Peggy Stewart, Navy Girl at Home

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Title: Peggy Stewart: Navy Girl at Home

Author: Gabrielle E. Jackson
Release Date: May, 2004 [EBook #5729] [Yes, we are more than one
year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on August 18, 2002]
Edition: 10
Language: English
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NAVY
GIRL AT HOME ***

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PEGGY STEWART NAVY GIRL AT HOME
BY
GABRIELLE E. JACKSON AUTHOR OF "SILVER HEELS,"
"THREE GRACES" SERIES, "CAPT. POLLY" SERIES, ETC.
WITH FRONTISPIECE BY NORMAN ROCKWELL
1920

THIS LITTLE STORY OF ANNAPOLIS IS MOST
AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED TO
H.W.H.
WHOSE SUNNY SOUL AND CHEERY VOICE HELPED TO
MAKE MANY AN HOUR HAPPY FOR THE ONE HE CALLED

"LITTLE MOTHER"

CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I.
SPRINGTIDE II. THE EMPRESS III. "DADDY NEIL" IV. IN
OCTOBER'S DAYS V. POLLY HOWLAND VI. A FRIENDSHIP
BEGINS VII. PEGGY STEWART: CHATELAINE VIII. A
SHOCKING DEMONSTRATION OF INTEMPERANCE IX.
DUNMORE'S LAST CHRISTMAS X. A DOMESTIC EPISODE XI.
PLAYING GOOD SAMARITAN XII. THE SPICE OF PEPPER AND
SALT XIII. THE MASQUERADERS' SHOW XIV. OFF FOR NEW
LONDON XV. REGATTA DAY XVI. THE RACE XVII. SHADOWS
CAST BEFORE XVIII. YOU'VE SPOILED THEIR TEA PARTY
XIX. BACK AT SEVERNDALE
CHAPTER I
SPRINGTIDE
"Peggy, Maggie, Mag, Margaret, Marguerite, Muggins. Hum! Half a
dozen of them. Wonder if there are any more? Yes, there's Peggoty and
Peg, to say nothing of Margaretta, Gretchen, Meta, Margarita, Keta,
Madge. My goodness! Is there any end to my nicknames? I mistrust I'm
a very commonplace mortal. I wonder if other girls' names can be
twisted around into as many picture puzzles as mine can? What do
YOU think about it Shashai!" [Footnote: Shashai. Hebrew for noble,
pronounced Shash'a-ai.] and the girl reached up both arms to draw
down into their embrace the silky head of a superb young colt which
stood close beside her; a creature which would have made any
horse-lover stop stock-still and exclaim at sight of him. He was a
magnificent two-year-old Kentuckian, faultless as to his points, with a
head to set an artist rhapsodizing and a-tingle to put it upon his canvas.

His coat, mane and tail were black as midnight and glossy as satin. The
great, lustrous eyes held a living fire, the delicate nostrils were a-quiver
every moment, the faultlessly curved ears alert as a wild creature's. And
he WAS half wild, for never had saddle rested upon his back, girth
encircled him or bit fretted the sensitive mouth. A halter thus far in his
career had been his only badge of bondage and the girl caressing him
had been the one to put it upon him. It would have been a bad quarter
of an hour for any other person attempting it. But she was his
"familiar," though far from being his evil genius. On the contrary, she
was his presiding spirit of good.
Just now, as the splendid head nestled confidingly in her circling arms,
she was whispering softly into one velvety ear, oh, so velvety! as it
rested against her ripe, red lips, so soft, so perfect in their molding. The
ear moved slightly back and forth, speaking its silent language. The
nostrils emitted the faintest bubbling acknowledgment of the whispered
words. The beautiful eyes were so expressive in their intelligent
comprehension.
"Too many cooks spoil the broth, Shashai. Too many grooms can spoil
a colt. Too many mistresses turn a household topsy-turvy. How about
too many names, old boy? Can they spoil a girl? But maybe I'm spoiled
already. How about it?" and a musical laugh floated out from between
the pretty lips.
The colt raised his head, whinnied aloud as though in denial and
stamped one deer-like, unshod fore-hoof as though