The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-05-31

days Then progress took a very fleet
course, and actual conversation was car
ried on with mutual ease. Chalco 10y
which name Stayne had got to know him)
declared himself TO be an inhabitant of the
planet Mars. For many years, he stated.
that world had been DESTROYS of holding
intercourse with our own. Enormous
lengths Of structure had been reared from
a metal of peculiar lightneSs and suitable
ity for purposes OF building. From this
same metal had been constructed the ear in
which he had shot, by electric potencies
not eXplainabla here, toward our COMPARE
lively adjacent orb. Electricity in Mars
had reached great heights of conception.
This Chalc9, the younger son of a most
powerful ruler, had been deemed almost
despicabe for his want of mental power.
More than that, his high rank had made his
love for certain lady, held below him in the
social grade. to be considered an almost treas
enable OtfenSe. ChalcO was in his way pariah
and when the tremendous problem of posi-
bic lnterplanetary communion had aD-
preached solution, his offer to mount the
perilOus car and make the audacious vOy-
age had been received with sOmber assent.
The populace, in spite of his faults and
youthful fnllies, loved him. The astron-
0mer. GOlordon, though confident that his
electric car would accomplish the purpose if
launched at the given sidereal moment, was,
nevertheless, a member of the royal family,
act on the part of one who stood third in
succession to the throne. Yet Chalco had
announced his intention either TO wed the
woman he loved or meet public execution.
Then, suddenly, Gnlordon's great scheme
was effected. Who would go? In the car
there was room but for one. From the
largest square of Dol0stria, the chief city of
Mars. rang a vast cry from an assembled
multitude of many thousands. Let our
young Prince Chalc0, mount the ear If he
is willing" shouted the people of DOostra.
Chalcn, standing near his father. smiled
and waved his hand. At this the people
gave a great roar that died into a wall of
pain. They admired his courage. but they
loved him while deplOring his deficiencies,
and were fearful of his destruction. Then,
amid the tumult, Chalco turned toward his
aged and royal father. ''You know" he
said, that | love only one woman aud shall
love only her till my death. But you assert
that If ] wed her must die.
Yes" came the answer. 'The son of
royalty cannot wed among the common
people"
Then Chalco. notwithstanding that he was
believed 50 slight and inferior of capacity,
pleaded strongly against this decree Was
not royalty mere name now among this
glorious people, who were empowered with
every right of freedom? Why not shake
precedent to its rotten foundations? Here
in this mighty park where they stood. the
poets, all spoke OF how centuries of tyranny
mad wrought popular redemption. KingShip
was now but name. will mount the
car, lie said to his father, eli you refuse
me Alaria | have the first claim TO DO so
after the heir apparent, my brother. who
refuSe>p'
But the old King shook his head And
then Chalco descended from his fathers
side and went down among the pnpnace
and stretched cut his hands TO Alaria, who
sprang toward him. He kissed the girl on
the lips and put his arms about her. and
they all knew 1t was a kiss Of farewell; and
as Alaria was drawn fainting from his EN-
brace a shout that might almost have
reached earth itself rose from the gathered
thrOngs. Then ChalcO, who was less beau
tfu las he alleged than countless other
Martial men, and who had far less wit than
they, and who did not understand the won
drOus knowledge of his knsman, Golordon,
fabrcatOr of the aerial car, avOwed himself
ready for the daring and mystic voyage
He expected death, though they told him
that G0lOrdon was right and that his
chances of reaching earth were many, and
that the keen Martial telescopes had made