Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1921-07-08
CHAPTER xiv-continued.

Ill
rafah Thoris only smiled the more
and with the roguish dieples playing
sttbe corners of her mouth she made
answer:
"From the btsinning of time upon
Barsoop it hrs been the prerogative
~ woman to change her mind as she
listed and 10 dissemble ia niatters con-
cernlng her heart. That you will for
Give. Ihan kosis, as has your son.
Two DAYS ago l was not sure Of his
love for me. but now / am, and l
have come to beg of you to forget
nv rash words and to accept the as
surance of the princess of Helium
that whom tt!.:.o time comes she will
we'd Sab Than, prince of Zodanga."
s. 81 am glad that you have so de-
eided," replied Than Kosis. ut is far
from my desire to push war further
against the people of Heiium, and,
your promise shall be recorded and
proclamation to my people issued
3 forthwith. We shall see how the PEG
sic Of Helium take to peace. 1 shall
& at least offer it TO them"
Deiah Thoris, after a few words,
turned and left the apartment, still
& followed by her guards.
Thus was the edifice of my brief
lream of happiness dashed, broken,
10 the ground Of reality. The woman
FOR whom l had offered my life, and
8 from whose lips / had so recently
heard a declaration of love for me,
had lightly forgotten my very exist
q ance and smilingly given herself to
ne son of her peoples most hated
.nemy.
Although had heard it with my
wn ears / could not believe 1T. l
must search out her apartments and
orce her to repeat the cruel truth
q % me alone before / would be con-
& 1nced, and so / deserted my post
and fastened through the passage be-
mnd the tapestries toward the door
NY which she had left the chamber.
8 Slipping quietly through this opening
discovered a maze of winding CORR
Tors, branching and turning in every
5 Erection.
Running rapidly down first one and
a hen another Of them soon became
q opelessly lost and was standing pant
q ng against a side wall when l heard
voices near me. Apparently they were
coming from the opposite side of the
partition against which / leaned and
presently / made out the. tone Of De-
jan Thoris. could not hear the words
but knew that / could not possibly
lie mistaken in the voice.
Walking boldly forward I pushed
into the room only to find myself in
a small antechamber In which were
the four guards who had accompanied
her. One of them instantly arose and
Haccosted me, asking the nature Of my
business.
81 am from Than Kosis," I replied.
and wish to speak privately with
nejah Thoris. princess of Helium."
mo one comes from Than Kosis
without carrying an order or the pass
word. You must give me one or the
other before you may pass"
THE only order l require, my friend,
TO enter where / will, hangs at my
side" l answered, tapping my long
sword; twill you let me pass in peace
or no?"
You are not here by the order of
Than Kosis," cried the one VINO had
drst addressed me. "and not only shall
sou not enter the apartments of the
princess of Helium, but you shall go
back to Than Kosis under guard TO ex-
lain this unwarranted temerity.
brow down your sword; you cannot
1ope to overcome four of us, he added
With a grim smile.
MY reply was a quick thrust which
eft me but three antagonists and /
an assure you that they were worthy
~ my metal They had me backed
sainst the wall in no time, fighting
OF my life. Slowly l worked my way
o a corner of the room where ! could
orce them to come at me only one at
time, and thus we fought upward of
enty minutes: the Changing of steel
steel producing a veritable bedlam
Fl the little room.
The noise had brought Deiah Thoris
the door of her apartment, and
"ere she stood throughout the conflict
tn Sofa at her back peering over her
Aoulder. Her face was set and emo
oniess and l knew that she did not
cognize me, nor did Sofa.
finally lucky cut brought down
'cond guardsman and then, with only
o opposing me, changed my tactics
"a fushed them down after the
shton Of my fighting that had won
e many a victory. The third fell
min ten seconds after the second,
NJ the last lay dead upon the bloody
'oF few moments later. They were
nave men and noble fighters, and it
-lleyed me that l had been forced TO
.'i them but would have willingly
populated all Barsoom could / have
4aehed the side Of my Dejah Thoris
p no other wav