The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1898-03-03
HEART OF THE WORLD.
ny III. RIDER HAoo-RD.
Strange Story. Beqseathed by Old
Msxea InAia - Frisada add
Eneilshnan


was Maya who spoke first.
lyon have forged this writing, Mat
tai she said, "and now you desire that
should set it in the symbol, for you
are mindful of that curse which is
written in the ritual. In short, if you
do not fear the vengeance of the god.
you fear the vengeance of the ORDER
ITO speak the truth, lady, l fear
both. Still, you must make your choice,
and swiftly"
Now she turned to us. saying:
advise me, friends, for / know not
what to answer. In the faith of III
people l have lost faith, and it is t
yours that look for comfort, and ye
the deed seems awful, for il we are nc
worshipcrs of the nalneless god, stillw
are all of us brethren of the ancicn
mysteries of the Heart, AMI to do tn
thing would be to break our solemn
oaths. Come, let us put it to vote, an.
do you. who are the oldest and the
wisest among us, vote first, Ignatio."
$50 be it," l answered. For my
part | give my voice against the trick.
OF the gods of your people know moth
ing and think less, but am the master
of our order in my own land, and ] will
not offend against it. Still, in thil,
matter your lives are at stake as well
.
us two are in favor of the act will be
bound by their decision
Good, let it be So" said MAYA. "And
now, beloved, speak and tell us whether
you choose death and clean con-
science, or life and my love to gladden.
it," and she looked into his face with
her beautiful eyes, and half stretched
out her arms as though she would clasp
him to her breast.
Il have no choice" he said. ~ do
not fear to die, if need be; but / should
be no man were to choose death while
it is your wish that | should live. Like
lgnatio, | say that the gods of this city
are to me nothing more than idols, and
to deceive that which does not exist is
impossible. For the rest, l became a
Brother of the Heart not by my own
wish, but by accident; therefore, on this
point, my conscience priclSs me little.
Il will do your wish, MAYA. and if
you think it better that we should die,
why let us die and make an end"
Nay" she answered with n flash of
reckless passion, II think it better that
we should live far from this unluclzy
city. and there be happy in each other
love. For your sake my fathers curse
has fallen on me, and after it all other
maledictions of gods OF men will be
light as feathers"
Little do l care for vengea to
come if for only one short year may
call you husband
"Ill-omened Words" mrttered Mat
tai, shivering little; "words that only
woman would utter, but so be it."
AS he spoke thought heard faint
groan come from the man upon the
couch. glanced anxiously at Zabal-
bay to find that l must have been mis-
taken, or. at least, that it had not pro-
ceedcd from his lips, for he lay there
rigid and senseless as a corpse.
The vote is taken" l said. 'What
next, Mattai?'
Follow me" he answered. land l
will show you a secret path from this
chamber to the sanctuary beneath.
Nay, you need not fear to leave him,
FOR if his life still burns within him it is
asleep. But stay, where is the tails
man? That will be necessary to u.s."
Il have one-half," answered, "the
other is about Zibalbay's neck"
Find it," he said sternly to the Lady
Maya. NAY, you must"