Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-26
UNDER THE MOONS OF MARS


/ have been offended see that now But
| not that upon Barsoom there are two
kinds OF women in the cities of the red
| men.
The one they fight for that they may
ask them In marriage the other kind they
/ fight for also but they never ask their
hands. When a man has won woman
| he may address her as his princess, or in
any OF the several terms which signify
! possession.
You had fought for me- but had never
asked me in marriage, and so when you
called me your princess, you see.' she fall
lltered, II was hurt but even then, John
! Carter, l did not repuse you. as I\should
! have done, until you made it doubly worse
| by taunting me with having won me
through combat"
'T do not need ask your forgiveness now.
Dejah Thoris!' 90 | cried. You must know
that my fault was of ignorance Of your
Barsooman customs What failed to do,
through implicit belief that my petition
would be presumptuous and unwelcome, |
do now, Dejah Thoris. | ask you to be
my wife, and by all the Virginian fighting
blood that flows In my veins you shall he "
mo, John Carter, 1t is useless - she
cried hopeessly. "I may never be yours
while Sab Than lives"
You have sealed his death-warrant, my
princess-Sab Than dies"
Nor that either" she hastened to eX-
plain. 'T may not wed the man who Stays
my husband, even in self-defense. It is
custom. We are ruled by custom upon
Barsoom. It is useless my friend.
You must bear the sorrow with me.
That, at least we may share In common.
That, and the memory of the brief days
among the Tharks. You must go now, nor
ever see me again. Good-by, my chieftain
that was"
Disheartened and detected I withdrew
from the room but was not entirely dis
couraged, nor would | admit that Dejah
Thoris was lost to me until the ceremony
had actually been performed.
As I wandered along the corridors. l
was as absolutely lost I'm the mazes of the
winding passageways as had been before
I discovered Dejah Thoris' apartments
knew that my only hope lay in escape
from the city of Zodanga, for the matter
of the four dead guardsmen would have to
be explained. and as l could never reach
my original post without a guide, suspicion
would surely rest on me so soon as was
discovered wandering aImlessly through
the palace.
Presently came down a spiral runway
Leading to n lower floor and this l fol-
lowed downward for several stories until
reached the doorway or large apartment
in which were number of guardsmen.
The walls of this room were hung with
transparent tapestries, behind which l Sc
creted myself without being apprehended.
The conversation of the guardsmen was
general, and awakened no interest in me
until an officer entered the room and or
dered four of the men to relieve the detail
who were guarding the Princess of Hell
ium Then, l knew, my troubles would
commsNce in earnest, and, indeed, they
were u, on me all too soon; for II seemed
that the squad had scarcely left the guard
room before one of Their number burst In
again breathlessly, crying that they had
found their four comrades butchered In
the antechamber
In moment the entire palace was alive
with ,eople Guardsmen officers, courtters,
servants and slaves ran heiter-skeiter
through the corridors and apartments
carrying messages and orders, and search
ing for signs of the assassin.
This was my opportunity, and slim as