Chapter 14 priest and his boots

"It's unfortunate for our parish," said Helen. "Father Dohert, as far as I know, is a good priest in many ways, but one of the worst when it comes to music. Every Sunday he would stand on the pulpit and yell that God will take revenge on those who believed in myths and danced to evil dance music. Before the bill was passed, he would even recklessly rush into the house where the music was coming out at night and bully everyone to leave. He He even stomped a man's violin under his feet. Of all the parishioners, he hated my grandfather the most. "The hatred is mutual. Gigi," Helen paused, "did I tell you my grandfather was also named Gigi? You're named after him."

"You didn't tell me," Gigi said, "someone told me." "Who said that?" "Leave him alone. Go on." Helen hesitated to ask him, but finally gave up. She continued: "My grandfather always locked the door to prevent Father Docht from coming in. Even if the priest was outside shouting and knocking on the door, he still looked after himself. He played freely in the house. Then, my grandfather would still sit in the church every Sunday and listen to the priest's angry sermon, as if everything had nothing to do with him. Father Docht couldn't bear it, he was used to being obeyed by others. The bill just As soon as it passed, he sued the Liddy's house over the house dance. It wasn't the only one, there were many such lawsuits in those years, and most of them were won by priests, and people were forced to pay huge fines. The bill worked, but It didn't work for the Liddy's. Later, people told my grandfather that Father Dohert threatened them to testify in court that they were charged for selling tickets to the Liddy's ball, or they would be cast into hell forever. Threats and pressures, but still no one is willing to betray Liddy's family, see us The family was very respected at the time."

Helen paused again, and Gigi could see the angry pride in her eyes.However, the pride quickly faded, and she turned her head to stare at the flames and continued, "It's a pity that's the past." Gigi waited.Helen took a deep breath: "The charges were dropped, and Grandpa threw a dance to celebrate. It was a long, hot evening in midsummer, and people danced from the house into the yard, followed by the band. Everyone It was said that this ball was so beautiful that there was no one like it. However, Father Dohert appeared. "His outrageous anger made it impossible for my grandfather to continue playing." Flushed and shaking with rage, he roared: 'You think I'm beaten, don't you? '

"Father Dohert was getting old, and my grandmother was worried about his health, and she didn't want him to have a heart attack in our house or elsewhere, no matter what the old grievances, so she invited him in for a cup of tea. "'I will never set foot in this wicked house!' he said, 'I tell you, I will put an end to this devil's music!' Then he snatched the flute from my grandfather and strode out of the yard. Grandfather followed Get out, but--believe it, Gigi--your great-grandfather was a gentleman, and though he loved the flute more than anything in the world, he would never take it back by force. Yet, in '64 Father Dohert has not been seen since he left the house the night before with his flute."

"What?" Gigi asked. "He disappeared. No one has seen him since." "But...you mean they didn't find the body?" Helen shook her head: "Nothing was found, and no one knows what happened until now. But unfortunately, a terrible rumor began to spread in the town." "You said your grandfather killed the priest?" Helen nodded. "Did he do it?" Gigi asked. "of course not." "how do you know?" "Of course I know, Gigi, he didn't do that. As much as he hates those in power, he would never kill someone."

"Is the flute missing?" "It's gone too, and no one has ever seen it." "It's weird," Gigi said, "how can a big living person disappear?" "I don't understand as much as you do." Helen said, "Sometimes it happens that a person disappears, and people search everywhere but there is no clue." Gigi turned to look at the photo again.His great-grandfather was a massive man, but there was nothing in his face that suggested he would commit such a brutal crime. "The people in the parish began to divide," Helen continued. "Many people began to oppose the Liddy family, and many people were loyal friends of the Liddy family. Not a single note was heard. More than a month later, Garrett Barry appeared in the yard. He was away when Father Dohert disappeared, so he just heard about it. Grandfather told the whole story After listening to him, he said: "In this way, the priest has finally achieved his goal, hasn't he?"

"My grandfather asked him what he meant by that. My grandfather told me this story several times when I was a child and Garrett's answer: 'Your house used to be filled with beautiful music, but now there is only silence. The priest not only You stole the flute from there, Gigi.' "Grandfather sat and pondered for a long time, then he stood up and went into the back room where the classes were held. When he came out, Garrett Barry had already taken out the bagpipes and put them on, and my grandfather also took down the hanging A violin on the wall, dusted off. "Gigi, can you believe it? The music has been echoing in this house ever since."