Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-26
CHAPTER xxII-COntinued

EI1NALLY lucky cut brought down a
IL second guardsman. and then, with only
two opposing me, I changed my tactics
and rushed them down after the fashion OF
my fighting that had won me many VIC
tory. The third fell with ten seconds, and
the last lay dead upon the bloody floor
few moments later
They were brave men and noble fight
ers, and Il grieved me that / had been
forced to kill them; but would have
willingly depopulated all Barsoom. could
have reached my Dejah Thoris in no
other way. Sheathing my bloody blade,
advanced toward my Martian princess,
who still stood gazing at me without sign
of recognition.
who are you, zodangan?" she whis-
pered. Another enemy to harass me In
my misery7"
II am a friend" l answered, "a once
cherished friend"
"No friend of Helium's princess wears
that metal" she replied. land yet the
voice have heard It before 1t Is not
It cannot be--no. for he Is dead
at is, though. my princess, none other
than John Carter" said. DO you not
recognize, even through paint and strange
metal the heart of your chieftainY'
As I came close to her she swayed TO-,
ward me with outstretched hands, but as
I reached to take her in my arms she
drew back with a shudder and little
moan of misery.
''Too late-too late" she grieved. oh,
my chieftain that was, and whom l
thought dead. Had you but returned one
little hour before-but now II is too late
too late"
what do you mean, Dejah Thoris?' !
cried THAT you would not have promised
yourself to the Zodangan prince had you
known that 1 lived?'
'"rhink you John Carter, that l would
give my heart to you yesterday, and today
TO another2 1 thought that It lay buried
with your ashes in. the pits Of Warhoon,
and today have promised my body to
another to save my people from the curse
of victorious Zodangan army"
but / am not dead, my princess.
have come to claim you, and all Zodanga
ca mot prevent It."
s'Tt is too late, John Carter, my promise
is given, and on Barsoom that Is final
The ceremonies which follow later are but
meaningless formalities. They make the
fact of marriage no more certain than
does the funeral cortege of jeddak again
place the seal of death upon him. | am
as good as married. John Carter. No long
er may you call me your princess NO
longer are you my chieftain."
"I know but little OF your customs here
upon Barsoom, Dejah Thoris, but / do
know that love you, ana III you meant
the last words you spoke to me that day
as the hordes of warhoons were charging
down upon us, no other man shall ever
claim you as his bride. You meant them
then, my princess and you mean them
still Say that 1t is true"
"I meant them, John Carter" she whis-
pered. II cannot repeat them now, for L
have given myself to another
"Ah, II you had only known our ways,
my friend" she continued, half to herself,
"the promise would have been yours long
months ago, and you could have claimed
me before all others. It might have meant
the fall of Hellum, but would have given
my empire for my Tharkian chief"
Then aloud she said
do you remember the night when you
offended me? You called me your princess
without having asked my hand of me, and
then you boasted that you had fought for
me. You did not know. and 1 should not