Evening journal., 1911-03-24

There is a small island called Tory,
on the coast of Ireland. about which
hangs many a picturesque legend. The
islanders are all fishermen. In olden
times Tory was a lonely place and
hard place to get to and from. No
priest lived there. The islanders were
all good Catholics. and not TO have a
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
a storm the body of nun was washed
up on the island. That was the first
time the people there saw a 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 a voice told them that 1t
was the body Of holy nun and they
must bury It where they had found II.
They did so, and to this day not a boat
ever puts out to fish without a handful
of earth from the nuns grave" to pre-
serve the fishermen from drowning.
Many years ago there lived on Tory
island a young fisherman named Fer
gus Tyrone and a fisher lass named
Eileen O'Connor. They were a simple
couple. growing up in a 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 / am about to
narrate took place, was hardy young
fellow and, however stormy the wealth
er. never feared to 90 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
ding day. take the priest TO the island
and bring him back after the cere
mony had been performed
Several days before St Patrick's
day the lovers began TO watch the sky
for indications of what the weather
would be. They feared 1t might be
stormy and the priest would not come
over. and IL 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 a
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 OF. as Eileen
believed. she had not prayed otter
enough, on the evening Of the 18th OF
March a dark cloud appeared in the
west and a wind began to rise.
In the morning. though the watel
was quite rough. Fergus said he would
go over and see II the father wout
come with him. So, while he went fol
the oars. Eileen brought some eartl
from the nuns grave" dropped 1t ii
the boat with a prayer, and Fergus
returning, started for the mainland.
he found the good father resolved
not to so with him. He might be oblig
ed to remain a long while on the is
land, and what would his flock do II
the meanwhile without him7
But I'll marry you all the same
Fergus. my boy" he said. go bacl
TO Eileen, and when It is noon conn
down TO the shore. viii go out ol
to the Hornhead and read the service.
But how shall we know what yol
: are sayingr asked Fergus.
2 Then the priest told him that whel
the service was begun fire would b
lighted. At another part another ir
would be lighted. and so on till givel
number of fires denoted that the serv
ice was finished and the couple hai
been pronounced man and wife.
Fergus, overjoyed. started back 70
the island. The wind had risen, an
Eileen, who stood watching on tn
shore. feared that every wave woul
overturn the boat. When 1t came nea
enough for her to see that the prizes
was not in II her heart misgave hel
but even before Fergus had made fas
he told her Of how they were to b
married after all
Shortly before the noon hour a wed
ding party stood on the shore Of Tor
island watching for fire on Horn
head. projecting point Of rock o
the mainland. When they saw fam
H burst forth they uncovered and knel
and watched eagerly for the next fr'
which was to mark a new part OF th
service. 1t was an impressive sigh
this bridal party kneeling on the beac
upon which wave after wave rolled II
H as though to crown the bride with
veil composed OF their own spra,
Between them and the priest on th
Hornhead the whitecaps came rollin
toward the bride as II to offer then
selves as an adornment for her bridi
dress. Fire after FIRE appeared. eac
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