The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-02-23

the snow barrin' his own an the old
harper's. Nowhere was sign q Fair
Ailinn, an he knew that she had been
stolen away.
Only half KNOWN what he was dom
he caught up sword an cloak an
rushed out to follow the track o the
harper in the snow. When morn came,
he saw a half ruined, dark old castle,
on a crag overlookh Nal Bay-where
the winter waves were beatin' up on
the shore. The marks led to a closed
gate, but he waited a breath before
beatin' at it; an in that moment he
spied a bit of fishers hut, far down
the shore, an he thought to ask there
for word o. Fair Ailinn.
A frightened bit of a lass stood in
the door an shook her head at his
questionin'.
Ills nevermore yen see her If she's
been stolen by Oisin, son o Lua," whis-
pered she. "Tis terrible sorcerer he
is, an five hundred year has he lived
in that castle. He had but to play on
his harp to get his wish; but much o.
that power has gone from his wicked
doin's. Sleep an rule over wind an
water he has, but gold an long life
must be played for him by a fair maid
with true love in her heart. For that
will he have stolen Fair Ailinn. None
can rescue her save the man who has
no fearin' in his heart; an all fear
Oisin."
Aongas laughed, mo fear O. livin'
man have l." said he. Give me a fish
er's coat in place o. me cloak, an
ashes to darken me face-an' we shall
see."
So the fisher lass helped to change
his looks-an' Breogan, his father,
would not ha' known him. An up to
the castle of Oisin he went, an knock
ed boldly. Afther some time the old
man opened, an already he seemed
younger nor before.
What's yer will?" asked he.
Me boat is wrecked on the rocks"
said .Aongas, IAN no way O Twin have
l. Give me work, an naught but food
will l ask
Now Oisin was weary '-carryin'
away the gold that Ailinn had played
for him-an' little thinkin', he beck
oned the lad to enter, KNOWN that all
fishers on that coast feared the breath
o. his name.
Garry these bags to the tower be-
yond," said he, "'hile sleep; an I'll
give We yer food
Within Aongas saw long dark hall,
with naug'ht O furnishin save a wood
en- settle an a dusty, broken harp by
it.
followin his look. IF yedo twill van
ish an yer life will be mine in pay
ment."
Aongas nodded, but his heart leap
ed, for on the pillar o. the harp he saw
the likeness o. Fair Ailinn. So Oisin
showed him where to carry the bags
o gold, an watched him bit, as he
toiled up the tower stair to the strong
room-then went back to the hall an
nrdt0ndnd n GlanT Oi1f ha hnnph
he had queer Thought that the man
did not fear him, an danger lay in
that same-so he waited for Aongas to
come down to try him.
An as the lad bent for a heavy
sack, there was a terri ble barkin' an
the whole hall was filled with fierce
dogs, comm at him to tear him. Aon-
gas looked at them, careless like
though two had teeth in his coat-an
shook Oisin by the shoulder o. him.
call off yer beasts" says he. "'Tis
10th l am to harm them" An there
was a ring in his voice not like that
of fisher lad. Oisin muttered a word,
an the hall was clear. But still he
seemed sleepin'
When Aongas came down the stair
again, he made but step on the floor,
an sudden like it was slidin' away
from under his feet, an all the walls
waverin'. Quick as a flash he gave a
spring an landed on the top o. Oisin.
An the ashes fell from his face, an
Oisin knew him, but still said noth
in, thinkin" that Aongas might well
finish the carryin before bein' killed
for folloWin'.
twas CROWN toward night, an all The
sacks O. gold were stored An as he
bent to speak great flames burst in
through all the windows an doors, an
no way of gettin' out. Oongas saw
that Osin was gone, an knew that this
last was no jestin', for the heat grew
ever greater: but still was no fearin'
in his heart. Lastly his eye fell on the
harp. A faint tremblin' sound came
from it, an the thought O. seem -he
face O. Fair Ailinn, though twas but
carved in wood, made black an charred
by fire, was more nor he could dream
of.
Bother to see the harp vanish than
that" said he, reckless. "Oisin can do
no more nor take me life from me-be
it by fire or sorcery."
He caught the harp in his arms an
struck ringin' music from it. An as it
echoed up into the smoky rafters, of q
sudden the fire was gone, an in the
dark stood Aongas with Fair Ailinn
clasped close to him, an the wind
shone in at a high window, an on the
floor lay the cloak of Oisin. Aongas
lifted it to put about Fair Altman
there, beneath, was all that men ever
saw more o. Oisin, son o. Lua. An a
little heap o. dust was that same. Sure,
500 years had he worked ill-an when
his enchantin' went against him the
years came back.
"A good endin' to all that work evil,'
Cat IT, ITntx-
he sprang down to the gate, which
stood open, for the bars were now
bound" laughed he, with a light heart.
Now, thrue it is that when they
reached the house o. Breogan the Red
all lay as Oongas had left them, sleep
in this way an that, an none reused
till Fair Ailinn laughed an sang with
gladness at bein' there.
Breogan sat up an rubbed his eyes.
"'Tis dreamin' o. dreamin' I've been"
said he. But I've woke in time for a
weddin."
An to the last day of all there, none
knew that they had lost day an a
night from their lives.
And was the old man never heard
of again?'
Never no more, for he blew away
entirely. If we doubt me word, go TO
Nal Bay, an see what a power o. dust
lies on the shore to this dav."
The Plant System Exposition Flyer
leaves Savannah for Charleston via
Plant System $3.50 a. m. Getty time)
arriving Charleston 1880 d. m. Ele-