The morning news., 1894-04-22

suting. u am not sure but that, should
! ever meet the kindly phynnOdderee
upon the hills behind Kirkmichael, !
should heartily thank him for the good
his brotherhood had accomplished, and
earnestly attempt to secure the aid OF
more workers in his chosen calling of res
cuing the weak and downtrOdden and
scourgiug thedoers of wrong"
Here the bishop became conscious OF a
presence in the room, and turned with
kindly but almost startling exclamation
of surprise as he saw the dripping figure
of Densie Quillian with his own blazing
fireplace as a background of tickering
light behind her.
BLESS mer' repeated the bishop as he
noticed her fair face and dripping gar
ments.
I've done it already sir, wi every
breath and every step from MaughoId
Head"
That is much blessing and long one,
returned the bishop seriously; but how
came you in this roomi"
'Oh, sir, told the servant I had a let
ter for your reverence from the phynnod-
deree, an he told me to come right in, as
you were wantin' such things right away,
/ sir.'
The bishop smiled, for he remem bered
he had closely questioned his old Manx
! servant, not a half hour before and with
little avail, as TO his personal knowledge
OF this intangible but omnipresent imp.
"What is your name, my girl2'
"Densie; Densie Quillian, sir"
"Well, Densie, have you the phynnod-
| deree's note with you2n
"Oh, yes, your reverence" said the
girl with a smart curtsey, as she handed
him piece of crumpled paper. The
! phynnoJderee said it was the only hope
poor old Granny and l had left"
The bishop settled the storm-beaten
thing in a chair close to the comforting
fire, and took the piece of paper to his
again carefully. He finally laid the paper
with his manuscripts upon the table,
paced the room for little time, and at
last came and stood beside the girl, lean
ing in n fatherly way against the old
carved fireplace.
Then, little by little he drew from her
all her sad story Of her fathers death,
her lovers disappearance, the false claim
of the dead mans debt, the stealthy as
sertiOn and reassertion of Johnny Bill
Cronk among the fisherfofk and villagers
| until it had passed into that manner of
neigh borhood belief which often trans
forms falsity into guise of fact, the
wretchedness of her old grandmother
now half imbecile through mortal fear of
eviction and penury, and the end
less prosecutions of the coffn-maker
of St. Maughold, which were
to culminate in few weeks. did not some
strong arm interpose, in the utter loss of
their little home and fiocks.
"Densie, how often have you seen the
phynnoddereeH'
"Oh, sir, never but this once, your rev.
erence, but granny saw many o. them in
her younger days"
Where did you see this one9"
sit came by the window against the
byre an beckoned me out tn door"
Did your grandmother see it, too,
Densiel"
"Oh, aye, else dared not go to it alone
in the glen. She screeched out twas help
for Ballakilley an curse for Johnny Bill
| Cronkp
How did it look. Densie7"
''Oh, sir, like the fallen leaves beside
tn burn-ouyrish (brownish) like. It's
head was a fnney (hairy) VII two horns
curlin DER T. front"
Did it come closely to you, Densiel"
mo, no, your reverence. 1t hutched
an wriggled ahint tn darraghs (oak
trees), an cad out for me Z come no
higher"
"Did it speak to you9"
"Oh, aye, mu fled like It said: You're
Dense Quiilian, daughter o. dead Galley
Quillian, an tn old devil begging your
reverence's pardon, johnny Bill Cronk, is
robbin' ye an Granny o. tn little home
your fawther left
'Then the phynnodderee said, will We
do as bldg ] said aye, atweeu sobs.
| Come then, to the great clagh' That's
the big fat stone in the Ballakilley glen,
sir.
when 1 had come'd, tn phynnodderee
cried out once more t. come no higher.
Then it said, Look afore your eyesp l
looked on the rock, an saw th' letter ]
brought you, sir TAX that t tn bishop
at Kirkmiclyael,' he said. Tell him your
troubles, Densie He'll not turn We away,
nor fout th phynnodderee. Beg him T.
give the villain Cronk tn old ManX oath
on your fathers grave, in st. Maughold
churchyard. If he'll do that, you'll be
saved, an poor Granny'll die in peace.
An, oh, your reverence, If you only will
do as tn dear phynnodderee said, you'll
save US at Ballakilley from far worse
than deathr
moaned and sobbed piteously.
And is that all, Dense2'' said Bishop
Powys, touched deeply by her uncon.
trollable grief.
"Oh no, sir, not ALL"
Here she carefully unrolled from the
corner of her handkerchief two gold coins
She handed them to the bishop, who held
them in his hand while he regarded her
with look OF puzzled inquiry. -.
Then the phynnodderee told me 10
lift the letter an TAX what was under it,
/ did as bid, an there were two shining
sovereigns. TAX 'em T. th' bishop, Den
sic, t. prove your words true Tell him il
he'll lay tn oath on Johnny Bill Cronk
this night week, he'll know th phynnod-
deree is in St. Maughold kirkyard, by
seein' two o. their shinin' mates lyin'
atop th' headstan o. your fawther's
grave; an that if old Cronk takes false
oath when tn book lies on his brest, he'll
speyk words that'll make him mend his
waySW
Bishop Powys could scarcely believe
the evidence of his ears and eyes. 1t was
} beyond comprehension that this girl had
been the victim of some form of hallucina.
tion resultant from her own and Granny
, Quillian's suffering and helplessness. The
; phynnodderee's letter and the imps coin
were certainly in his possession. He de
J cided at once to follow his merclful i'm
pulses and unravel the strange mystery
We'll, Densie, l cannot promise what
, you ask to-day Go home now. Speak
, no word of this to any human being
Cheer up your old Granny. l may have
good word for you very soon"
, She could not speak further, her heart
, and eyes were so full Grasping his
, skirts she kissed them with almost saw
age joyousness and in a moment more was
L.