No Defense, Volume 1_

ieve he's gu

e spoke, she thrust her head forward with the vigour of a passionate counsel. She

r mother, horror-stricken, gazing at a

en handed the clipping to her. Fortunately it contained no statement save the bare facts connected with the killing of Erris Boyne

s Boyne. He said that he and Boyne had quarrelled, but had become reconciled again, and that the drink was a pledge of their understanding. From the time he had taken the drink until he waked in the

for Sheila. She had even looked forward to marriage, and she wished for Sheila no better fate, because ne

and their friendship must be severed for ever. Her daughter did not know that Erris Boyne was her father,

he knew that Noreen was beautiful, but that he had married far beneath him socially. She had

and it had deepened her bitterness against him. When she had learned that Erris Boyne was no more faithful to h

look in her eyes always, but with a cheerful smile. She was not poor, but well-to-do, and it was no

added dignity to a head beautifully balanced, finely moulded, and, in the language of the day, most genteelly hung.

wledge of the tragedy that had come to Dyck Calhoun troubled her as she had not be

said Sheila with a determined a

my d

irl had resources which would make her a governing influence in whatever sphere of life she should be set. Quietly, Sheila was taking control of their movements, and indeed of her

r had a feeling that now, perhaps, the time had come when they two must have a struggle for mastery. There was every reason why they

d never seen her father's picture, and her mother had given her the impression that their last days together

met Dyck Calhoun. Her life at that moment had been free from troublesome emotions; but si

of a boy, strong and pleasant of face, with a haunting beauty in the eyes, a majesty

d worth, and irresponsible because he had been given no responsibility. He was a country

o Dublin, mother. We c

a ins

hook her hea

es, I can't afford to visit Dublin now. It's an expensive jour

almost of scorn, came

o be, and if I knew that friends of mine were standing off because o

r daughter's hand.

nd I've never seen him but twice except in the distance; but I would do anythi

re, twist our thumb

to him, I'd spend it -indeed I would; but since it can't be of any use, we must stay in our own home. Of one thing I'm sure-if Dyck Calhoun killed Erris Boyne, Boyne deserved it. Of one thin

est, dearest!" she said. "I believe you do care for hi

be so, b

her mother's neck and drew

er of hoofs, and presently they saw

t messenger, moth

ring a packet to Mrs. Llyn-a letter from her broth

s against England in the war, and become a man of importance in the schemes of the new republican government. Only occ

which Bryan Llyn had done business, with instructions that it should be forwarded to his sister. It had reached the hands of a government official, who was a brother of a memb

s inevitable, though there are many who do not think Calhoun is guilty. I am one of them. Nevertheless, it will go hard wi

her, though the girl could not know the cause. Presently, however, Mrs.

dear?" Sheila aske

he leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes, with the letter-whi

all is! Your Uncle Bryan is immensely rich. He has

able to get

it, mother?" as

esitated; then she put the

s much as for me-indeed, more for you than for

ST SI

Sheila-why, she is a young woman! She's about the age you were when I left Ireland, and you were one of the most beautiful and charming creatures God ever gave life to. The last

just bitingly fresh, happily alert. I'm writing in the summer now. I look out of the window and see hundreds of acres of cotton-fields, with hundreds upon

country with my little fortune of two thousand pounds. This estate is worth at least a quarter of a million now. I've an estate in Jamaica, too. I took it for a debt. What it'll be worth in another twenty years I don't know. I shan't be here to se

to make my home your home, to take control of my household, an

one; to misconceive is to scatter broken glass for bare feet. Yet when I laid her away, a few years ago, I had terrible pangs of regret, which must come to the heart that has striven in vain. I did my best; I tried to make her unders

ave made this old colonial mansion, with its Corinthian pillars and verandah, high steps, hard-wood floors polished like a pan, every r

almost as well as they sing in Ireland, though there's no lark. Strange it is, but true, the only things that draw me back to Ireland in my sou

earest sister, sell all things that are yours, and come to me. You'll not forget Ireland here. Whoever has breathed her air can never forget the hills and dells, the valleys and bogs, the mountains, with their mists of rain, the wild girls, with their bare ankles, their red petticoats, and their beautiful, reckless air. None who has ever breathed the air of Ireland can breathe in another land without m

me. Come here, colleen, come to Virginia. Write to me, on the day you get this letter, that you're coming soon. Let it be soon, because I

ou and Sheila I stret

s has worked for is yo

y

oving

YA

r, so her mother took the letter and read the rest of it aloud. When she had finishe

when shal

ned eyes She

t go to Dublin

lin, Sheila, but it wil

n's

ht her moth

ter a moment of hesita

calls-perhaps; some one far away who loves you, and needs us, calls-

ginia,

opped, and her eye