The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-12


 | Kings Bench at Westminster. The truth was that Jeffreys hoped John might serve him as spy in the l royal service over the peasantry and yeomanry of the district among whom there was felt to be some discomfort and leaning toward Monmouth and | the Protestant succession. John made the appalling journey up | to London, a journey which only the | greatest people of the county families | took in those days, and when hardly more than once in a lifetime, and saw all the wonders of the great city. He 1 stayed on and on in the capital. get ting no command to appear before | their lordshfps, though he had notified them of his arrival. and longing much [ for the scent of the earth at Plover's
 Barrows, as we'll as wondering whether l Lornas signal was set and what sne 1 would think of his absence. At last, his money being run out, he went to westminster Hall and marched | boldly in before Lord Chief Justiee | Jeffreys and his two associates. E"EIow now countryman, who art thou?" cried Jeffreys, looking at John out Of little eyes which blazed in his blotchy face. John told his story and said he had now come to know if he could go home again. speaking very frank and direct, and looking the terrible Jeffreys straight in the eye.
 "Well, done. John," cried his lord ship. I'll go ball for shee thou never spoke so long a speech before. Wait | ing according to order hast thou been? | Thou art made to weight, John. more than to order. Hath his Majesty seen | thee?"
 "Yes, my lord, and made jest about me"
 T doubt not a sorry one," returned | Jeffreys His wit it not so dainty as mine Ha! ha! thou forward varlet, we shall have to try short commons with thee and thou art very long common"
 Then Jeffreys examined John as to l all he knew concerning the Doones and other goings on and conspirings in the district, and then broke out with:
 T see that you know naught of con- spiracies, but 1t will not be long before England hears of them. Now. John, have taken a liking to thee. for never man told me the truth more manfully than thou hast Keep from the Doones. keep from everything that goes beyond thy knowledge. I meant to use thee as my tool, but see thou art not sharp enough-and too honest. Now, get thee gone.,-and he gave the yeoman A glare which he remembered to his dying day.
 When John returned home he did not waste time trying to persuade people that he had not been in daily conference with the King upon affairs of state-that would have been task impossible among those admiring minds but he sought out Lorna in her glen and found that they were trying to make her hasten her marriage with Carv,r Doone. As long as Sir Ensor lived Lorna believed that she would In was very old and nearing his end. and after that she feared the power of Carver Jeremy Stickles, the officer who had summoned John to London, now came to Plover's Barrows and made him. self comfortable there, liking the pro yender and the ale. He was mighty busy. riding about the country on some secret business of the Kings. and once John had the good fortune to save the officers life by giving him warning of an ambush prepared for him by the Doones
 Now came on a terrible winter with much snow, such as the oldest inhabi- tant had never before seen, and which Is known in Exmoor to this day as the winter of the great frost" John made him a pair of snowshoes and often went upon them to the top of cliffs overlooking Glen Doone. but saw no signal from Lorna Finally when he was getting desperate, there came to him a little maid named Gwenny Carfax, who waited upon Lorna. and told him that old Sir Ensor lay dying and would not die until he had seer John Ridd before him.
 Gwenny conducted him to the glen, and though the other Doones scrowled at him. he was safe. by the orders or Sir Ensor. The old man sat in his woman curiously. Lorna had told Sir Ensor of her love for John, and that she would never marry Carver.
 Do you know this maiden Is far above your rank?" asked the dying man. DO you know she Is come of one of the few really ancient families remaining in Northern Europe? And do you know your own low descent?"
 "The Ridds." replied John, drawing himself up, "have been honest men twice as long as the Doones have been rogues"
 Y may have my opinion as to that" said Sir Ensor with a twinkle in his fading eve. But If 1t be so, then your family is the very oldest in Europe
 The old man sat regarding the two for a while in silence, and then broke out with "Ye two fools! Ye two fools"
 we may not be two such fools as we look retorted Jonn, put T we pe' "0 are we'll content to be so, so long as we may be fools together
 Fools you are; fools forever"' cried Sir Ensor. Tt is best thing can wish YOU. Boy and girl; be boy and girl until you have grandchildren"
 Then John departed amid the fierce looks of all the Doones, but especially of Carver, with his black beard and cruel eyes But before he went. Lorna arranged f. new signal which should tell him If she was in danger. In the valley was a tree with four rocks nests in it. and Gwenny. wno was a great climber, was to remove one of them if harm threatened her mistress.
 Old Sir Ensor died, and soon after John from his outlook on the cliffs, saw one of the hooks nests missing. That night he climbed the waterway m which he had first gone to meet his lorna. and carefully made his way to Inc house where she lived He found that she was kept prisoner there and was being starved to make her marry Carver.
 w,thout its Queen. Lorna was safe In inc house at Plover's Barrows. John's mother. who had taken on at first when her great son informed her of his love for Lorna. was reconciled