Desmond O"Connor had fought a severe campaign, and had triumphed. In Tottenham he lived a quiet and uneventful life, content to do his duty conscientiously, and pa.s.s his leisure hours with his brother-priests and in the society of his books.
Father Desmond O"Connor was not perfect; he was a good, honest, hard-working priest, one of that splendid army who are fighting the Church"s battles against human weakness in Australia. His brothers among the clergy liked and respected him none the less because he was a cheerful companion, not above an occasional joke.
Father Desmond O"Connor was, in fact, meditating a practical joke as he hurried on his sick call this hot summer"s night. His eyes were twinkling, and his lips occasionally relaxed into a smile as he considered the details of this piece of drollery. Once he remarked to himself, half-audibly:
"I must confer with Father Gleeson. He would suggest the necessary details."
Thus did he go, smiling and occasionally laughing to himself as some particularly amusing aspect of that which he was considering struck him.
So pleasant was his face that a man whom he met paused to ask the direction to a certain street that he well knew. When Father O"Connor had answered his question, the man asked him:
"Are you a Roman Catholic priest?"
"I am," Desmond answered.
"You"ll excuse me stopping you, sir, but you looked so happy and pleasant that I thought I would like to speak to you. You remind me of a young fellow I once met some years ago--Desmond O"Connor."
Father O"Connor laughed aloud at the remark.
"Supposing I were to tell you I was he, would you believe me?" he asked.
The stranger shook his head emphatically.
"No, sir, I would not believe it, even from you. I had an argument with young O"Connor, half-fun and half-earnest. He was an Agnostic, while I profess to be a Christian of no denomination--just a Christian. You are not he."
"I am Desmond O"Connor, and your name, if my memory is correct, is Laceby, a reporter for the "News." If you care to have a chat with me, you will find me at St. Carthage"s Presbytery, in Nixon Street."
"But how did you happen----," Laceby began.
"To change my views? A long story, which I will tell you if you call.
You must excuse me at present. I have to attend a sick call at St.
Luke"s Hospital."
They shook hands, and bade one another good-night. Laceby stood watching Father O"Connor until he had disappeared round a corner.
"A strange army, the priesthood," he said to himself. "Every race and every rank of life--men who have always had a creed, and men who have had none. Soldiers, sailors, men from trades and professions, drawn to the Standard by an irresistible impulse that they term a vocation--but fine fellows, every one of them."
All the world knows St. Luke"s Hospital, its Mother Superioress, and the devoted nuns who labour for the sick poor. Within the wards many a great healer has served an apprenticeship, and many a sorely-diseased man or woman has been s.n.a.t.c.hed from death. There is no charitable inst.i.tution in which the Catholics of Australia have more reason to take a legitimate pride. Standing in Burgoyne-avenue, its brick walls tower towards the sky, one storey above another, while beside it the small and modest building, now the convent, remains to speak of small beginnings that have been brought to a great success.
Father O"Connor was met at the door by a Sister in the black habit of the Order, a sweet-faced, gentle nun, smiling as kindly as the priest himself.
"Well, Sister Bernardine!" he cried. "What makes you always smile? One would expect a serious face in a place like this."
"A smile never made a sick man worse," she answered. "The Mother Superioress would like to speak to you before you see Mrs. Clarence."
"Certainly, Sister. I am never the worse for a word with Mother Superioress. Where is she?"
"In the convent expecting you. I think you should be as quick as you can; the poor woman is seriously injured."
The Mother Superioress beamed upon Father O"Connor. She had conceived a great liking and respect for the young priest, for she recognised that beneath his humour and high spirits was concealed a strong sense of duty, akin to her own.
"I shall not detain you, Father," she said. "This poor lady met with a motor accident outside our doors, and was carried in here. She is too sick to move, otherwise we would have sent her to a private hospital.
Dr. Broxham has just seen her, and holds out no hope of recover. But the trouble is this: she is a Protestant, yet she has asked to see a priest."
"Does her husband consent?" Father O"Connor asked.
"The poor man was killed," the Mother Superioress answered. "We have not told her that. But she does not ask for him. She asks constantly for a priest--and for Denis Quirk."
"Denis Quirk?" cried the priest, "and her name is Clarence! Strange!
Have you sent for Denis Quirk?"
"Who is he?" she asked.
"You must surely know Denis Quirk, the editor of the "Freelance." Two such important persons as you and he must have met."
"Of course I know him. He is one of our best friends. But are you certain it is he she wishes to see?"
"I merely surmise, Mother. I will see her at once and ask her--the Sister told me to lose no time."
In the big surgical ward of the hospital, the bed surrounded by screens, Father O"Connor found a woman, her face of an ashen colour, and constantly contracted in pain. She lay very quietly and in silence save when a faint groan spoke of a spasm of agony. Her voice had sunk to a faint whisper, so that the priest was compelled to bend over and listen to that which she desired to say. But, in a low voice, and disjointed sentences, she confided her sins to Father O"Connor"s ears, and was then received into the Catholic Church. Before the priest left her she asked:
"May I see Mr. Denis Quirk?"
"He shall be sent for at once," Father O"Connor answered. "Good-bye, and G.o.d bless you. You are happy now?"
"For the first time for many years. I only need Denis Quirk"s forgiveness before I die. Promise me I shall not see Mr. Clarence again."
"I promise that," Father O"Connor answered, whispering to himself: "May the Lord have mercy on the poor man"s soul, for he will need mercy."
In half an hour Denis Quirk was shown to the sick woman"s bedside. It is not my purpose to say what pa.s.sed between the dying wife and the husband whom she had so grievously wronged. Denis Quirk readily forgave her the evil she had done him, and with her he remained until she had pa.s.sed the portal of death, holding his hand in hers. Then he rose from his knees and gazed into her face, and on it he saw a great joy and peace, that had not rested there for many years.
CHAPTER XXIV.
DENIS QUIRK"S HOMECOMING.
There is a large field beside the house at "Layton," sloping downwards from the rise, on which the house stands, towards the road. It is particularly green in spring and early summer, while scattered here and there about it are giant gum-trees, left purposely for shade. Here Denis Quirk gathered the employees of the "Mercury," their wives, children, and relations, soon after his return to Grey Town. In the centre of the field was a huge marquee, with a great table in it spread with snow-white linen and adorned with flowers and coloured ribbon. The silver, cutlery, and gla.s.s, together with a mult.i.tude of eatables and tempting drinks, proclaimed that this was provided for hungry appet.i.tes and for the thirsty. Waitresses in black dresses, with white ap.r.o.ns and caps, flitted backwards and forwards, arranging the table; occasionally an inquisitive child peeped in to view the arrangements, while now and again Molly Healy or Kathleen O"Connor entered to confer with the caterer.
There were other marquees in the field, places of interest and curiosity to the smaller guests. In one of these were sweets in abundance, to be had for the asking. The young lady in charge was the kindest and most obliging dispenser of sweets that any child had ever yet seen. She did not ask, "How much?" nor did she expect payment in base metal. A "Thank you" and a smile was sufficient to satisfy her. In another there was an amusing man, whose purpose it was to make children, both young and grown up, laugh. With him was a mysterious gentleman who performed the most wonderful feats of magic, and two young ladies who sang and danced as never young ladies had done before.
Outside there were sports and cricket, the big "Layton" motor to ride in, and the whole range of the field for romps and games. Finally, to complete the day, there was to be a picture show after dark, with music from the Grey Town Band to add greater enjoyment. Was it to be wondered at if children and adults vowed that this was a picnic complete to the smallest detail?
Denis Quirk had arranged the entertainment to celebrate his return to the "Mercury" Office. He had begun on a very small scale, his intention being to limit the pleasure to those immediately interested in the paper. But the invitations had spread from one to another, from the staff to their relations, then to their friends, and finally to their friends" friends.
"Let them all come," cried Denis Quirk. "If the thing is to be done, the more who find pleasure in it the better. Every child in Grey Town who cares to and can squeeze in, is welcome."
He had returned to the town without fuss or excitement, and had strolled into the "Mercury" office as if he had never been absent from it. Cairns had rushed to welcome him, a broad smile on his face, and a suspicious dimness, about the eyes.