Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-06
IHE MASTER OF MAN.: Sir Hall Game
Outn Problem Author of The
Thou
! PRRSONS OF THN STORY

PERSONS Of THE STORY
4RTOR STOWELL - A briiiiar
csn0 advocate, appointed dcspit
NE youth, Deemstcr, or chicf judy,
y Sf tAc Isle of Man, in 1hich positio
- has to sit in Judgment on a fei
eer- sinner. He is high principle
e end Hkdbie, though IN a moment o
msfsal passion ht mas. TO great late
s eenifence orcr the secret sin, hd
illicit relations mith
X AGSSIE COLLISTER--A handsom
bsf iiiferdte peasant girl. She has
cAad tchich is accidentally smothere,
on the night Of its birth. She |
errcsfed for numbering her babe
Bessie really lorcs
q lLlCk GELL--Agrccdbic out some
What toeak, tch0 pcrsuddcs Bessie I,
eefrofh hcrset TO him despite th
spposition Of his father,
'3DREAKER CELL - The rich an,
ftrennicoi head Of the Manr Pdriia
4. .SseHt.
1ENELLA STANLEY - A great.
Acorfed and beautiful girl nith ad
cdnced ideas on tcomens rights, nhl
"a. % in lore wih Victor and he nith
her. She Is the daughter of
GENERAL STANLEY-Gorernor o.
the Isle of Man.
DAN BALDROMMA A brute
farmer, stepfdfhcr of Bessie, and
cho tries 10 use her trouble. for
schich he thinks Cell is responsible,
as lever TO ddrdnce his o1n fortune.
sDEOPLE who had been talking of the
= youth Of the new Dccmster were
heard to say that in his judges Wig he
seemed older than they had cxcpcted
and 80 like the portrait on the wall that
one could almost fancy that his father
was looking through the windows OF his
eyes.
The proceedings began with the Gov
sfnor calling upon Stowell for his COM
mission, and then reading 1t aloud
"Our trusty and well-beloved Victor
Gtowell to be Deemster of this isle.
After that everybody stood while the
new Judge took the oath of fea'ty to
the King. Then the Deemster's clerk'
Joshua Scarf, in his colored spectacles'
handed up a quarto copy of the Bible
and deep hush fell on the assembly,
for the time had come for the Deem
ster's oath.
The Governor and Stowell rose again,
but all Others remained seated. Each
laid one hand on the open Book, and
the Governor read the oath. clause by
clause, in loud, strong tones that seemed
10 smite the walls us with blows. Ana,
clause by clause, Stowell repeated 1t
after him in lower voice that was
sometimes barely audible.
''By this Book and the holy contents
"By this Book and the holy contents
"And BY all the wonderful works
which God hath miraculously wrought
IN heaven and on the earth beneath IN
nix days and seven nights, l. Victor
Christian Stowell -
ys.I Victor Christian Stowell. do swear
that I will, without respect or fear or
love or gain. consanguinlty
or afinity. envy or malice, execute the
laws Of this isle justly bctwixt our SOW
sreign Lord the King and his subjects
within the isle, and betwtxt party and
party. man and man, man and
.. : = man and woman
"ss as indifferently as the her.
rins bone doth lie down the middle OF
the fish,"
There was a deep silence until the
cath was ended and then a general
drawing of breath.
The Governor and the new Deemster
sat and the clerk Of the rolls handed up
the Liber Juramentorum, the book OF
oaths, a large volume in faded leather
WITH leaves Of discOlored parchment.
It was observed, and afterward re-
marked upon, that when Stowell took
up the pen to sign he hesitated for
and then wrote his name rap
Idly and nervously, and that. in the
silence, a diamond ring which he wore
on his right hand lit was IA present from
Eenella) clashed with discordant
round against the glass tray as he threw
the pen back.
The business being over, the bishop
nave out the hymn that is sung Mt the
ciose of nearly all Manx festivals, go
God, our help" and all rose and sang.
Stowell rose with the rest. but he
aid not sing. He was no longer con-
Dclous of the eyes that were on him.
The emotion which lie had been strug-
eling to repress had at length con-
duered his self control. While the
throbbed with the singing
be was thinking of the Judges who had
stood in the same place and taken that
oath before him. There had been
thousand years of them.
He turned to the eastern wall and
his fathers melancholy eyes seemed to
look at him. "Ycs, you too.' they
seemed to say. ''must now do the right.
whatever it may cost YOU. You are no
l,nger yourself only. Tho souls of all
your predecessors have this day entered
Into your soul. You must consider
yourself no more. You must be just
pr perish"
was a shutting Of feet like the pat
tering of water in the barber at the top
o. the tide. The next thing Stowell
knew was that he was unrobed and
roing down the Daemstcr's private
staircase to the courtyard of the cas-
u.
A large company was there waiting
10 congratulate him. Janet (he had
ordered that front seat should be re-
yerved for herr was holding little court
pf elderly ladies'. to whom she was re-
lMting wonderful stories Of his child
hood. She broke away from them to
kiss him. And then she kissed Fenclla
also and whispered:
Don't forget to send him home in
time. dear
s'I'll not forget" said Fcnclla.
And then she. on her part. with
face afiame, whispered something to the
Governor. who, shaking hands all
round. was making ready to go.
"What? You want to return in the
Very we'll. off you go The
attorney will take pity on your forsaken
1nAher."
q Outside the gate there was great
crowd, behind a regiment Of red coated
Soldiers. and when the GoYernOr and the