The Meeker herald., 1921-12-03
| A Princess
/ - Of Mars

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Detah Thosis eely suiled the more
sa1 witt H. rosulsh dtupiss playing
at IL corners Il her mouth s&d uads
aaswsr!
-vrom ~ beginning q time upon
Bassooa II kas bsso The prsrogatfvs
q woman to change her mind a. she
listsd and to dissambls IN matters con-
esfatng her heart That you VIII fes-
gtve. Than Kosis. q has your seo-
Two days ago I was not sure ct k,1
love for me-, but now ! an, and !
have come to beg Of you to forget
~ rash words aud to accept the ~
saranes Of the princess Of Hsiium
tAat when ths tims Gomez she will
wsd Sab Than. prince Of Zodansa."
4 am glad that you have % DE-
a0sl." replied Than KosiA ut 10 fur
frou my desire to push war further
against the people Of Hslium. and,
Jour promise shall 10 recorded and
q proclamation to my psspas Issued
forthwith. We shall 80 how the pso-
pie Of Helium take to peace. shall
at least Offer It to them
Dejah Thos1s. aftsr Q few words,
turned and left the apartment, still
followed BY her guards
Thus was The sdldes q my brief
dream Of happiness dashed. broken.
70 the ground Of reality. The woman
for whom had offered ny life. and
from whose tips had % recently
heard = declaratioo Of love for NE.
had lightly forgotten my vsfy exist
-ace and smlilngiy given herself to
the son Of her peoples most hated
enemy.
Although l had heard It with my
own ears l could not believe It.
muss search out her apartments esd
force. her to repeat the cruel truth
to me alone before I would Be con
WINGED. and % I deserted my post
and fastened through the passags BE-
hind the tapestries toward the door
By which shs had lsft the chamber.
Slipping quietly through this opening
I discovered a maze Of winding CORR
dors, branching and turning in every
direction.
Running rapidly down first one and
then another Of them I soon became
hopelsssly lost and was standing pant.
Ing against Z side wall when heard
voaess near me. Apparently they were
coming from the opposite stds of the
paFtitiou against which I leaned ana
Srsoently made sat he Tune It De-
3ah Thofis. coald not hear The woeds
bot I knew that I could not possibly
b. mistaken In The voice.
Walking boldly forward I pashsd
Into the room only to nnd myself In
. small antechambef In which were
the four guards who had accompanied
her. One Of them Instantly arose and
aecoated me. asking the nature Of my
basinssa.
II am from Than Kosis" I replied.
.snd wish to Peak privately with
Dejah Thoris, princess Of Hslium-"
mo oos comes from Than Kosts
without carrying IN order q tie pas
word. You must givs ne zoe O tho
other before you may pasa."
The only order require. my friend,
10 enter where I WI. hanes at ny
side." I answered. tapping my long
sword; will 700 let No pass IN peace
u nor
"You are not here By de order Of
Than Kosis," cried tbs ooe who had
Arst addressed me, land not only ahall
you not enter he apsrtmants Of the
princess Of Helium, bot you shall %
back to Than Kosis under guard to *
plain this unwarfanted tomeffty.
Throw down your sword; you cannot
hops to overcome four Of "a" he ADDED
with 4 grim smile.
Ny reply was 4 quick thrust which
lett me but three antagooists and I
can assure you that they wsfs worthy
Of my metal. They had No backed
against the wall In no dine. fighting
for my life. Slowly worked my way
to = corner Of the room where I eoald
force them to come at me only one at
. time, and thus We fought upward Il
twenty minutes: The Changing Of stssa
% steel producing . vssitabls bsdlam
In the little room. I'D.
Ths noise had broasht Dsjah Thosis
- the. door Of her apartment and
tAsee she stood throughout The conflict
with Sofa at her back pssrfng over hsr
shoulder. Her face vas ut and soo
tionless and I knew that she nd 1T
tocognlxs me, nor did Sola.
Finally lucky cut brought down .
second guardman md tAsa, with eoly
two opposing me. ehAassd ny tactics
and rushed them down aftaf ths
fashien Of ny fighting that had wen
me- many q victory. The third IN
within ten seconds altar he sseoad,
and he last lsy dead upon he blesay
aoes q few moments Later. Thsy wses
brave men and noble fighters, aAA q
t1aA h~A 49,