The White Shield Read online

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  THE WHITE SHIELD

  STORIES BY MYRTLE REED

  Author of Lavender and Old Lace The Master's Violin Old Rose and Silver A Weaver of Dreams Flower of the Dusk At the Sign of the Jack O'Lantern The Shadow of Victory Threads of Grey and Gold Etc.

  ILLUSTRATED BY DALTON STEVENS

 

  New York GROSSET & DUNLAP Publishers

  Made in the United States of America

  COPYRIGHT, 1902BYMYRTLE REED

  BY MYRTLE REED:

  A Weaver of Dreams Old Rose and Silver Lavender and Old Lace The Master's Violin Love Letters of a Musician The Spinster Book The Shadow of Victory Sonnets to a Lover Master of the Vineyard Flower of the Dusk At the Sign of the Jack-o'-Lantern A Spinner in the Sun Later Love Letters of a Musician Love Affairs of Literary Men Myrtle Reed Year Book

  _This edition is issued under arrangement with the publishers_

  G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS, NEW YORK AND LONDON

  "Do you remember that awful quarrel we had aboutannexing Canada to the United States?" asked Robert._From the Drawing by Dalton Stevens._]

  Contents

  PAGE PREFACE v MORNING vii THE WHITE SHIELD 3 AN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIR 21 A CHILD OF SILENCE 47 THE DWELLER IN BOHEMIA 63 A MINOR CHORD 79 THE MADONNA OF THE TAMBOURINE 87 A MISTRESS OF ART 103 A ROSARY OF TEARS 119 THE ROSES AND THE SONG 141 A LAGGARD IN LOVE 151 TR?UMEREI 169 "SWING LOW, SWEET CHARIOT" 175 THE FACE OF THE MASTER 189 A REASONABLE COURTSHIP 209 ELMIRY ANN'S VALENTINE 227 THE KNIGHTHOOD OF TONY 247 HER VOLUNTEER 269 IN REFLECTED GLORY 283 THE HOUSE BEAUTIFUL 299 FROM A HUMAN STANDPOINT 319

  The Editor desires to make acknowledgment to the publishers of the following magazines for their courtesy in permitting the use of certain stories in this collection: _Munsey's Magazine_, _The New England Magazine_, _The Pilgrim_, _The Smart Set_, _The Woman's Magazine_, _The National Magazine_, _Outing_.

  Preface

  The editor takes great pleasure in being able to give to the publicanother volume from the pen of the lamented author--Myrtle Reed. Thesefascinating bits of fiction reflect the characteristics of the writer;the same vivid imagination, the quick transition from pathos to humour,the facility of utterance, the wholesome sentiment, the purity ofthought, the delicacy of touch, the spontaneous wit which endeared herto friends and to thousands of readers, not only in Europe and America,but also in Australia and South Africa, are here fully represented.

  Her mission was largely one of comfort to the suffering and thesorrowing; letters of good cheer went to far-away countries where herpersonal ministry could reach in no other way, and her writings arerich with sympathy and hope which have poured the oil of gladness intomany a wounded spirit.

  Pathos is not sadness, but it is rather the sunshine gleaming througha passing cloud, and hence the writings of Myrtle Reed are illuminedwith the gladsome light of unfailing love. Not only in her books and inletters to troubled souls, but also in her personal records, we findthe unfading lines of a deeply devotional nature which was sacredlyguarded from the careless observer and seldom discussed even withfriends. But in this abiding faith was rooted the brave loyalty andhigh purpose which not only characterised herself, but also all of herproductions.

  The beautiful stories here presented have given pleasure to thousandsof readers in the magazines in which they first came into print, and itis to the unvarying courtesy of the publishers that we are indebted forthe privilege of thus binding the scattered grain into a single goldensheaf.

  For the many letters of sincere sympathy which, in response to aformal request, have come from these stranger-friends, the editor isespecially grateful.

  ELIZABETH A. REED. CHICAGO, February, 1912.