Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks

and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.

PEGGY STEWARTNAVY GIRLAT HOME

BY

GABRIELLE E. JACKSONAUTHOR OF "SILVER HEELS," "THREE GRACES"SERIES, "CAPT. POLLY" SERIES, ETC.

WITH FRONTISPIECE BYNORMAN ROCKWELL

1920

THIS LITTLE STORY OF ANNAPOLIS ISMOST AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED TO

H.W.H.

WHOSE SUNNY SOUL AND CHEERYVOICE HELPED TO MAKE MANY ANHOUR 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 BEFOREXVIII. YOU'VE SPOILED THEIR TEA PARTY XIX. BACK AT SEVERNDALE

CHAPTER I

SPRINGTIDE

"Peggy, Maggie, Mag, Margaret, Marguerite, Muggins. Hum! Half a dozen ofthem. Wonder if there are any more? Yes, there's Peggoty and Peg, to saynothing of Margaretta, Gretchen, Meta, Margarita, Keta, Madge. Mygoodness! Is there any end to my nicknames? I mistrust I'm a verycommonplace mortal. I wonder if other girls' names can be twisted aroundinto as many picture puzzles as mine can? What do YOU think about itShashai!" [Footnote: Shashai. Hebrew for noble, pronounced Shash'a-ai.]and the girl reached up both arms to draw down into their embrace thesilky head of a superb young colt which stood close beside her; acreature which would have made any horse-lover stop stock-still andexclaim at sight of him. He was a magnificent two-year-old Kentuckian,faultless as to his points, with a head to set an artist rhapsodizingand a-tingle to put it upon his canvas. His coat, mane and tail wereblack as midnight and glossy as satin. The great, lustrous eyes held aliving fire, the delicate nostrils were a-quiver every moment, thefaultlessly curved ears alert as a wild creature's. And he WAS halfwild, for never had saddle rested upon his back, girth encircled him orbit fretted the sensitive mouth. A halter thus far in his career hadbeen his only badge of bondage and the girl caressing him had been theone to put it upon him. It would have been a bad quarter of an hour forany other person attempting it. But she was his "familiar," though farfrom being his evil genius. On the contrary, she was his presidingspirit 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 itrested against her ripe, red lips, so soft, so perfect in their molding.The ear moved slightly back and forth, speaking its silent language. Thenostrils emitted the faintest bubbling acknowledgment of the whisperedwords. The beautiful eyes were so expressive in their intelligentcomprehension.

"Too many cooks spoil the broth, Shashai. Too many grooms can spoil acolt. Too many mistresses turn a household topsy-turvy. How about toomany names, old boy? Can they spoil a girl? But maybe I'm spoiledalready. How about it?" and a musical laugh floated out from between thepretty lips.

The colt raised his head, whinnied aloud

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