Morning journal and courier., 1894-04-21


and ohseriness within. The blaze of the
fireplace lesped or dimmed 40 If responsive
to the furies or cessation of the storm, and
the good bishop read or wrote and thought
and dozed.
He was engaged upon pastoral letter to
the clergy of the island, counselipg that
they deal most gently with the treasured
superstitions of the peasantry; showing
that the fairy world of Mainland was still
filled with the purest and best of pagan
mythology, which was in itself code of
ethics for the restraint of simple minds;
and that the church should seek not to an
tsgonize its children through deprivation
of harmless and dearly loved whimsies,
which had chung to every sacred, patriotic
and tender relation of the Asnxman's life
since brave King Orrey's time, but should
first and ever seek to instill the great pre-.
cept that true religion is pure life.
Indeed" wrote the bishop, bending
over his manuscript after glance at the
old Manx tones which he had been con-
sulting, II am not sure but that, should I
ever meet the kindly phynnodderee upon
the hills behind Kirkmichael, should
heartily thank him for the good his brother
hood had accomplished, and earnestly at
tempt to secure the aid of more workers in
his chosen calling of rescuing the weak
Of wrong"
Here the bishop became conscious of o
presence in the room, and turned with q
kindly but almost startling exclamation Of
surprise. as he saw the dripping figure of
Densie Qnillian with his own blazing fire.
place as a background OF Pickering light
behind her.
"Bless mel" repeated the bishop as he
noticed her fair face and dripping gar
ments.
"I'vs done 1t already, sir, VII every
breath and every step from Maughold
Head"
"That is much blessing and long one"
returned the bishop seriously; ssbut how
came you in this rooms"
ooh, sir, told the servant had let
ter for your reverence from the phynnod
deree, an he told me to come right in, az
you were wantin' such things right away,
sir!"
The bishop smiled for he remembered
he had closely questioned his old Mapz
servant, not half hour before and with
little avail, as to his personal knowledge
of this intangible but omnipresent imp.
"What Is your name, my Rfrl7'
'tDensie; Densie Quillian, SIR"
"Well, Densie, have you the phynnod
deree's note with you2"
4
with q smart curtesy, ss she handed him {
piece of erumpled paper. 1.-THE phynod
dsree said 1t was the only hope poor ole
Granny and had left"
The bishop settled the storm beate,
| thing in a chair close to the comforting
fire and took the piece of paper to his Ii
brary window. He read 1t again and sgair
carefully. He finally laid the paper witt
his manuscripts upon the table, paced tn
room for little time, and at last cam,
aud stood beside the girl, leaning in .
fstherly way against the old carved fire
place.
Then, little by little, he drew from be-
all the sad story of her fathers death, he
the dead mans debt, the steslthy assertion
and reassertion of Johnny Bill Cronl
among the fsherfolk and villagers until 1
had passed into that manner of neighbor
hood belief which often trsnsforms falsit,
into guise of fact, the wretchedness of he
old grandmother now half imbecile through
mortal fear of eviction and penury, snt
the endless prosecutions of the coffin make
of st. Msughold, which vera to culminat
in few weeks, did not some strong arm
interpose. in the utter loss Of their nttl
home and focks.
"Densie, how often have you seen tn
ooh. sir, never but this once, your rev
erence; but Granny saw many o. them I,
her younger days"
"Where did you see this onel"
cit came by the window against the byr
| an beckoned me out tn door,"
"Dld your grandmother see 1t, too, Den
siea"
ooh, aye, else dared not 60 to 1t slon
in the glen. She screeched out twas hell
for Bsllskllley an curse for Johnny BIZ
Cronk."
"How did it look, Densiea"
ooh. sir, like the fallen leaves beside til
burn-ouyrish (brownish) like. It's heat
was tinney (hairy) wi two horns curtin
"DId 1t come close to you, Densief'
"No, no, your reverence. It hutched an
wriggled ahint tn darrsghs (oak trees), an
cad out for me T. come no higher"
"Did it speak to youa"
ooh, aye, mufded like. It said: Your
| Densie Quilliau, daughter o. dead Gale,
Quillian, an tn old DEVIL begging you
| reversnoe's pardon, Johnny Bill Cronk,
rohbin' 70 an Granny o tn little hom
your fawther left
"Then the phynnodderee said, Will y
do as bidf said aye, atween soba
Come, then, to the great elagh.' That
the big fiat stone In the Bsllakilley glen
sir.
"when had coined, the phynnoddere
cried out once more T. come no higher
Then 1t said, Look sfore your eyesl'
looked on the rock, an saw TIL letter
brought you, sir. TAX that Z th' Bisho
at Kirkmichsel,' he said. Tell him you
troubles, Dsnsie. He'll not turn ye away
nor fout tn phynnodderee. Beg him
give the villain Cronk tn old Msnx ost
on your fathers grave, In st. Maughol
churchyard. If he'll do that, you'll b
saved, an poor Granny'l die in peace
An, oh, your reverence. If you only wi
do as tn dear phynnodderee said, you
save us at Bsllakilley from far worse tina
DEATH"
Here poor Dsnsie burst into tears an
l moansd and sobbed piteous1y.
And is that all, DsnsieF said Bishe
Powys, touched deeply by her uneontrol
able grief.
"Oh, no, sir, not ALL"
Here che carefully unrolled from the col
: ner of her handkerchief two gold coini
She handed them to the bishop, who bel
them In his hand while he regarded he
with look of puzzled inquiry.
"Then the phynnodderee told me to III
tho letter an tax what was under Il.
did a. bid, an there ware too shining 20,
/ ! ersigns. TAX 'em T. tn bishop, Densie,
. prove your words true. Tell him II he,
lay tn oath on Johnny Bill Cronk, this nigh
. week, hell know the phynnodderee IL
st. Maughold kirkyard, by seein' two
, their shinin' mates lynn atop TIL hsadsta
| o. your fawther's grave; an that II oil
Cronk takes false oath when tn book lie
! on his breast. he'll speyk words that
|. mako him mend his ways!"
u Bishop Powys could scarcely believe Il
evidence of his ears and eyes. Il was b
yond comprehension that this girl ha
been the victim of some form Of hallucini
ton, resultant from her own and Gram
Quillian's suffering and helplessness. Th
, phynnodderee's letter and the fmp's col
were certainly in his possession. He d
cided ct once to follow his mercifu1 In
pulse and unravsl the strange mystery.
"Wsl, Densie, I cannot promise whs
Jon ask 10 day. Go home now. Spea
no word Of this 10 any human bsipe
/ Cheer up yours0ld Granny. may Inv
good word for you very soon."