The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1898-02-24

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
..ly and examined him by the light of
lamp. Then he poured medicines down
his throat and waited as though he
expected to see him rise, but he neither
rose nor stirred.
"A bad case" he said, 81 fear that
he will awake no more. How came he
thus?"
''Do you wish to know?" asked
Maya, speaking for the first time
Then bid your attendant stand back
and l will tell you. My father yondcr
was smitten down while he cursed me
in his rage"
And why did he curse you. lady?"
For this reason: Tikal 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,
if | would consent to become his wife"
ITO become his wife!' 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 Tikal, my cousin, is that
ne 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 80, let him
have care. set him up, and perchance
| can pull him down again. Continue,
lady"
lie proposed it, 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
'hal: 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 ewes
tall. Il love this white lord here.
whom You name Son of the Sea, and |
would become is wife. But, Natal,
TilSal isvery strong, and it may be. I'M
less can find help elsewhere, that in
order to save the life of the man love,
OF his friend and mir, Ignatio and nv
own. shall be forced into the arms of
Til1al.
But now Tikal has asked me for
nv answer. and l have told him that
l will give it when my father Is recov-
cred or dead. Perhaps it will be for
you TO say what that answer shall be,
Tor alone and in prison am not strong
enough to stand against Tikal. Say,
now, do the people love me well enough
to depose Tillal, and set me in my
fathers place, should he die?"
Il cannot say, lady" he answered
shortly, but at the least you will
scarcely ask me thus to bring about my
own and my daughters ruin. 1 will
be open with you. l gained over the
Council of the Heart to Tilsal's cause,
and my price was that he should marry
my daughter, thereby satisfying her
love and my ambition. Yes, l have
plotted to set Nahua on high, both for
her sake and for my own, seeinr that
after the cacique would be the chief
man in the city.
Can l then turn round and dcDose
him, and my daughter and myself with
INN? And if did, what would be nv
tate at your hands in the days to come?
NO, L would be revenged on TilSal in
deed, who has offered so deadly an
affront to me and mine, but it must be
In some other way than this. Tell me
now, lady, what is it that you desire
most; to be the cacique of this CITY bv
your right of birth or to marry the man
you love?"
Il desire to marry the man l love-
she answered, 'and to escape from this
place back with him to those lands
where white men live. / desire also
lgnatio should be given as much gold
as he needs to enable him to carry out
his purposes in the coast country von-
der II things can be brought about
thus. Tilkal and Nahua and their de-
sscendants, for aught l care. may rule
IN the City of the Heart till the worlds
end"
You ask little enough, lady" said
Natal, and it shall go hard if l can
not get it for you. Now | will leave
you, for must have time to think. but
II Tikal returns, say him neither yea
nor nay till we have spoken again. And
as for you, strangers, remember that
your lives depend upon your caution.
FAREWELL"
Continued next week.