The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-04-23

that they should subject her to dan
gerous and arduous labor filed me
with rage.
"Have they ever. subjected you to
cruelty and ignominy, Dejah Thoris?"
l 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. 1t 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 Th0ris 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 q child! A great warrior
and yet q stumbling child"
.What hayesI done nowf" I asked,
in sore perplexity.
Some day you shall know. John
Carter, II we live; butI may not tell
you. And l. 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
Thank warrior as contrasted with my
soft heart and natural kindness.
I 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
to enlighten me.
aNo,", she exclaimed, ut is enough
that you have said It and that have
listened. And when you learn. John
Carter, and II I be dead, aA likely
enough I shall be ere the further moon
has circied Barsoom another twelve
times, remember that ! listened and
that l-smiled."
It was all Greek to me, but the more
I begged her to explain the more pos
itive BECAME her denials Of my re-
quest, and, 20. IN very hopelessness,
1 dedsted.
The chill Of the Marian night was
upon m, 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 Z contact with no other mortal
had ever produced; and it seemed to
me that she had leaned slightly to-
ward me, but Of that ! was not sure.
I loved Dejah Thoris. The touch
Of my arm upon her naked shoulder
had spoken to. me In words I could
not mistake, and knew that I had
loved her since the first m0meht that
my eyes had met hers that first time
In the plaza Of the dead city Of Kor-
ad.
Ny 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. I could not
chance causing her additional pain or
sorrow By declaring love which, IN
all probability she did not return.
.Why are ron 20 quiet, De5ah Thor
igr' / asked. Possibly you would
rather return to Sofa and your quar-
tefs."
~No,s me murmured, Il am happy
here. I do not know why It Is that
/ should always be happy and con-
tented when You, John Carter, .
stranger. are with me: yet at such
tfmes il 1eems that am safe and
that with you, shall soon return to
M fhther's court and feel his strong
arms about me and my mothers tears
ana kisses on my cheek
sDo people kiss. then, upon Bar
soom9v ! !; asked. when she had ex-
nlained the word she used, Il answer
e my inquiry q - it, meaning.
.sPnreots, brother1. and sisters, yes s
ina. Sis6 added In low. thoughtful
tone, I0vers."
And you, Dejah Thoris, have par
ents and brothers and sistersY
sYes."
And a-a0yer
she was SILENT nor could ! ven
mn 3 fepeat tho question.
sThe man d Barsoom." she finally
vcnfured. docs not esk personal
uueetioue q women, except hia mother,
md The woman, he has fought for and
w9u.
~Bst / havs fought. started. and
hen I wiahed ny tongue Ind been cut
49, sv,v 10Th. for HE turned even