The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-03-13


making a divarsion out OF work.
Down near the centre of the mountain
was room twenty times higher and
broader than the biggest church in the
worrul. AS they drew near this room
there arose the sound OF reel played on
bagpipes The music was so bewitching
that Darby, who was the gracefullest reel
dancer in all Ireland, could hardly make
his feet behave themselves.
At the rooms edge Darby stopped
short and caught his breath, the sight was
so enhancing. Set over the broad floor
were thousands and thousands of the
Good People, facing this way and that,
dancing to a reel while on a throne in
the middle of the room sat ould Brain
Connors, King of the Fairies, blowing on
the bagpipes The little King, with a
good crown on his head, wearing a beauti-
full green velvelt coat and red knee
bfeeches, sat with his legs crossed, beat,
ing time with his foot to the music.
There were many from Darby's own par
ish; and what was his surprise to see
there Maureen McGilbney, his own wife s
sister, whom he had supposed resting da-
entity in her own grave in holy ground
these three years.
AS l tould you before, l tell you again,
Darby was the finest reel-daneer in all
Ireland; and he came from a family of
dancers, though / say it who shouldn't,
as he was my mothers own cousin. Three
things in the worfuld Danish sorrow
love and whisky and music. So, when the
surprise of it all melted a little, Darby's
feet led him into the thick of the throng,
right under the throne of the King, where
he flung care to the winds and put his
heart and mind into his two nimble feet.
Darby's dancing was such that purity soon
those around stood still to admire.
1t wasn't long till half the dancers
crowded around admiring, clapping their
hands, and shouting encouragement The
ould King grew so excited that he laid
down the pipes, took up his fiddle, came
down from the throne, and standing fer
ninst Darby, began a finer chune than
the first.
The dancing lasted a whole hour, no
one speaking a word except to cry out,
Foot it, We dewitt Aisy now. he's
threading on flowers!" ''Hooroo! hooroo!
hooray!' Then the King stopped and
said
'Well, that bates Banagher, and Ban
agher bates the worruldh Who are you
and how came you here?"
Then Darby up and tould the whole
story.
When he had finished, the King looked
SPURIOUS. I'm glad you came, an I'm
sorry you came" he says. IF we had
put our charm on you outside to bring
you in you'd never die till the ind of the
worruld, when we here must all go to
hell. But he added, quickly, there's
no use in worrying about that now. Those
willing II come with us can't come at
all, at ALL and here you are of your
own free act and will. Howsomever,
you're here, and we darn't let you go
outside to tell others of what you have
SEEN and so give US bad name about
about taking things, you know. Well
make you as comfortable as we can; and
so you won't worry about Bridget and
the childher. I'll have good sovereign
left with them every day of their lives.
But / wish we had comether on you he
says, with a sigh, ''for it's aisy to see
you're great company"
That's how Darby O'Gill began his six
months stay with the Good People. Not
a thing was left undone to make Darby
contented and happy. A civiller people
than the Good People he never met. At
first he couldn't get over saying, God
save all here" and "God save you kind
ly," and things like that, which was like
burning them with hot iron.
If it weren't for Maureen McGibney,
Darby would be in SLEEVE ma mon at this
hour. On q day when they two were sit
ting alone together she says to him:
Darby, DEAR says she, lit isn't right
for dacint man of family to be spending
his days cavortin and idlin' and film the
hours with sport and nonsense.
''Thrue for ye," moaned Darby, "and
my heart is just splittin' for a sight of
Bridget an the childher'
~ know well how you fee" says Maui
reen, 'for I'd give the world to say three
words to Bob Broderick, since we tell me
that out of grief for me he has never kept
company with any other girl till this day.
But that'll never be-" she says, because
must stop here till the Day of Judg-
ment, then I must go to -" says she,
beginning to cry, but if you get out
you'll bear message to Bob for me,
maybe" she says.
IT'S aisy to talk about going out bus
how can it be done?' asked Darby.
There's a way" says Maureen, wiping
her big gray eyes, "but it may take years.
First, you must know that the Good Peo-
pie can never put their charm on any one
who is willing to come with them. That's
why you came safe. Then, again, they
can't work ham in the daylight, and af-
ter cock-crow any mortal eye can see
them plain; nor can they harm any one
who has a sprig of holly, nor pass over a
leaf or twig of holly because that's
Christmas bloom. Well. there's a certain
evil word for a charm that opens the side
OF the mountain, and L will try 20 find it
out for YOU. Without that word all the
armies in the worruld couldn't get out or
in. But you must be patient and wise
and wait"
Il will so, with the help of God" says
Darby.
At these words Maureen gave terrible
screech.
Cruel mani she cried, don't Won
know that to say pious words to one of
the Good People or to one under their
black charm, is like cutting him with a
l.a:fe?''
The next night she came to Darby
again.
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