of Steph

is childhood up. He could bear the expense of it, and saying so he hung his head a little. An Irish brig, hailing from Belfast, and bound for Reykjavik, was to put in at Ramsey on the Saturday following. By that brig he wished his son to sail. He should be

as he? One whom he had thought of with shame, hoping never to set eyes on his face. And now, this man, this father, this thing of shame, would have him sacrifice all that was near and dear to him, and leave behind the only one who had been, indeed, h

nd then sat before the fire to smoke, trying to smile though his mouth would not bend, and to say something more thou

l, and though little given to woman's ways he had almost flung himself at old Adam's feet to pray of him not to send him away whatever happened, when all at once he remembered his vow of the morning. What had come over him since he made that vow, that he was trying to draw back now? He thought of Greeba, of the Governor, and again of Greeba. Had the coming of Greeba al

face working hard with many passions-sorrow and tenderness, yearning for the lad and desire to keep him, pity for the father robbed of the love of his

tural feelings, had neglected him; how his father had tried to carry him away and failed for want of the license allowing them to go; how at length, in dread of what might come to the child, yet loving him fondly, he had concluded to kill him, and had taken him out to sea in the boat to do it, but could not compass it from terror

hael, who had listened impatiently at first, tramping the room to and fro, paused presently, and his eyes began to fill and his hands to tremble. So that when Adam, having ended, said, "Now, will you not go to Iceland?" thinking in his heart that the lad would fling his arms about him and c

candle that shone on his face, sat down before the fire

r after her long absence from the island. She was to stay there until the Monday following, that s

d his leather trunk gone on before in care of Chalse A'Killey, who would suffer no one else to carry

Ballasalla," he said, jauntil

big drops came into them. The morning was fresh and sweet, with the earth full of gladness and the air of song, though Michael Sunlocks was little touched by its beauty and thought it the heaviest he had yet seen. But Adam told how the spring was towar

to rally the lad, and say how little he would have thought of a trip to Iceland in his old days at Guinea; that it was only a hop, skip and a jump a

asalla, and then old Adam could hold b

end and intention, remember our good Manx saying that 'learning is fine clothes to the rich man, and riches to the poor one.' And that minds me," he said, plunging deep into his pocket, "of another go

ound notes, and then seemed about to whip away. But Michel Sunl

ourself," t

th his white hair gently lifted by the soft morning breeze, rose in the saddle and laid his hand on Michael's droopin

left it, as an infant in his father's arms, perhaps the task he had set himself would have been an easier one. He was trying to c

kindling fires in it, that by such close labor of half a week it might be worthy that his son should cross its threshold for half an hour. He had nev

he did so. There were deep scars on his face and head, his hands were scratched and discolored, his cheeks were

ask you here, sir," he sa

lad answered, and then

ael Sunlocks, at the thought that he himself had been born there, and that his mother had li

glish. Not all the years through I never shall have learn it." And then, as if by a sudden thought

ael understood him. And Michael, on his part, seemed at the sound of those words to find

son;" and then they talked together, Stephen Or

ke his son to feel ashamed of him. And I was afraid to see it in your face, Michael. That's why I stayed away. But many a time I felt hungry after my little lad, that I loved so dear and nurse

stop," said M

o mending once it's done, and that's the sort his was. It was against a woman. Some people seem to be sent into this world to be punished for the sins of others. Women are mostly that way, though there are those that are not; but she was one of them. It'll be made up to them in the other world; and if she

erything,"

to that island; of his meeting with Liza, of his base marriage with the woman and the evil days they spent together; of their child's birth and his own awful resolve in his wretchedness and despair; and then of the woman's death, wherein the Almighty God had surely turned to mercy what was meant for vengeance. All this he told and more than this, sparing himself not at all. And Michael listened with a bewildered sense of

woman will be there forever. But she, who is yonder, in my own country, if she is living, is my wife. And heaven pity her, she is where I left her-down, down, down

his father's name, which an hour ago he had been ashamed to bear, was not his own to claim. But Stephen Orry had neve

at Michael was his son, that his son was as himself, and tha

unlocks made

ed at when she was by me. Maybe I was thinking sometimes of my boy even then, and saying to mys

trembled

th all her troubles over, how he'd look for the child that was to come when I left her-my child, and hers-and find it wher

el Sunlocks mad

t's why we are here now. When I brought you back in my arms she was there at my feet, lying dead, who had been my rod

red his face

little Sunlocks, I want to

ne. He felt only a great tenderness now for the big rude man, who had sinned deep

, where

avik, but I don't kn

ind her, and when I have found her I will be as

y boy," cr

the world over until I find her child, and when I have f

speak but no words would come, and only his rugged cheeks glistened and his red eyes sho