Part 29 (1/2)
In his fine tenor voice he sang, at her request, Tosti's ”Good-bye”
That was his farewell to Sylvia Jackson
The followingMr Jackson failed to appear at business This was an almost unprecedented event, and caused quite a flutter of excitement in the office; but it was not until the afternoon that Desmond learned the reason He was surey-faced and worn, a broken man
”I have ill news, my boy,” he said very kindly to Desmond ”Sylvia has run aith Custance”
Desmond made no reply Suddenly the world had altered for hiht into an ied in aman
”I want you to come home and fill the place that she had Mrs Jackson and I love you, and we need a child” Mr Jackson continued
”I can't do it,” cried Des of her all the time I have lost all faith”
And so the world believed; for Desmond O'Connor, while he eschewed the coarser vices and worked relentlessly, renounced for a period the religion that his father's life should have made dear to him, and went on his way a professed disbeliever
CHAPTER XVI
THE VIRTUE OF GREY TOWN
The City Fathers who governed the municipality of Grey Toere not unlike the councillors in other towns and cities They laid no clai to be merely ordinary men of business, of sound coreater part
Councillor Garnett was perhaps the single exception to this rule of honesty The other councillors worked froed by a worthy ambition Councillor Garnett occasionally dipped his hand in the uineas as he could clutch Yet he had led the Council for arded by the Conservative element as a worthy leader In all probability he would have continued to rule the civic affairs of Grey Town had not Denis Quirk cos upside down and sweep away certain municipal cobwebs
The question as to the purchase of a block of land in the town for the erection of Council stables and cart houses was made a test question by both parties as to who should control the future destinies of Grey Town
It had already been decided to erect the necessary buildings Councillor Garnett had then moved that a certain vacant section in one of the streets should be purchased, when Denis Quirk rose to his feet
Immediately there was a certain electrical excitement in the Council Chambers, that was reflected in the alert faces of the councillors They sat attentively with expectant ears as he began to speak
”Sir,” he said, ”I a that approaches rowled Garnett
”You object to the word and I object to the deed,” Denis replied, quietly ”We are not here to line our own pockets, or, if we are here for that purpose, we are in the wrong place Our purpose should be to act as watch-dogs for the ratepayers, to guard their interests What if the dogs start to worry the sheep? I accuse Councillor Garnett in thishis position as a councillor I accuse hienuousness that borders on fraud”
”Oh, come, come,” said an elderly councillor, as constantly scandalised by Denis Quirk's want of municipal decorum ”Fraud is an unpleasant word”
”Undoubtedly,” Denis continued ”But it amounts to that Councillor Garnett is directly interested in the land that he is urging the Council to purchase at a false price”
The words were spoken quietly, and with a certain deliberation that was impressive
”That is a lie!” cried Councillor Garnett, now aroused to fury
”Order! Order!” cried the Mayor ”I ask Councillor Garnett to withdraw that word”
”Let Councillor Quirk withdraw his accusation first,” suggested another councillor