OFF FOR NEW LONDON
"Now I'm going to run THIS show, Harold, and you may just as well pipe
down," rumbled Neil Stewart in his deep, wholesome voice. "Besides, I'm
your ranking officer and here's where I prove it," he added, forcing Mr.
Harold into his pet Morris chair and towering above him, his genial
laugh filling the room.
It was the Sunday afternoon following graduation. Many, indeed the
greater portion of the graduates, had left for their homes, or to pay
visits to friends before joining their ships at the end of their month's
leave, though some still lingered, their plans as yet unformed.
Wilmot Hall was practically deserted, for the scattering which takes
place after graduation is hard to understand unless one is upon the
scene to witness it.
Mr. and Mrs. Harold, with Mr. Stewart, Peggy, Mrs. Howland, Constance,
Snap, Polly, Shortie, Wheedles and Happy were gathered in Middies'
Haven, and Neil Stewart had the floor. Since his return to Severndale he
had spent more than half the time at Wilmot where his lodestar, Peggy,
was staying with those she had grown to love so dearly, and where she
was so entirely happy. Mr. Stewart had taken a room for June week in
order to be near her, feeling reluctant to take her away from the
friends who had done so much for her; more, a vast deal, he felt, than
he could ever repay. It did not take him long to see the change which
nine months had made in this little girl of his.
Always lovable and exceptionally capable, there was now the added charm
which association with a girl of her own age had developed in
spontaneity, and her attitude toward Mrs. Harold--the pretty little
affectionate demonstrations so unconsciously made--revealed to her
father what Peggy had lacked for nearly nine years, and he began to
waken to the fact to which Mrs. Harold had been alive for some time:
that without meaning to be selfish in his sorrow for Peggy's mother, he
had been wholly self-absorbed, leaving Peggy to live her life in a
little world of her own creation.
During the past two weeks HE had been put through a pretty severe
scrutiny by Mrs. Harold, and in spite of her prejudices she began to see
how circumstances had conspired to evolve the unusual order of things
for both father and daughter, and her heart softened toward the big man
who, while so complete a master of every situation on board his own
ship, was so helpless to cope with this domestic problem. Nor could she
see her way clear to remedy it further than she had already done. It
seemed to be one of life's handicaps. But we can not understand the
"why" of all things in this world, and must leave a great deal of it to
the Father of all. Just now it seemed as though Neil Stewart was the
instrument of that ordering.
Mr. Harold looked up at him and joined in the laugh.
"Maybe you think I'm going to give these fellows a demonstration of
insubordination the very first clip. Not on your life. Fire away. You
have the deck."
"Well, I've got my cottage up there in New London--a good one too, if I
can judge by all the hot air that has escaped concerning it. Jerome and
Mammy are packed off to open it up and make it habitable against our
arrival, and everything's all skee and shipshape so far as THAT part of
the plan is blocked out. The ship's in commission but now comes the
question of her personnel. You, Harold, and your wife have been good
enough to act as second and third in command but we must have junior
officers. Thus far the detail foots up only five; just a trifle shy on
numbers, and I want it to number, let me see, at least eleven," and he
nodded toward the others seated about the room. Some looked at him in
doubt. Then Happy said:
"But, Mr. Stewart. I'm afraid I've got to beat it for home, sir."
"Where is home?"
"Up the Hudson, sir."
"That's all right. And yours?" indicating Shortie.
"Vermont, sir."
"And yours?"
"Near Philadelphia, sir," said Wheedles.
"All within twelve hours of New London, aren't they?"
"Yes sir."
"Very well; that settles it. You give us ten days at least, and we'll do
the Regatta at New London and any other old thing worth doing. Will you
wire your people that you're going with us? 'Orders from your superior
officer.' Who knows but you may all hit my ship and in that case you may
as well fall in at once."
"Well you better believe there'll be no kick--I beg your pardon sir--I
mean, I'll be delighted," stammered Happy.
"That Western Union wire is going to fuse, sir," was Wheedles'
characteristic response.
"I said last time I was up at New London that I'd be singed and sizzled
if I ever went again, sir, and that just goes to show 'what fools we
mortals be'," was Shortie's quizzical answer.
"Orders received and promptly obeyed. So far so good," was the hearty
response. "Now to the next. Mrs. Howland, what about you and your plans!
We've got this little girl in tow all tight and fast, but you haven't
put out a signal."
"It all sounds most enticing, but do you know I have another girl to
think about? She is up at Smith College and will graduate in one week. I
must be there for THAT if I never do another thing. It is an event in
her life and mine."
"Hum; yes; I see; of course. We've got to get around that, haven't we?
And I dare say YOU two think you've got to be on deck also," he added,
nodding at Constance and Snap, who in return nodded their reply in a
very positive manner.
"Are you going to jump ship too, little captain?" he asked, turning
suddenly to Polly.
"Oh please don't. We need you so much," pleaded Peggy.
"I'd like to see Gail graduate, but oh, I do want to go to New London
just dreadfully," cried Polly.
"You would better go, dear," said Mrs. Howland, deciding the question
for her. "You would have but three days at Northampton and they would
hardly mean as much to you as the same number at New London. Constance,
Snap and I will go up, and then perhaps we will come on to New London. I
must first learn Gail's plans."
"You will ALL come up. Every last one of you, Gail too; and if Gail
bears even a passing resemblance to the rest of her family she isn't
going to disgrace it."
"She's perfectly lovely, Mr. Stewart," was Polly's emphatic praise of
her pretty, twenty-year-old sister.
"Your word goes, captain," answered Mr. Stewart, crossing the room to
where the girls sat upon the couch. "Gangway, please," he said,
motioning them apart and seating himself between them. "My, but these
are pretty snug quarters," he added, placing an arm around each and
drawing them close to him. Peggy promptly nestled her head upon his
shoulder.
"My other shoulder feels lonesome," said Mr. Stewart, smiling into
Polly's face. The next second the bronze head was cuddled down also.
"That's pretty nice. Best game of rouge et noir ever invented," nodded
Neil Stewart, a happy smile upon his strong face. "Now to proceed: There
are, thus far, eleven of us. When we capture Gail we shall have twelve.
A round dozen. Good! Now how to get up there is the next question. I've
hit it! Let's make an auto trip of it.''
"An auto trip," chorused the others.
"Sure thing! Why not? Look here, people, this is my holiday. Such a
holiday as I haven't had in years, and at the end of it is something
else for me. Harold knows, but he's been too wise to give it away. I
didn't know it myself until I came through Washington, but--well--it's
pretty good news. I didn't mean to blurt it out, but this is sort of a
family conclave and I needn't ask you all to keep it in the family; but
up there in the Boston Navy Yard is an old fighting machine of which I
am to be captain when I get back in harness--"
"What! Oh, Daddy! Daddy! How splendid!" cried Peggy. "Oh, I've just got
to hug you hard,'' and she smothered him in a regular bear hug.
"That's better than the promotion," he said, his eyes shining, and his
thoughts harking back to another impulsive young girl who had clasped
her arms about him when he received his commission as lieutenant. How
like her Peggy was growing. It would have meant a good deal to her could
she have lived to see him attain his captaincy. He always recalled her
as a young girl. It was almost impossible for him to realize that were
she now alive she would be Mrs. Harold's age, though she was
considerably younger than himself when they had married.
And so it was settled. Neil Stewart was to engage a couple of large
touring cars for a month and in these the party was to make the trip to
New London. A man of prompt action, he lost no time in putting his plan
into effect, and the following Wednesday a merry party set out from
Wilmot Hall. Each car carried six comfortably in addition to the
chauffeur.
Each was provided with everything necessary for the long trip which they
calculated would take about three days, and the pairing off was arranged
to every one's satisfaction, an arrangement known to have exceptions.
Mr. and Mrs. Harold, Happy, Shortie and Polly and Peggy were in one car,
Mr. Stewart, Mrs. Howland, Snap, Constance and Wheedles in the other,
the extra seat, Mr. Stewart said was to be held in reserve for Gail when
Mrs. Howland should bring her to New London.
None of the party ever forgot that auto ride through Maryland,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. The weather was
ideal, and for the men just ashore after months of sea-duty, and the
midshipmen, just emancipated from four years of the strictest discipline
and a most limited horizon, it was a most wonderful world of green
things, and an endless panorama of beauty.
One night was spent in Philadelphia where all stopped at the Aldine and
went to see "The Balkan Princess." Another night in New York at the
Astor with "Excuse Me" to throw every one into hysterics of laughter.
And what a revelation it all was to Peggy. What a new world she had
entered.
"I didn't know there could be anything like it," she confided to Polly,
"and oh, isn't it splendid. But HOW I wish I could just share it with
everybody."
"It seems to me you are sharing it with a good many bodies, Peggy
Stewart. What do you call ten people besides yourself?"
"Oh, I mean people who never have or see anything like it. Like Nelly,
for instance, and--and--oh just dozens of people who seem to go all
their lives and never have any of the things which so many other people
have. I wonder why it IS so, Polly? It doesn't seem just right, does
it?"
"I wonder if you know how many people you make happy in the course of a
year, Peggy Stewart. I don't believe you have the least idea, but it's a
pity a few of them couldn't lift up their voices and make it known."
"Well, I'm right thankful they can't. It would be awful."
It was a glorious June afternoon when the two big touring cars swept
under the porte-cochere of the Griswold Hotel at New London, and
attendants hurried out to assist the new arrivals from them. Mr. Stewart
waved them aside and saying to his guests:
"Wait here until I find out where that shack of ours is located and then
we'll go right over to it and get fixed tip as soon as possible," he
disappeared into the hotel to return a moment later with a clerk.
"This man will direct us," and presently the cars were rolling down
toward the shore road. In five minutes they had stopped before a large
bungalow situated far out on one of the rocky points commanding the
entire sweep of the bay, and before them riding at anchor was the
practice squadron, the good old flagship Olympia, on which Commodore
Dewey had fought the battle of Manila Bay, standing bravely out from
among her sister ships the Chicago, the Tonopah and the old frigate
Hartford anchored along the roadstead.
"Oh, Peggy! Peggy! See them! See them! Don't you love them, every inch
of them, from the fighting top to the very anchor chains? I do."
"I ought to," assented Peggy, "for Dad! loves his ship next to me I
believe."
"How could he help it?"
They were now hurrying into the cottage where Jerome and Mammy were
waiting to welcome them. A couple of servants had been sent over from
the Griswold to complete the menage with Mammy and Jerome as
commanders-in-chief.
It was a pretty cottage with a broad veranda running around three sides
of it and built far out over the water on the front; an ideal spot for a
month's outing.
Launches were darting to and from the ships with liberty parties, often
with two or three cutters in tow filled with laughing, skylarking
midshipmen. On the opposite shore where the old Pequoit House had once
stood, was another landing at which many of the ships' boats, or shore
boats, were also making landings with parties which had been out to
visit the ships. The ships wore a festive air with awnings stretched
above their quarter-decks and altogether it was an enchanting picture.
Mammy welcomed her family with enthusiasm, and Jerome with the ceremony
he never omitted, and in less time than seemed possible all were settled
in their spacious, airy rooms. Mr. and Mrs. Harold had a room looking
out over the river, with the two girls next them, while Mrs. Howland,
Mr. Stewart, Snap and Constance had rooms just beyond, the three boys
being quartered on the floor above.
"Oh, Peggy, isn't it the dearest place you ever saw?" cried Polly,
running out on the balcony upon which their room gave. "And there's the
dear old flat-iron," the "flat-iron" being the name bestowed by the boys
upon the monitor Tonopah because she set so low in the water and was
shaped not unlike one, her turrets sticking up like bumpy handles.
"Look, Polly! Look! Some one is wigwagging on the bridge of the Olympia.
Oh, Daddy Neil, Daddy Neil, come quickly and tell us what they are
saying," she called into the next room.
Neil Stewart hurried out to the balcony, slightly lowering his eyelids
as he would have done at sea, a little trick acquired by most men who
look across the water.
"Why they are signalling US," he exclaimed. "That's Boynton on the
bridge," mentioning an officer whom he knew, "and the chap signalling
is--YOU--no, no I don't mean that, I mean it's the chap who ought to be
you, that Devon, Deroux, no--Leroux--isn't that his name? The fellow who
rigged up in girl's clothes and fooled me to a frazzle. He's saying--
what's that? Hold on--Yes! 'Welcome to New London' and--'Coming on
board.' THAT means that a whole bunch will descend upon us tonight I'll
bet all I'm worth. Well, let 'em come! Let 'em come! The more the
merrier for there's nothing amiss with the commissary department. Here,
Happy, Happy, come and answer that signal out yonder. I'm rusty, but you
ought to have it down pat."
"Aye, aye, sir," answered Happy, appearing at the window overhead and by
some miraculous means scrambling through it and letting himself drop to
the balcony where Mr. Stewart and the girls were standing.
"Give me a towel, quick, Peggy."
Peggy rushed for a towel and a moment later the funny wigwag was
answering:
"Come along. Delighted."
And that night the bungalow was filled to overflowing, for not only did
the boys come, but several officers who had known Mr. Stewart and Mr.
Harold for years were eager to renew their acquaintance, and talk over
old days.
"And you've come just in time for the regatta. Going to be a big race
this year. The men are up at Gales ferry now and look fit to a finish.
How are you planning to see it?" asked the captain of the Olympia.
"Haven't planned a thing yet. Why we've only just struck our holding
ground, man."
"Good, I'm glad of it. That fixes it all right. You are all to be my
guests that day--yes--no protests. Rockhill has gone to Europe and left
his launch at my service and she's a jim-dandy, let me tell you. She's a
sixty-footer and goes through the water like a knife blade. You'll all
come with me and we'll see the show from a private box."
"Can you carry ALL OF US?" asked Peggy incredulously.
"Every last one, little girl, and a dozen more if you like. So fly to
the east and fly to the west and then invite the very one whom you love
best," answered Captain Boynton, pinching Peggy's velvety cheek.
"Oh, there are so many we love best," she laughed, "that we'd never dare
ask them all, would we, Polly?"
"Let's ask all who are here tonight," was Polly's diplomatic answer,
"then no one can feel hurt."
"Hoopla!" rose from the other end of the porch where Durand, Ralph, and
three of the other boys from the ships were sitting around a big bamboo
table drinking lemonade.
And so the party was then and there arranged for New London's big day.