The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-12

court where the story of his great size,
 his skill at wrestling, his exploits against
 the Doones and his romantic rescue Of
 the Lady Lorna Dugal, who was now
 taken under the especial patronage of
 the Queen, had penetrated as well as
 the story of the love of the yeoman for
 the great heiress.
 Lorna came sweeping into the room
 at Earl Brandir's house, fine lady of
 perfect beauty and so high-bred In her
 bearing that John was at first scared
 when she suddenly ran to him and put
 her head close to his breast. Darling Lorna. Lady Lorna!' he cried, raising her head to his lips, "surely,
 though love you so, this is not as It should be-
 "Yes, it is." she answered, smuggling close up to him, nothing else should ever be- Oh, why have you behaved so?' "l am behaving to the very best Of | my ability" replied John. There is not another man in the world could hold you
 so without kissing you.'
 "Then why don't you do it. John?' said
 Lorna, with a flash of her old fun. It turned out that the '"behavlor" Lorna hau alluded to was Johns not answering her letters, and further investigation showed that these letters had never been sent having been suppressed by Gwenny Carfax now acting as Lorna's maid, who
 had determined that her high-born lady
 should not continue to think of yeo- man.
 "As soon as I am my own mistress, John," said Lorna, "I will come to Plo-
 ver's Barrows and marry you out of
 hand"
 Earl Brandir, who was very old and as deaf as a post, received John as he
 would any other yokel, who had done
 him a good service by rescuing his ward
 t-..A A.sI |. .I.A of love between the young people than
 he would of love between plough boy
 and queen. And the young people some
 how. put off telling him about it-he was so deaf.
 Then a great piece of good fortune be- fell John. He was lotering in the nigh borhood of Earl Brandirs house one
 night, as lovers will loiter near the ob- ject of their devotion, when he saw three
 burglars enter 1t by window. Follow ing them he came upon them in the Earls room just as they were threaten ing the aged nobleman with death if he did not give up the keys to his strong box
 With his great cudgel, which he al- ways carried in London at night, John broke the skull of one robber, Knocked
 the other two senseess, bound them with cords and turned them over to the watch. It happened that these two prisoners were two of the most notorious false wit nesses of Titus Oates and his fellows, whom the King had much desired to lay hands on, but had been unable to catch. So John was summoned to court and stood before the last Stuart King of Eng land.
 The Queen was there also, and came down the room graciously to encourage the yeoman who stood abashed at find- 1 ing himself in such great company. This Is the great Johann Reed" said her majesty in her foreign way, for whom I have so much heard from my lovely Lorna. She is not of this black 1 countree; she If the bright Italie." John Ridd,' said the King, thou hast l done great service to this realm and to religion. It was good to save Earl Bran i dir, loyal Catholic nobleman. but 1t was | greater service to catch two of the vilest bloodhounds ever laid on by | heretics. Now ask us anything in req son; thou canst carry thy honors on | thy club, like Hercules. What is thy l chief ambition?'
 Well" said John. who had now quite