Cheyenne Wells record., 1921-08-04

l aDkeOs IeSituG tue uVS o'SVN ~
lighting aucestors leap In my veil
a. awaited her reply.
"Only in little ways. John Carter
she answered. "Nothing that ca
harm me outside my pride. At nea
they hate their horrId fates. and
wreak their poor spite on me WI
stands for everything they have no
and for all they most crave and neve
can attain. Let rs pity them. %
chieftain. for even though we die
their hands we can afford pity. sine
we are greater than they and the
know It"
II presume 1t IL the better part o
wisdom that we bow to our fate Wit
as good grace as possible. Dejah Thor
u; but hope, nevertheless. that ma.
be present the next time that an!
Martian. green. red. pink. or violet
has the temerity to even so much d
frown on you, my princess"
Dejah Thoris caught her breath o.
my last words, and gazed upon me
with dIlated eyes and quickenina
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 a child! A great warrior
and yet q stumbling child"
"What have I done nowr' asked.
In sore perplexlty.
"Some day you shall know. John
Carter. II we live: but I may not tell
you. And I, the daughter Of Mors
Kajak. son 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 kindliness.
was very curious to know what
I had said or done to cause her 80
much perturbation q moment before
and so l continued to importuns her
to enlighten me.
"No." she exclaimed. at Is enough
that you have said 1t and that I have
listened. And when you learn. John
Carter. and IL I be dead. as likely
enough I shall be ere the further moon
has clrcled Barsoom another twelve
times, remember that I listened and
that I-smIled."
It was all Greek to me. but the more
begged her to explain the more pos
itive became her denials of my re-
quest, and. so. In very hopelessness.
I desisted.
The chill of the Martian night was
upon US. and removing my silks threw
them across the shoulders of Dejah
As my arm rested for an In
stant upon her I felt a thrill pass
through every fiber of my being as
such a contact with no other mortal
had ever produced; and It seemed to
ne that she had leaned slightly to-
ward me, but of that I was not sure.
loved DeJah Thoris. The touch
" my arm upon her naked shoulder
lad spoken to me In words l could
lot mistake. and I knew that I had
owed her since the first moment that
ny eyes had met hers that first time
n the plaza of the dead city Of Kor-
ID.
My first impulse was to tell her Of
ny love, and then I thought Of the
of her position wherein
alone could tighten the burdens Of
er captivity, and protect her in my
'oor way against the thousands of
ereditary enemies she must face up
n our arrival at Thark. could not
hance causing her additional pain or
orrow by declaring love which. In
II probability she did not return.
"Why are you SO quiet, De5ah Thor
81" asked. POSSIBLY you would
ather return to Sola and your quar-
ers."
"No," she murmured. II am happy
lere. 1 do not know why 1t Is that
should always be happy and con-
ented when you. John Carter.
Itranger, are with me; yet at such
lines 1t seems that am safe and
hat, with you. I shall soon return to
ny fathers court and feel his strong
lrms about me and my mothers tears
md kisses on my cheek"
"Do people kiss. then, upon Bar
soomf" asked, when she had ex-
planned the word she used. In answer
10 my inquiry as to its meaning.
"Parents, brothers, and sisters, yes
and" she added In low, thoughtful
tone, ''lovers."
aAnd you, Dejah Thoris. have par
ents and brothers and sisters"
"Yes."
"And a-loverf'
yhe was silent. nor could I ven
turs to repeat the question.
'sThe 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 have fought" I started, and
then wished my tongue had been cut
from my mouth: for she turned even
- caught myself and ceased, and
drawing my silks fFo0 her sheuldsr
sAs held them out to me-. and without
A..