The Manxman
1
"What shall it profit a man
if he gain the whole world
and lose his own soul?"
2
Philip Christian, a rising
young lawyer, and Pete
Quilliam, the fisherman,
met as boys and grew up
as brothers.
3
Still the staunchest friends,
they fought side by side
for the cause of the lowly
fisherfolk.
4
"Come on, lads - we're
signing the petition at
old Caesar's inn."
5
Kate Cregeen, daughter
of old Caesar, who
kept the "Manx Fairy".
6
"It's just like you, Mr.
Christian, to help our
men."
7
"I'd do anything for Pete
- his friends are mine."
8
"Men, I'm going to see this
through - even if I have
to take it to the Governor
of the island himself."
9
"I reckon now's as good
a time as any to ask
old Caesar about me and
Kate."
10
"You and Kate? - -
Oh, yes."
11
"You - Phil -"
12
"- - you speak for me,
Phil - you've got a way
of making things sound
better."
13
"Just praise me a bit,
Phil."
14
"I tell you - get out! How
dare you even mention
my daughter's name, you
penniless lout."
15
"You'll be sorry -"
16
"I'll make you take that
back one day, Caesar."
17
"I'll show him, Phil. I'll go
abroad - - to Africa. I'll
work my passage."
18
"And I'll come back rich
- see if I don't."
19
"Let's go and tell Kate."
20
"Kate - I'm off to foreign
parts to make my fortune."
21
"When I come back, it's
a queen I'll make of you
- - if only you'll wait."
22
"Aw, Kate - hold your
capers - - be serious
a-while."
23
"Will you wait, darlin'?"
24
"All right, Pete. I promise."
25
"She's promised to wait,
Phil! Look after her for
me while I am gone."
26
From the Island, to Liver-
pool by the packet boat
- - then the big ship to
"foreign parts".
27
The home of Philip
Christian, cradle of
a line of Deemsters.
(Deemster - Judge in the Isle of Man.)
28
"You were with that
publican's daughter
again to-day."
29
"It doesn't improve your
prospects to be seen
about with that girl."
30
"You know, Aunt, I
promised Pete to look
after her."
31
"It's not fair to the girl
- - and it's not fair to
yourself."
32
"I must keep my word."
33
"Your father married
beneath him - let his
ruined career be a
warning to you."
34
"I've devoted my life
to fitting you for the
day when you become
Deemster."
35
"Don't spoil your future by
a foolish entanglement -
break it off while there
is time."
36
"Pete's dead!"
37
"Maybe I was wrong about
Pete and Kate - - she
hasn't spoken a word
since the news came."
38
"Philip - we're free."
39
"Don't you see what this
means to us?"
40
"I'm glad Pete's alive but
it makes no difference.
I don't love him."
41
"Kate - you promised
yourself to him."
42
"Yes, I promised myself
to him, but I've given
myself to you."
43
"It can't go on, Kate. Pete
trusted us and he is
coming home with faith
in our loyalty."
44
"If he ever knew we had
been false to him, it would
break his heart. We must
think of his happiness."
45
"Whatever happens, Pete
must never know."
46
"You go in, Philip - I can't
face him."
47
"See, Kate. You waited
for him, and the Lord's
spared him for you."
48
"And he's come home
again, hearty and flush
o' money."
49
"I can tell Kate you've
agreed to our marrying."
50
"Now everything's all
right, we can get married
straight away."
51
"And you'll be best man,
Phil."
52
"The surprise of seeing
me again was too much
for her."
53
"Marriage be a mighty
reverent thing."
54
"All manner of punishment
comes to them that's false
to its sacred vows."
55
"The mills of God grind
slowly -"
56
"Hoy, Caesar - this is
not a funeral - it's a
wedding."
57
A trusting, joyous husband
- an adored, unhappy
wife whose secret misery
brought death into her soul.
58
"You've got to take me
away, Philip."
59
"I can't keep my secret
any longer."
60
"Why didn't you tell me
before? It would have
made all the difference."
61
"You kept away from me
- you thought more of
your future than of mine."
62
"We must tell Pete every-
thing."
63
"No - not now! Think
of the shame."
64
"But Pete must know."
65
"He must never know
the real truth."
66
"Pete - I've something to
tell you."
67
"D'y'hear, Phil? I'm going
to be a father."
68
"A young woman to see
you, sir."
69
"I've left him, Philip. I
cannot live this life of
deceit any longer."
70
"What are you going
to do?"
71
"I want to be with you
- do take me, Philip."
72
"Can't I stay here? I could
hide away somewhere. I
wouldn't be any trouble."
73
"She wanted a holiday,
so I sent her to London."
74
"She wanted a holiday,
so I sent her to London."
75
"Kate's gone!"
76
"Help me to find her,
Philip."
77
"I must get back to my
baby."
78
"Philip, I want to talk
to you."
79
"Philip - the time has come
when you must choose
between your career and
me."
80
"You must be patient,
Kate - give me time
to think."
81
"I'm going to get all I
have left in the world
- our baby."
82
"To-morrow I'm sitting in
Court as Deemster for
the first time. It will be
the greatest day of my
life."
83
"I'm not staying."
84
"I've come for my baby."
85
"You shan't take her -
she's mine."
86
"She's not yours - she
never was."
87
"It's a lie!"
88
"It's a lie, I tell you!"
89
"Before the main business
of the day is begun, will
you ask his honour to
dispose of a minor charge -"
90
"A case of attempted
suicide."
91
"The prisoner refuses her
name."
92
"I was by the quayside
when I heard a splash
and a scream - and after
a struggle I managed to
drag her ashore."
93
"My poor woman, is there
nobody here who can
answer for you?"
94
"Phil - Phil! Let me speak
for her."
95
"I beg pardon, sir - but
as you know, she's my
wife."
96
"I'll take her back, sir.
Please let her go, Philip."
97
"The prisoner is discharged
and free to return to her
husband."
98
"Dear old Phil!"
99
"Er - thank you, sir."
100
"I'm not going back!"
101
"You see, sir, before we
were married she was in
love with another man."
102
"I'm not going back!"
103
"There before you is her
betrayer, the Deemster
himself."
104
"Can't you see, Pete -
can't you see?"
105
"He speaks the truth -"
106
"- I stand before you - a
man who has broken faith
with his best friend and
taken away a woman's
honour."
107
"You gave me your trust
which I am unworthy
to bear."
108
"I am not fit to sit in
judgement on my fellows,
I who have sinned against
God and man."
109
"I resign this - the dignity
I strove for, that I may
devote myself to righting
the wrong I have done."
110
"Pete, we too have
suffered."
THE END
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