Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-28

feast of welcome in the great dining
hall of the palace of the Prince Of He.
lium that day. We were over O hun.
drcd strong. not counting the members
of my little court. for Dejah Thorls
and had maintained household con-
slstent with our royal rank.
The board, according to red Martian
custom, was triangular for there were
three i'll our family. Carthoris and l
presided in the center OF our sides of
the table. Midway of the third side
Deiah Thoris' high backed carven
chair stood vacant except for her gor-
geous wedding trappings and jewels
which We're draped upon it.
Behind stood a slave as in the days
when his mistress had occupied her
place at the board ready TO Go her bid
ding. 1t was the way upon Barsoom,
so l endured the anguish of it, though
it wrung my heart to see that silent
chair where should have been my
laughing and vivacious princess keep
ing the great hall ringing with her
merry gayety.
At my right sat Kantos Kan, while
to the right of Dejah Thorls' empty
place Tars Tarkas sat in n huge chair
before n raised section OF the board
which years ago had had construct
ed to meet the requirements of his
mighty bulk.
The place of honor at a Martian
board is always at the hostess right.
and this place was ever reserved by
Dejah Thoris for the great Thark upon
the occasions that he was in Helium.
Hor Vastus sat in the seat of honor
upon Carthoris' side OF the table.
There was little general conversation.
1t was quiet and saddened party.
The loss of Dejah Thorls was still
fresh in the minds of all, and to this
was added fear for the safety of Tar
dos Mors and Mors Kajak, as we'll as
doubt and uncertainty as to the fate
Of Hellum should 1t prove true that
she were permanently deprived of her
great jeddak.
Suddenly our attention was attract
ed by the sound Of distant shouting as
of many people raising their voices at
once, but whether in anger or reIoic-
ing we could not tell.
Nearer and nearer came the tumult.
A slave rushed into the dining hall to
cry that a great concourse of people
was swarming through the palace
gates. A second burst upon the heels
of the first. alternately laughing and
shrieking as madman.
"Dejah Thoris' is found" he cried.
"a messenger from DeJah Thorisr
1 waited to hear no more. The
great windows of the dining hall over
looked the avenue leading to the many
gates. They were upon the opposite
side of the hall from me, with the table
intervening. / did not waste time in
circling it, but with single leap l
cleared table and diners and sprang
upon the balcony beyond.
Thirty feet below lay the scarlet
sward of the lawn. and beyond were
many people crowding about great
thoat which bore rider headed to-
ward the palace.
1 vaulted to the ground below and
ran swiftly toward the advancing par
ty. AS came near to them saw that
the figure on the thoat was Sola.
"Where Is the Princess of Helium ?"
l cried.
The green girl slid from her mighty
mount and ran toward me.
ooh, my prince, my prince, she is
gone forever! Even now she may be
a captive upon the lesser moon.
"The Black Pirates Of Barsoom have
stolen her."
Once within the palace I drew Sola
to the dining hall, and when she had
greeted her father after the formal
manner of the green men she told the
story of the pilgrimage and capture Of
Dejah Thoris.
"Seven days ago, after her audience
with Eat Arras, Dejah Thoris attempt
ed to slip from the palace in the dead
of night. Though had not heard the
outcome of her interview with Eat Ar
Cured then to cause her the keenest
mental agony, and when l discovered
her creeping from the palace did not
need to be told her destination.
Hastily rousing dozen Of her most
faithful guards. explained my fears
to them,( and as one they enlisted with
me to follow our beloved princess in
her wanderings, even to the sacred Iss
ond fha vaIlav Nor wo raua t1non
her but short distance from the pal
ace. With her was faithful Woola, the
hound, but none other.
when we overlook her she feigned
anger and ordered us back to the pal
ace, but for once we disobeyed her,
and when she found that we would
not let her go upon the last long pill
grimage alone she wept and embraced
US, and together we went out into the
night toward the south. 49,
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