya, the senior
and myself, as we sat together in the
| palace looking out upon the moonlit
garden. At first we did not know him,
for never before had / seen sight SO
| dreadful. His body was bloated, one
arm, his left, was swathed in bandages,
his head shook necessarily, and the lep-
| rosy had seized his face, which was of
livid hue.
do not shrink from me" he began
in low, quivering voice, as he gazed
upon us with his whitening eye; "surely
| you should not shrink, seeing that all
has made of me the loathsome thing |
am. Aye! deny it, if you will, but l
know it. The vengeance Of the god has
fallen upon me, his false servant, and it
has fallen justly. Moreover, be assured
that on you also shall that vengeance
also fall for the Eye has seen, the
| Mouth has told. and the Heart has
thought upon your doom.
"Looll upon me and learn how rich
are the wages of HIM who works in
iquity, and by my sufferings strive to
count the measure of your own. Per-
chance your cup is not yet full, per-
chance you have still greater sins to
work, but vengeance shall come, tell
| you that vengeance shall come here and
hereafter.
81 did this thing for my daughters
sake-yes, for love of her, my only
sired this man, and / thought to assure
greatness to her and to her children after
her. But see her wine has been turned
to vinegar and her pleasant fruits to
ashes. Her husband hates her with an
ever-growing hate. Now they scarcely
speak, or speak only to shower bitter
words upon each others heads.
More, not for long will he be cacique
of the City of the Heart, for his jealous
rage has soured all his mind; his deeds
are deeds of oppression and injustice;
already he is detested by the people,
/ and even those who loved him turn
| from him and plot against him. Do you
know what they piotP They plot to
make that child that shall be born OF
you, Maya, cacique in his room, and to
set you and yonr outland husband up
| as regents till it shall be of an age to
| govern.
so, you have planned cunningly, and
things look well for you, but say that
they shall not prosper"
And, shaking his withered arm in
our faces he turned and limped from
| the chamber.
| Now we sat gazing at each other in
horror, for though we none of us had
any faith in the god he worshiped, II
our hearts we felt that this man spoke
truth, and that the evil would overtake
us. For a moment Maya hid her face
in her hands and wept, and then she
| sprang up, and fire in her eyes had
dried her tears.
$50 let it be-" she cried. 81 care
nothing. AT the least won you, oh, my
love, and for some months, through all
our troubles, have been happy at your
| side, and, come good or come i'll, moth
ing can rob me of my memories. But
| for you, fear, oh, my husbandl l feal
for you"
And, her passion past, she flung her.
self into his arms and again began tc
weep.
In due course the child was born, g