The Shield of Silence

wer that fights with us against th

ws of Dondale; it touched with luring power the buds to b

hillips's school, had seemed little girls, but now they were changed. There was a gravity whe

o go forward but

s still sweetly fair and she had not outgrown the childish outline of cheek and chin, the pretty droop of the left eyelid, and the quick ha

he making, and the best that could be said for her was t

hin, not slim. You were conscious of her bones-but they were pretty bones, and every muscle of her lithe young body was as flexible and strong as a boy's. She could change from awkwardness to grace by a turn

the stems of daisies into an intricate pattern. "And to go to that little Italian town

e eyes fixed themselves upon Joan. There was no do

il everything by making Aunt Dorrie uncomfortable. If she h

re is a-a-tragedy in our young lives"-Joan dramatically set

ouldn't be. I know there is only a deep sadness.

nger, "do you know a blessed th

ed, but mad

!" Joan shuddered and Nancy laughed. "It didn't seem

es have such things in them-but they don't talk about them. Now th

b!" Joan wafted a kiss. "Your prettiness saves you.

all me a snob, Joan!" N

you a snob

a snob to be true to oneself

t," Joan agreed,

epresents!" Nancy went on. "She's all

f it! And you and I must carry on the tradition-at least you m

turned her face to Joan-- the old love had grown with

seem to hear. S

oss the ocean this summer. It seems suc

what,

n to

have you been doing

stand alone. I'm ready now to-to walk. I dare sa

often felt afraid of Joan, or for J

trouble and disappoint Aunt Dorrie,"

uld want me to-to live

be willing to suffer, but that's no excuse for making them suffer." Nancy did battle with the fear that was in her-her

wide apart, her short upper lip and firm, little round chin were almost childlike when

from her perch beside Joan and came close, leaning aga

rrying on. I want to dig out of me what is in me and-and-offer it for sale!" Jo

I'll never be able to settle down and be comfy until I know. Having

The fear within her was taking shape; it was like a sh

mfort-"why should you; why should any one in this-this factory where we've all been cut in the

y girl had this ideal in her brain, but she was not supp

"I want to myself, some day, it's splendid and all tha

silly,

ave the chance a boy has. He can have everything-even the try if he is rich-and then he knows what he's worth. Why, Nancy, I am going to say something awful now-s

areful-you'll fal

who had tilted backward as she

e no right to disappoint Aunt Dorrie, and i

ome, Nan, dear, I must go practise the thing I'm to sing at Comme

nt week, like a startling and unique figure, with the background of lovely young girlhood. No one resented her conspicuousness. All gloried

a wonderful dance that s

ascinated gaze upon Joan while her fingers to

there, everywhere, under the broad elms, apparently on Nancy's tune.

frankly delighted and appreciative. Joan rose to the homage and, at such moment

on Commencement Day that

a more rigid guard upon any excitement. There was that in Doris's face which, to his trained eye, was significant. It was as if she had been touched by

shed her song that Martin

ened th

ntil the accompanist-it was a young pr

rows of girlish faces were turned

h that sweet confidence and understanding of the true artist. The dainty loose gown covered a

notes were played-she appeared sud

lish ballad, quai

l upon th

upon the

pursue th

, and then purs

the moon, ti

he moon, til

e her leave

b the fros

the frost

I'll coin

the rainbow

oth ends

h voice rose high

ed a man's v

'll do i

t that Martin took

ted piazza Doris looked u

ked to and fro; he had been more moved

, Davey? The child is talented-she shall never be held back. Wealth can be as

e close an

autioned, then asked:

t quite explain, but I am sure I am right in my decision. Nancy, indeed all of us, will, sooner or later, have to let Joan go! I saw th

The best of them. I'm

ss-with me, but not Joan. And so, David, Joan must not have the slightest inkling-she must

embling, she was excited, too, in

will be snapped up before any of us catch our breaths. That is what Miss Phil

hook her head. The

eems as if I ought to know, as if th

f to the hotel. Why, see here, the kids have not revealed themselves. You

was almost praying that Joan would have a dozen encores-by reques

oots-but by heaven, we inherit from the ages, not from our next of kin alone. Each son and daughter of us comes into port with load enough to crush us,

olding with all her stre

f it more satisfied. Her child, with your help, could develop into something mighty worth while for she wouldn't have so much to overcome at the start. On the other hand, Meredi

sat up. She was seeking to ho

more wisely had I not shirked the truth? In there, a moment ago, it was as if Mere

een Doris so shaken, but he talked on, seeki

ls the strength and opportunity-to shuffle. Now, my dear, be sensible. It is up to the gi

pped back. "They are s

n as a connecting stretch of road between what s

nd Nancy, being non-resistant, was engulfed in the general rush of affairs; was a

he had hours of noble self-renunciation and generosity. H

and joyousness were unfailing. Everything was of interest, and she seemed to gather the flowers of life not so much for her own enjoyment as for the glory of shedding them on others. That is what disarmed p

unity peculiarly her own. To her was given the sacred duty of watching the one she loved best in the world; of warding off anything that threatened her peace and comf

miled, she learned new subtleties; she soon became the

zling Joan, it was small wonder that Doris fel

wn from which she had seen Meredith depart, how best to speak of Thornton. She got so far as the telling of Mer

ather sti

but she saw that the cool tone had controlled the

Joan proceeded; "it did not seem very

as surprised at her own cal

and there was a glint in her eyes.

as a ghost was turning into a human possibility. It was never to frigh

Nancy

is name again," she sai

mazement. Later she conf

the child had

her shoulder

what shall I say?-blood! It is concentrated in Nan. She's like you. Disgr

to confide further in the girls as to thei

ck to the stand she had taken when the chil

y, of course, i

which she closed the old house and made arrangements for the serva

firm, young shoulders. She developed initiative and the healing touch. No one disputed her where Doris was

s marked by two incidents

effect Nancy

y. The emotion was like a warm ray of sunlight striking in a dark place. Doris watched him with interest and concern; but Jed had n

d inciden

e arrangements at Ridge House so perfectly that the ma

marvels not only at the old place, but in her cabin across The Gap. In her once-deserted home Mary had contrived to resurrect all the ideals that had perished with her forebears. The rooms s

in her stern reserve, a

since she left her years of servic

orces of her small world. Doing it as once she had done it in the nursery,

d through the narrow slits upon Joan and with a

bided

ed daily, and to Mary's cabin Nancy, presently, went-fo

s, swaying to and fro, making few comments but conscious of being understood. Nancy, fair and lovely, speaking more openly to the plain, s

and wants, but my duty to Aunt Dorrie is bigger than they, Mary. I am sure if Joan s

rd startled Nancy-w

d Uncle David t

dden hardness in Nancy's

ned a proposed trip to the West until he felt sure of Doris's health. It seemed that, having dropped the old life, Doris was not merely willing to step into a new one-she was drifting in. Without res

restful and beautiful an

erience. "It might be," mused Doris from her pillows, "that having left everything to tha