But the Duke's enthusiasm grew as the work grew and the cost increased. And then the restoration, or rather the transfiguration, of the place was the labor of many years, at the cost of much money.įabulous sums were lavished upon Lone. The most skillful engineers and architects in Europe were consulted and their plans examined, and a selection of designs and contractors made from the best among them. When he first spoke of his plan, he was called visionary and extravagant and when he persisted in carrying it into execution, he was called mad. It was strongly built, on a rocky island, that arose from The midst of a deep clear lake, surrounded by lofty mountains.įor generations past, the castle had been but a picturesque ruin, and the island a barren desert, tenanted only by some old retainer of the ancient family, who found shelter within its huge walls, and picked up a scanty living by showing the famous ruins to artists and tourists.īut some years previous to the commencement of our story, when Archibald-Alexander-John Scott succeeded his father, as seventh Duke of Hereward, he conceived the magnificent, but most extravagant idea of transforming that grim, old Highland fortress, perched upon its rocky island, surrounded by water and walled in by mountains-into a mansion of Paradise and a garden of Eden. The castle was originally the stronghold of a race of powerful and warlike Scottish chieftains, ancestors of the illustrious ducal line of Scott-Hereward. ![]() Lone Castle was a home of almost ideal grandeur and loveliness, situated in one of the wildest and most picturesque regions of the Highlands, yet brought to the utmost perfection of fertility by skillful cultivation. For on the morning of the next day a deep wrong was to be made right by the marriage of the young and beautiful Lady of Lone to the chosen lord of her heart. The preparations were being completed for a grand event. The occasion one of high festivity and rejoicing. The scene was one of great beauty and sublimity. The locality was in the Highlands of Scotland. Alexander McRath, house-steward of Castle Lone. The speakers in this short colloquy were Mrs. An ill omen that if onything be an ill omen. Look at they fules trying to pit up yon triumphal arch! The loons hae actually gotten the motto 'HAPPINESS' set upside down, sae that a' the blooming red roses are falling out o' it. "She _is_ a bonny lass, but na too gude for him, although her fair hand does gie him back his lands." The laird will get his ain again, and the bonnyest leddy in a' the land to boot." ![]() Sooth, if only marriages be made in heaven, as they say, sure this is one. "Na, Sandy, mon, sure the ill that was dune that day is weel compensate on this. It gars my blood boil only to think o' it!" "Dinna ye gae back to that day, Girzie Ross. "Eh, Meester McRath? Sae grand doings I hae na seen sin the day o' the queen's visit to Lone. ![]() Southworth give full scope to her unrivalled skill in depicting character and developing a plot, and she has made the most of her opportunity and her subject. The materials which these interesting and tragic annals place at the disposal of Mrs. The plot, which is unusually provocative of conjecture and interest, is founded on thrilling and tragic events which occurred in the domestic history of one of the most distinguished families in the Highlands of Scotland. "THE LOST LADY OF LONE" is different from any of Mrs. "Only a Girl's Heart," "For Woman's Love," etc. Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at Īuthor of "Nearest and Dearest," "The Hidden Hand," "Unknown,"
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