The Washington herald., 1919-10-02

berries with impunity. and took
refuge after every outrage In the
well-nigh impregnable Glen Doone.
On the nearby farm of Plover's
Barrows dwelt John Ridd. a great
limbed lad who had been summoned
home from boarding school in his
teens to learn that his father. a
wealthy farmer. had been slain IN
a night raid by the Doones. John.
blunt and honest. was kind to his
mother and his two sisters, did his
share OF the farm work. and. as he
grew to manhood, learned to ride q
morse and shoot a blunderbuss with
upfailing skill.
One day. while yet q boy, his
fishing excursions in Bagworthy
water led him to discover an en-
trance to Glen Doone. so secret so
remote that the robber band sta
toned no guard there, never dream
ing that living soul would discover
IL. Following a little cascade, John
emerged at last into a dell bloom
ing with primroses and beheld with
amazanent a beautiful child OF
with hair like a black shower AMI
eyes full of pity and wonder. Her
na.re (pretty. like herselO was
Lorna Eoone and John often bad
her in his thoughts through the
six years which followed. He was
20 then and Lorna II, and already
John Ridd knew that he loved her,
that fate had dccreed 1t so and that
all the world was naught when
weighed against this girl
To be found in Doone Valley
spelled death for any man. but the
thought of Lorna light and white.
nimble, smooth and elegant" filled
John with yearning and lured him
to the hazard. Again and again
he sought the maid in the primrose
bower above the cascade and then
one afternoon in the splendor Of an
April sunset John once more threw
down the gauntlet which love ever
casts at danger. To Lorna's tre-
they will kill you II they find you
here" John smiled and thought her
fairer than the primroses amid
which she stood. She lived in con-
slant fear. she confessed, for the
gigantic and passionate Carver
Doone openly paid her homage and
glowered with Jealous eyes at any
man who burst cast a glance at
her.
"I care naught for him or his jeal-
ousy," cried John Ridd. Il have
loved you long. as child, as comely
girl, and now as full grown maiden
/ love you more than tongue can tell
or heart can hold in silence" Lorna
raise her glorious eyes and, finging
her arms. about his neck. cried with
her heart on his, Darling. 1 shall
never be my own again. 1 am yours
forever and forever" But before he
went she was in tears. 'How dare I
dream Of lover Something in my
heart tells me 1t can never be.
That fear Of his beioved's spurred
John to penetrate into Glen Doone one |
night at the risk Of his life for word |
of Lorna Once a guard leveled his |
gun at him but went OF cringing at
the thought that after all SO huge a |
form could be only that Of Carver
Doone.
It was a real danger which threat |
ened Lorna, for old Sir Ensor Doone, |
head of the robber crew, lay dying /
and he alone had been her protector |
against the brutal Carver. For John |
to play a desperate game and carry /
Lorna of would but incite the Doones
to wreak revenge upon the countryside
with fire and sword. At times he
swore to smoke out this nest Of ras-
calls, but the timid farmers, overawed
by their savagery. would promise no
support
Meanwhile an unparalleled winter
had set in. Day after day the snow
fell steadily and. blown by the wind.
almost smothered the low-eaved cot
tages. Desperate for some word Of
Lorna, John made his way on snow
shoes into the very heart Of Glen
Doone, unobserved In that feathery
fcg. John found Lorna's hamlet, SD
fed her exclamations Of surprise with
kisses, and felt his heart swell with
anger on learning that she and her
maid, Gwenny Carfax- were kept in
confinement and deprived Of food by
order Of Carver Doone untn Lorna
should consent to be his wife. Not for
paught was John Ridd a giant-and
In love. Throwing discretion to the
winds he carried Lorna and Gwenrv
away upon his sledge that very night
to the warm refuge Of his mothers
fresfde.
The Doones, though so openly set at /
defiance, bided their time. With spring
the roads were open, and one moon
light night, with an arrogance worthy
Of Carver, they attacked Flowers
in force. John Ridd. nothing |
iaunted, defended his fireside and |
loved ones with spirit. meeting the /
attackers squarely with a handful Of
men and putting them to speedy
hight A murderous attack by the
Doones was bad business enough. but
10 Johns honest soul . worse trou-
Bile followed.
His Lorna was discovered to Be no II
hue Doone, but the niece Of the great III
Lord Dugal, Kidnapped as a c.lild. To
London and the protection of her
noble uncle she was summoned. her
heart as well as her lovers torn By III
he separation. The thought that he ii
might never again behold his Lorna III
plunged him into misery.
After all" he asked himself. who
nm but simple farmer. who dares