POLLY HOWLAND
It must be admitted that during the drive from the station Peggy's
curiosity concerning her guests had been fully as lively as theirs
regarding her. She had never known girl friends; there was but one home
within reasonable reach of her own which harbored a girl near her own
age and during the past year even this one had been sent off to boarding
school, her parents realizing that the place was too remote to afford
her the advantages her age demanded. Consequently, Peggy experienced a
little thrill when she met Polly Howland. Here was a girl of her own
age, her own station, and, if intuition meant anything, a kindred
spirit. The moment of their introduction had been too brief for Peggy to
have a good look at Polly, but now that they had reached Severndale she
meant to have it, and while Mrs. Howland and Polly were exclaiming over
the beauty of the old place, and the former was wondering how she could
have lived in Annapolis so long without even being aware of its
existence, Peggy, while apparently occupied in caring for her guests'
welfare, was scrutinizing those guests very closely.
What she saw was a lady something past forty, a little above the average
height, slight and graceful, with masses of dark brown hair coiled
beneath a very pretty dark blue velvet toque, a face almost as fresh and
fair as a girl's, large, dark brown expressive eyes, which held a light
that in some mysterious manner appealed to Peggy and drew her
irresistibly. They were smiling eyes with a twinkle suggestive of a
sense of humor, a sympathetic understanding of the view-point of those
of fewer years, which the mouth beneath corroborated, for the lips held
a little curve which often betrayed the inward emotions. Her voice was
soft and sweet and its intonation fell soothingly upon Peggy's sensitive
ears. Taken altogether, her elder guest had already won Peggy's heart,
though she would have found it hard to explain why.
And Polly Howland?
To describe Polly Howland in cold print would be impossible, for Polly
was something of a chameleon. What Peggy saw was a young girl not quite
as tall as herself, but slightly heavier and straight and lithe as a
willow. Her fine head was topped with a great wavy mass of the deepest
copper-tinted hair, perfectly wonderful hair, which glinted and flashed
with every turn of the girl's head, and rolled back from a broad
forehead white and clear as milk. The eyes beneath the forehead were a
perfect cadet blue, with long lashes many shades darker than the hair.
They were big eyes, expressive and constantly changing with Polly's
moods, now flashing, now laughing, again growing dark, deep and tender.
The nose had an independent little tilt, but the mouth was exquisitely
faultless and mobile and expressive to a rare degree. Polly's eyes and
mouth would have attracted attention anywhere.
Of course Peggy did not take quite this analytical view of either of her
guests, though in a vague way she felt it all and an odd sense of
happiness filled her soul which she would have found it hard to explain.
She led the way through the spacious hall and dining-room to the broad
piazza from which the view was simply entrancing, and said:
"Won't you and Miss Howland be seated, Mrs. Harold; I am sure you must
be hungry after your ride through this October air. We will have some
refreshments and then go out to the paddock to see Silver Star."
Touching a little silver bell, which was promptly answered by Jerome,
she ordered:
"Something extra nice for my guests, Jerome, and please send word to
Shelby that we will be out to the paddock in half an hour."
"Yes, missie, lamb, I gwine bring yo' a dish fitten f o' a queen."
Mrs. Harold dropped into one of the big East India porch chairs, saying:
"This is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. Polly, dear,
look at the wonderful reds of those wings contrasted with the foliage
back of them. Why have we never known of Severndale? Have you lived here
long, Miss Stewart?"
"Would you mind calling me just Peggy? Miss Stewart makes me feel so old
and grown-up," said Peggy unaffectedly.
Mrs. Harold smiled approvingly and Polly cried:
"Yes, doesn't it? I hate to be called Miss Howland. I'm not, anyway, for
I have an older sister. Have you, too?"
"No," answered Peggy. "I have no one in the world but Daddy Neil, and he
is away nearly all the time. I wish he were not. I miss him terribly. He
spent August with me and I have never before missed him as I do this
time. I have always lived here, Mrs. Harold. I was born here," she
concluded in reply to Mrs. Harold's question.
"But your companions?" Mrs. Harold could not refrain from asking.
Peggy smiled.
"That was Daddy Neil's deepest concern during his last visit. He had not
thought much about it before, I guess. I dare say you will think it odd,
but my companions are mostly four-footed ones, though I am--what shall I
call it? Guarded? chaperoned? cared for? by Harrison, Mammy Lucy and
Jerome, with my legal guardian, Dr. Llewellyn to keep me within bounds.
I dare say most people would consider it very unusual, but I am very
happy and never lonely. Yes, Jerome, set the tray here, please," she
ended as the butler returned bearing a large silver tray laden with a
beautiful silver chocolate service, egg-shell cups straight from Japan,
a plate of the most delicate, flaky biscuits, divided, buttered and
steaming, flanked by another plate piled high with little scalloped-
edged nut cakes, just fresh from Aunt Cynthia's oven.
Taking her seat beside the table Peggy poured and Jerome served in his
most dignified manner, while Mrs. Harold marveled more and more and
Polly thought she had never in all her life seen a girl quite like
Peggy.
"It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen," said Mrs.
Harold.
"I am glad you like it, for I love it. Few people know of it. I mean few
who come to Annapolis. I have lived here so quietly since Mamma's death
when I was six years old. Daddy comes whenever he can, but he has asked
for sea duty since Mamma left us. He has missed her so."
"In which class did your father graduate, Miss Peggy!"
"In 18--, Mrs. Harold."
"Why then he must have been in the Academy when Mr. Harold was there. He
graduated two years later. I wonder if they knew each other. Mr. Harold
would have been a youngster, and your father a first-classman, and
first-classmen HAVE been known to notice youngsters."
Peggy looked puzzled. Although she had always lived within ten miles of
the Academy, she had never entered its gates, and knew nothing of its
ways or rules. Polly was wiser, having spent a month with her aunt. She
laughed as she explained:
"A first-classman is a lordly being who is generally at odds with a
second-classman, but inclined to protect a third-classman, or youngster,
simply because the second-classman is inclined to make life a burden for
him, just as he in turn is ready to torment the life out of a fourth-
classman, or plebe. I am just beginning to understand it. It seemed
perfectly ridiculous at first, but I guess some of those boys are the
better for the running they get. I've only been here since the first of
October, but I've learned a whole lot in four weeks. Maybe you will come
over to see us some time and you will understand better then."
"I'd love to, I am sure. But may I offer you something more? No? Then
perhaps we would better go down to the paddock."
They stepped from the piazza and walked through the beautifully kept
garden. On either side late autumn flowers were blooming, the box hedges
were a deep, waxen green, and gave forth a rich, aromatic odor. Polly
cried:
"I just can't believe that you--you--why that you are the mistress of
all this. I don't believe you can be one bit older than I am."
"I was fourteen last January," answered Peggy simply.
"And I fifteen last August," cried Polly with the frankness of her
years.
"Then you are exactly five months older than I am, aren't you?" Peggy's
smile was wonderfully winning.
"And when I look at all this and hear you talk I feel just about five
YEARS YOUNGER," was Polly's frank reply. "Why I've never done a single
thing in my life.''
"Not one?" asked Mrs. Harold, smiling significantly.
"Oh well, nothing like all THIS," protested Polly.
They had now reached a large inclosure. At the further end were a number
of low buildings, evidently stables. Nearer at hand, outside the
inclosure, were larger buildings--barns and offices. The inclosure was
still soft and green in its carpeting of turf and patches of clover.
Eight or ten horses were running at large, free and halterless. Further
on was another inclosure in which several brood mares were grazing
quietly or frisking about with, their colts. Some had come to the high
paling to gaze inquiringly at the strangers.
"Oh, Tanta, Tanta, just look at them," cried Polly in a rapture. "And
which is to be mine?"
"None of those spindle-legs yonder," was Peggy's amused answer. "They
will be running at large for a long time yet. I don't even begin
training them until they are a year old--at least not in anything but
loving and obeying me. But most of them learn that very quickly. You
must look in this paddock for Silver Star, Miss Polly. Shall I call
him?"
"Will he really come?" asked Polly incredulously.
For answer Peggy slipped into the paddock, saying as she shot back the
bolt:
"We used to have a much simpler fastening, but they learned how to undo
it and make their escape. For that reason we are obliged to have these
high fences. They have a strain of hunter blood and a six-foot barrier
doesn't mean much to some of them."
How bonny the girl looked as she stood there. The horses which were in a
little group near the buildings at the opposite end of the paddock,
raised their heads inquiringly. The girl gave a long, clear whistle
which was instantly answered by a chorus of loud neighs, as the group
broke into a mad gallop and bore down upon her. It seemed to Mrs. Harold
and Polly as though the on-rushing creatures must bear her down, but
just when the speed was the maddest, when heads were tossing most
wildly, and tails and manes waving like banners, Peggy cried:
"Halt! Steady, my beauties!" and as one the beautiful animals came to a
standstill their hoofs stirring up a cloud of dust, so suddenly did they
brace their forefeet. The next second they were crowding around her,
nuzzling her hair, her shoulders, her hands, evidently begging in silent
eloquence for some expected dainty.
Peggy carried a small linen bag. She opened it and instantly the air was
filled with the soft, bubbling whinny with which a horse begs.
"Quiet, Meteor. Be patient, Don. Wait, Queen. Oh, Shashai, will you
never learn manners?" she cried as her pet stretched his long neck and
catching the little bag in his teeth snatched it from her hands, then,
with all the delight of a child who has played a clever trick, away he
dashed across the paddock.
"Shashai! Shashai, how dare you! Halt!" she called after him, but the
graceful creature had no idea of halting.
For a moment Peggy looked at her guests very much as a baffled
schoolmistress might look in the event of her pupil's open defiance,
then cried:
"This will never, never do. If he disobeys me once I shall never be able
to do anything with him again. Please excuse me a moment. I must catch
him."
"Are you in the habit of chasing whirlwinds?" asked Mrs. Harold
laughing.
"You must be able to run faster than most people," laughed Polly, but
even as she spoke Peggy cried:
"Star! Star! Come." And out from the group slipped a superb chestnut. He
came close to the girl, slipping his beautiful head across her shoulder
and nestling against her face with the affection of a child. She clasped
her arm up around the satiny neck and said softly:
"We must catch Shashai, Star," then turning like a flash, she rested one
hand lightly upon his withers, gave a quick spring and sat astride the
horse's back.
Polly gave a little cry and clasped her hands, her eyes sparkling with
delight at this marvelous equestrian feat. Mrs. Harold was too amazed to
speak.
"After him! Four bells, Star," cried Peggy, and away rushed the pair as
though horse and rider were one creature, Peggy's divided cloth skirt,
which up to that moment Mrs. Harold had not noticed, fluttering back to
reveal the nattiest little patent leather riding boots imaginable. It
was one of the prettiest pictures Mrs. Harold and Polly had ever beheld.
But that race was not to end so quickly. Shashai boasted the same blood
as Silver Star, and was every bit as intelligent as his older brother.
Moreover he had no mind to give up his treasure-trove. He knew that
little bag and its contents too well and was minded to carry it to the
end of the paddock and there rend and tear it, until its contents were
spilled and he could eat his companions' share as well as his own. And
that was exactly what Peggy did not propose to permit, either for his
well-being or in justice to the other pets.
As the extraordinary game of tag ranged around the big paddock, Polly
fairly danced up and down in excitement, crying:
"Tanta, Tanta, I didn't know any one COULD ride like that girl. Why it
is more wonderful than a circus. And isn't she beautiful? Oh, I want to
know her better. I am sure she must be a perfect dear. Why if I could
ever ride half as well I'd be the proudest girl in the world."
"And how simply and unostentatiously she does everything. Polly, I
suspect we shall be the richer for several things besides a handsome
horse when we return to Wilmot."
Meanwhile Peggy was bearing down upon the thief and his plunder, though
he darted and dodged like a cat, but in an unguarded moment he gave Star
the advantage and was cornered.
"Shashai, halt! Steady. Down. My pardon."
Never was human speech more perfectly understood and obeyed. The game
was up and the superb horse stopped, dropped upon his knees and touched
the ground with his muzzle, the bag still held in his teeth.
"Up, Shashai," and the horse was again upon his feet.
Peggy reached over and taking hold of his flowing forelock led him back
to the gate. Nothing could have been more demure than the manner in
which he minced along beside her. At the gate Peggy slipped from Star's
back as snow slips from a sunny bank, and stretching forth her hand
said:
"Give it to me, Shashai."
The mischievous colt dropped the bag into her hand.
"Good boy," and a caress rewarded the reformed one.
Then Polly's enthusiasm broke forth.
How had she ever done it? Who had taught her to ride like that? Could
she, Polly, ever hope to do so?
Peggy laughed gaily, and explained Shelby's methods as best she could,
giving a little outline of her life on the estate which held a peculiar
interest for Mrs. Harold, who read more between the lines than Peggy
guessed, and who then and there resolved to know something more of this
unusual girl to whose home they had been so curiously led. She had been
thrown with young people all her life and loved them dearly, and here to
her experienced eyes was a rare specimen of young girlhood and her heart
warmed to her.
"I'd give anything to ride as you do," said Polly quite in despair of
ever doing so.
"Why I can't remember when I haven't ridden. Shelby put me on a horse
when Mammy Lucy declared I was too tiny to sit in a chair, and oh, how I
love it and them. It is all so easy, so free--so--I don't quite know how
to express it. But I must not take any more of your time talking about
myself. Please excuse me for having talked so much. I wanted you to see
Silver Star's paces but I did not plan to show them in just this way.
But isn't he a dear? I don't know how I can let him go away from
Severndale, but he as well as the others must. We sent Columbine only a
few days ago. She has the sweetest disposition of any horse I have ever
trained. It nearly broke my heart to send her off. They are all
relatives. Shashai and Star are half-brothers. Shashai is my very own
and I shall never sell him. Would you like to try Star, Miss Polly? I
can get you a riding skirt. Shall you ride cross or side? He is trained
for both."
"Not today, I think," answered Mrs. Harold for Polly. "We must make our
arrangements for Star and then we will see about riding lessons. I wish
you would undertake to teach Polly."
"Oh, would you really let me teach her?" cried Peggy enthusiastically.
"I think the obligation would be all on the other side," laughed Mrs.
Harold. "It would be a privilege too great to claim."
"There would be no obligation whatever. I'd just love to," cried Peggy
eagerly. "Why it would be perfectly lovely to have her come out here
every day. Please walk back to the house and let us talk it over,"
Peggy's eyes were sparkling.
"Oh, Tanta, may I?"
"Slowly, Polly. My head is beginning to swim with so many ideas crowding
into it," but Polly Howland knew from the tone that the day was as good
as won.