Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1921-10-07

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They Wsrs Brave Men and Nehls
Plohssrs, anA u osisvsd Ne That !
Nsd Been Fsrost 70 XIII Them.
me many . victory. The third fell
within ten seconds after the second.
and the last lay dead upon the bloody
Aoor few moments later. They were
brave men and noble fighters, and II
srieved me that had been forced to
kill them, but i would have willingly
depopuisted slf Bafsoom could have
reached the side Of my Dejah Thoris
In no other way.
Sheatbing my bloody blade ! ad.
vAnced toward my Marian princess.
who stiIl stood mutely gazing al me
without sign Of recognition.
-Who are you. Zodanganf" she wills
pered Another enemy 10 harass me
In my miseryr'
- am a friend" ! answered, "a once
cherished friend"
"No friend ~ HeIinm's princess
wears thar metal" she replied. "and
vet the voice! ] have heard u before:
Is motif cannot be--no. for he In
dead"
III Is. though. my princess. none 9th.
er han John Carter" said "Do yon
not recognize. even through pnint and
-'rrnge metal. the heart ~ your chief.
amp
Az came close 10 her she swayed
'oward me with outsiretched hands
hut as ! reached 10 take her In my
arms she drew hack with a shudder
and ~ little moan OF misery.
"Too late too late" she grleved
'fh. my chieftnin that was, and whom
Thought dead. had You hut returned
"ne lille hour hefore-but now II IL
900 la'e FOO late"
what do you mean, Dejah Thorls?"
! cried. THAT you would not have
promised yourself to the Zodangan
prince had you known that ! livedT"
"Think you. John Carter. that I
would give my heart to you yesterday
and today to anOther7 thought that
II lny buried with your ashes In the
pits Of WarbOon. and 80 today I have
promised my body to another to save
my people from the curse Of a vic
torious Zodangan army. am as good
as married. John Carter. No longer
may You call me your princess. No
longer are you my chieftain."
II know but little Of your customs
here upon Barsoom. Dejah Thoris but
DO know that love you, and II you
meant the last words you spoke to mo
that day a. the hordes Of Warhoon
were charging down upon nm. no other
man shail ever claim you a. his bride.
You meant them then. my princess,
and you mean them still Say that Il
10 true"
II meant them. John Carter she
whispered. II cannot repeat them now,
for have given myself to another. All,
II you had only known our ways, my
friend" she continued, half to herself,
the promise wsuld have been yours
long months ago. and you could have
claimed me before all others."
Then aloud she said: do you re-
member the night when you offended
mel You called me your princess
without having asked my hand of me.
and then you boosted that you had
fought for me. You did not know, and
] should not have been offended; I see
that now. But there was no one to tell
you. what could not. that upon Bar
SOON there are two kinds OF women In
the cities Of the red men. The one they
eight for that they may ask them In
marriage; the other kind they tight for
also. but never ask their hands. When
man has won woman he may ad.
dress her as his princess. or In any OF
the several terms which signify posses
sion. Ton had fought for me. but had
never asked me IN marriage, and 90
when Jon called me you, princess. you
see" she faitered. II vas hurt, but
even then. John Carte. I did not re-
pulse you. as should have done. until
you made II d0ubly worse By taunting
me with having won me through CON-
bat"
II DO not need ask your forgiveness
now. Dsjah Thoris.- cried. ''You
must know that my fault was Of
Ignorance OF your Barsoomian customs.
What ! failed to DO. through implicit
belief that my petition would be pre-
sumptuous and unweicome, ! do now.
Dejah ThoIfs; ] ask you to be my wife.
nd BY all the Virginian lighting blood
that 1OWa In INV Veina Von shan h."