The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1911-03-21
Over the Water
Story Of a Wedding on
ST. Ps,ncks Day
By r. a. mitchell
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

J islanders are all fishermen. In olden
times Tory was lonely place and
bard place to get to and from. No
priest lived there. The islanders were
all good Catholics, and not to have
priest handy to baptize them, to marry
them and to shrive them subjected
them to constant trials.
The only sacred thing they had was
the nuns grave" Long ago during
n storm the body of nun was washed
up on the island. That was the first
time the people there saw nuns
habit. The leathern girdle and beads
made them think that there was some
thing sacred about the body. They
prayed to be instructed what to do
with it, and voice told them that 1t
was the body of holy nun and they
must bury 1t where they had found It.
They did so, and to this day not boat
ever puts out to fish without handful
of earth from the nuns grave" to pre-
serve the fishermen from drowning.
Many years ago there lived on Tory
island young fisherman named Fer
gus Tyrone and a fisher lass named
Eileen O'Connor. They were simple
couple, growing up in small compass
and loving each other with that fer
vor which is to be found in those who
live lives close to nature. They were
Of the same age, having both been
born on st. Patrick's day. Fergus,
though but twenty years of age at
the time the incident l am about to
narrate took place, was hardy young
fellow and, however stormy the wealth
er, never feared to go out to fish In
his boat when any other craft was on
the water. But Eileen did not fear
for him, because she would never let
him go without first taking a handful
of earth and, after praying the holy
nun to protect him, depositing It in
the stern of his boat.
This simple couple wished to be
married on their twentieth birthday,
which was st. Patrick's day, of
course, and Fergus had induced a
priest from the mainland to agree to
come over on that day and marry
them. Fergus was to row over In his
boat early in the morning Of the wed
ling day, take the priest to the island
and bring him back after the cere-
mony had been performed.
Several days before St Patricks
day the lovers began to watch the sky
for indications of what the weather
would be. They feared It might be
stormy and the priest would not come
over, and If they could not be mar
ried on that st. Patrick's day Eileen.
whose heart was set on celebrating
their birthday, their wedding day and
st. Patrick's day together was re-
solved that they must wait till the
next anniversary. which would be n
year.
So as the days grew less before the
appointed wedding day they watched
every weather sign in the heavens and
prayed constantly for smooth waters
that there might be no trouble In
, bringing the priest over to marry
them. But. whether, as Fergus be
lieved, he had omitted some penance
that he should have done or. as Eileen
believed. she had not prayed often
enough, on the evening of the 10th OF
March dark cloud appeared In the
: west and wind began to rise
> In the morning, though the watel
was quite rough, Fergus said he would
, go over and see II the father wouk
come with him. So, while he went fo
the oars. Eileen brought some eartl
from the nuns grave" dropped 1t II
e the boat with prayer, and Fergus
: returning. started for the mainland.
d He found the good father resolves
1 not to go with him. He might be obllg
~ cd TO remain long while on the Is
land, and what would his flock do II
: the meanwhile without him?
"But I'll marry you all the same
o Fergus, my boy" he said. go bacI
d to Eileen, and when It Is noon com
% down to the shore. | will go out o
p. to the Hornhead and read the service.
=. "But how shall we know what 20
;, are saying?" asked Fergus.
" Then the priest told him that whe
u the service was begun fire would b
u lighted At another part another fir
would be lighted, and So on till give
n, number of fires denoted that the scrN
n. ice was finished and the couple ha
-, Fergus. overjoyed, started back fc
the island The wind had risen, an
Eileen, who stood watching on III
10 shore, feared that every wave woul
overturn the boat. When 1t came nea
ne enough for her to see that the prizes
%. was not in 1t her heart mlsgave he
On but even before Fergus had made fa'
he told her of how they were to |
=, married after all,
=" shortly before the noon hour WEI
III ding party stood on the shore Of Tor
IN island watching for a fire on Hori
tic head, a projecting point Of rock q
he the mainland When they saw a fan
,al burst forth they uncovered and kne
re and watched eagerly for the next fir
no which was TO mark new part Of Il
=. service. 1t was an impressive sigh
this bridal party kneeling on the bea'
Ia