Unleavened Bread eBook

Robert Grant (novelist)
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 449 pages of information about Unleavened Bread.

Unleavened Bread eBook

Robert Grant (novelist)
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 449 pages of information about Unleavened Bread.

The exercises were of a partisan cast.  The theory that municipal government should be independent of party politics had been an adage in Benham since its foundation, and been disregarded annually by nine-tenths of the population ever since.  This was a Democratic love-feast.  The speakers and the audience alike were in the best of spirits, for there was no uncertainty in the minds of the party prophets as to the result of the morrow’s ballot—­excepting with regard to Miss Bailey.  The rest of the ticket would unquestionably be elected; accordingly all hands and voices were free to focus their energies in her behalf and thus make the victory a clean sweep.  Nevertheless the earlier speakers felt obliged to let their eloquence flow over the whole range of political misgovernment from the White House and the national platform down, although the actual issue was the choice of a mayor, twelve aldermen and a school committee, so that only casual reference was made to the single weak spot on the ticket until the Hon. James O. Lyons rose to address the meeting.  The reception accorded him was more spontaneous and effusive than that which had been bestowed on either of his predecessors, and as he stood waiting with dignified urbanity for the applause to subside, some rapturous admirer called for three cheers, and the tumult was renewed.

Selma was thrilled.  Her acquaintance with Mr. Lyons naturally heightened her interest, and she observed him eagerly.  Time had added to his corporeal weight since he had acted as her counsel, and enhanced the sober yet genial decorum of his bearing.  His slightly pontifical air seemed an assurance against ill-timed levity.  His cheeks were still fat and smooth shaven, but, like many of the successful men of Benham, he now wore a chin beard—­a thick tuft of hair which in his case tapered so that it bore some resemblance to the beard of a goat, and gave a rough-and-ready aspect to his appearance suggestive alike of smart, solid worth and an absence of dandified tendencies.  Mr. Parsons had a thicker beard of the same character, which Selma regarded with favor as a badge of serious intentions.

“My friends,” he began when the applause had subsided; then paused and surveyed his audience in a manner which left them in doubt as to whether he was struggling with emotion or busy in silent prayer.  “My friends, a month ago to-day the citizens of Benham assembled to crown with appropriate and beautiful services the monument which they, the survivors, have erected with pious hands to perpetuate the memory of those who laid down their lives to keep intact our beloved union of States and to banish slavery forever from the confines of our aspiring civilization.  A week ago an equally representative assembly, without regard to creed or party, listened to the exercises attending the dedication of the new Court House which we have raised to Justice—­that white-robed goddess, the guardian of the liberties of the people. 

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
Unleavened Bread from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.