The record-union., 1894-04-21

in the miser's debt. Galley Quillian lies
under the third mound to the right. The
phynnodderee's two sovereigns are upon
its headstone! Ha, ha, hal"
The diabolical voice seemed beside
them, beneath them, above them, while
the branches of the yew trees again be-
gan their wild tossings and wailings.
"Oh, ,Lordi-what'sth that?" gasped Cronk
frenziedly. springing from the mound
and falling, half palsied with fear, into
the bishops ready arms.
II think it's the phynnodderee. You
will have to settle with him, too, Cronk!'
quietly rejoined the bishop, taking firm
twist in the miser's collar, and with the
disengaged hand gathering up the LIANT
ern and the Bible.
He dragged the piteously pleading per-
lurer to the mound the voice bad indi-
Gated, with a quick glance saw two
spheres OF gold glistening from the top
of its headstone and the black letters OF
Galley Quillian's name below, when he
flung the wretch on his back upon the
grave and held him there by main
strength until his furious struggllngS had
somewhat subsidized.
"Have o'er!-have o'er!" the PROSTATE
man moaned desperately.
"Ha, ha, hap responded the impish
voice from out the darkness.
You will take the oath now, Johnny
Bill Cronk," said the determined bishop,
| forcing the Bible upon the mans breast,
''if all the powers of darkness seize upon
you thenl Beginw he thundered at the
half crazed wretch beneath him. RE
peat after me! /, Johnny Bill Cronk,
solemnly swear that Galley Quillian, who
lies buried here, died in my debt by"
''Ha, ha, hap again rang out the near
unearthly voice. "Oh, no. he won't.
Cal 5s
ing hands are reaching from the grave to
clutch his perjured throatl'
Dauntless and determined as was the
bishop, he was sufficiently startled now
to somewhat relax his hold. 1t was but
for an instant, but that instant was enough.
The frenzied man beneath him bounded
in the air like an animal that has re-
ceived its death wound, leaped the graves
with the SWittnesS OF mortal fear and
fled shrieking in the darkness and the
night.
The bishop had scarcely regained his
feet when the self-same phynnodderee
which Densie had described, horned,
bearded and hairy, lightly vaulted the
headstone his sides shaking with venge-
ful laughter. The imp grasped the bish-
ops hands in his own with a quick,
warm, wonderfully human pressure, and
witha wild and triumphant 'Ha, ha, hal"
and desperate coffin maker had taken.
May the Lord have mercy on his
guilty soul" was the fervent and solemn
prayer of the bishop there among the
dreary graves.
Then he took his Bible under his arm
and the old coffin makers lantern in his
hand. So softly were his steps retraced,
his waiting carriage regained and his de-
parture made, that the village ours slum-
iyr nd oil rac
again peaceful and still in old ST. Maugh-
ODDS by the sea.
1t was never publicly known whether
the Bishop of Sudor and Man completed
his pastoral letter with further reference
to the kindly, helpful Manx phynnod
deree, whose good offices he had gener-
ously commended and of whose timely
aid in behalf of the helpless and oppressed
he could have been so powerful wit
ness, but it is true that the perjured
wretch and miser, Johnny Bill Cronk,
was never seen in the hamlet of ST..
Maughold again. In the fair glen of Bal
lakilley a gentleman's villa has replaced
the centuries-old cottage of Galley Quill
liam. Its owner is lover of books, with
an early life romance as a coffin maker s
helper, and his wife has in her great gray
eyes not only the light of joy and love,
but that strange tinge of misty sadness
which comes from the endless callings of
the sea. With the romping children in
the glen is one who has entered the Sec
ond babbling age of youth. She loves
best to linger near the great clagh or rock
OF Ballakilley glen. and over and over she
croons to the other children there.
"Ah, childer dear, twas here th' sweet
phynnodderee com'd that made your
mother and Granny Quiliian glad!'