Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-22

n FIY son! / could not believe my
II III Slowly rose and faced the
0 handsome youth. Now that
looked at him closely | commenced
to see why his face and personality
had attracted me so strongly.
There was much of his mothers in
comparable beauty in his clear cut fea-
lures, but it was strongly masculine
beauty. His gray eyes and the ex-
preston of them were mine.
The boy stood facing me, half hope
and half uncertainty in his look.
Tell me OF your mother" | said.
Tell me all you can of the years that
| have been robbed of her dear com,
panionship."
With a cry of pleasure he sprang
toward me and threw his arms about
my neck, and for brief moment. as
held my boy close to me. the tears
welled to my eyes.
Your stature. your manner. The
ferocity of your workmanship" said
the boy. "are as my mother has de-
scribed them to me n thousand times,
but even with such evidence | could
scarce credit the truth of what seemed,
so improbable to me, however much
desired it to be true
"For long years. my son, can
scarce recall moment that the radi-
ant vision of your mothers face has
not been before me. Tell me of her."
Those who have known her long.
est say that she has not changed. un.
less it be to grow more beautiful
were that possible. Only. when she
thinks l am not about to see her. her
face grows very sad and wistful.
"She thinks ever of you, my father,
and all Helium mourns with her and
for her. Her grandfatheI's people
love her. They love you also. and
fairly worship your memory as the
savior of Barsoom.
Each year that brings its anniver-
sary of the day that saw you racing
across a nearly dead world TO unlock
the secret of that awful portal behind
which lay the mighty power of life for
countless millions. great festival is
held in your honor But there are
tears mingled with the thanksgiving
tears of real regret that the author of
the happiness is not with them to
share the joy of living he died to give
them. Upon all Barsoom there IS no
greater name than John Carter"
"And by what name has your mother
called you, my boy?" asked
"The people of Helium asked that
be named with my fathers name. but
my mother said no. that you and she
had chosen a name for me together
and that your wish must be honored
before all others. so the name that she
called me is the one that you desired.
a combination of hers and yours-Car-
thoris."
How came you into the valley Dor?"
| asked.
1T is very simple. | was flying a one
man air scout far TO the south when
the brilliant idea occurred to me that
should like to search for the lost sea of
Korus. which tradition places near to
the south pole. | must have inherited
from you a wild lust for adventure as
well as a hollow where my bump Of
reverence should be.
81 had reached the area of eternal ice
when my port propeller jammed, and
dropped to the ground to make repairs.
Before | knew it the air was black
with fliers, and hundred of these
Black Pirates were leaping to the
ground all about me.
with drawn swords they made for
me, but before 1 went down beneath
them they had tasted of the steel of
my fathers sword, and l had given
such an account of myself as 1 know
would have pleased you 10 you been
there to witness it.
"a prisoner, l was taken to the very
temple OF Issus itself and for looking
on her was doomed to die within
year. She is nothing but an old dried
up black hag whom superstition has
made n goddess Of