Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner. (Elizabeth, Colo.) 1920-1921, 1921-05-13

cruelty and ignominy. Dejah ThorisT
I asked, feeling the hot blood Of my
fighting ancestors leap In my veins
as I awaited her reply.
"Only In little ways, John Carter
she answered. Nothing that can
harm me outside my pride. At heart
they hate their horrid fates, and SO
wreak their poor spite on me who
stands for everything they have not,
and for all they most crave and never
can attain. Let us pity them, my
chieftain, for even though we die at
their hands we can afford pity. since
we are greater than they and they
know It."
Il presume It is the better part of
wisdom that we bow to our fate with
as good grace as possible. Dejah Thor
is; but hope. nevertheless, that may
be present the next time that any
Marian. green, red. pink, or violet.
has the temerity to even SO much as
frown on you, my princess
Dejah Thoris caught her breath at
my last words, and gazed upon me
with dilated eyes and quickening
breath, and then. with an odd little
laugh, which brought roguish dim
pies to the corners of her mouth, she
shook her head and cried:
what child a great warrior
| and yet stumbling child"
what have l done now?" ] asked,
in sore perplexity.
Some day you shall know, John
Carter, If we live; but may not tell
nd ha ~
KAYAK, SOD of Tardos Mors, have
listened without anger" she solilo-
Quized in conclusion.
Then she broke out again Into one
of her gay, happy. laughing moods;
joking with me on my prowess as
Thark warrior as contrasted with my
soft heart and natural kindness.
/ was very curious to know what
I had said or done to cause her so
much perturbation a moment before
and so I continued to importune her
tosenlighten me.
No" she exclaimed. sit is enough
that you have said 1t and that have
listened. And when you learn. John
Carter, and II l be dead. as likely
enough shall be ere the further moon
has circled Barsoom another twelve
times, remember that l listened and
that I-smiled."
1t was all Greek to me, but the more
| l begged her to explain the more pos
tive became her denials Of my re-
quest, and. SO, in very hopelessness,
/ desisted.
The chill of the Marian night was
upon us, and removing my silks threw
them across the shoulders of Dejah
| Thorls. AS my arm rested for an In
slant upon her felt thrill pass
through every fiber of my being as
such a contact with no other mortal
| had ever produced; and 1t seemed to
me that she had leaned slightly to-
ward me, but of that l was not sure.
loved Dejah Thoris. The touch
| of my arm upon her naked shoulder
| had spoken to me in words / could
not mistake, and / knew that / had
loved her since the first moment that
my eyes had met hers that first time
In the plaza Of the dead city of Kor-
ad.
My first impulse was to tell her of
my love, and then / thought of the
helplessness of her position wherein
alone could tighten the burdens of
her captivity, and protect her in my
poor way against the thousands of
hereditary enemies she must face up
on our arrival at Thank. l could not
chance causing her additional pain or
sorrow by declaring love which, in
all probability she did not return.
"Why are you so quiet, Dejah Thor
is?" l asked. POSSIBLY you would
rather return to Sofa and your quar-
ters"
mo" she murmured. 81 am happy
here. / do not know why 1t is that
/ should always be happy and CON
tented when you, John Carter, a
stranger are with me; yet at such
times 1t seems that I am safe and
that. with you, l shall soon return to
my fathers court and feel his strong
arms about me and my mothers tears
and kisses on my cheek"
do people kiss. then, upon Bar
soom?" 1 asked. when she had ex-
planned the word she used, in answer
to my inquiry as to its meaning.
parents. brothers. and sisters, yes
and" she added in a low. thoughtful
tone lovers"
And you, Dejah Thoris. have par
ents and brothers and sistersT
"Yes"
"And a--lover?'
She was silent. nor could I ven
ture to repeat the question.
"The man OF Barsoom," she finally
ventured, "does not ask personal
questions of women. except his mother,
and the woman he has fought for and
won"
But l have fought" started, and
then wished my tongue had been cut
from my mouth; for she turned even