Part 18 (1/2)

”Yes, out across the peaceful night, By moon and stars made silvery bright, This message comes in gleaming light: We've kept the faith; Good-night! Good-night!

”Our token of a duty done, An effort made, a victory won; The bond on which we claim the right To flash our message, our 'Good-night.'

”Dear Little Mother. Precious name!

None sweeter may a woman claim, No greater honor hope to gain Than this which three short words contain.

”To win and hold a love so pure, A faith so stanch, so strong, so sure-- To gain a confidence so rare-- What honors can with these compare?

”No wonder as I flash my ray Across the night's dividing way, In deepest reverence I say: G.o.d keep you true, dear lads, alway.”

The girls' good-nights were spoken very tenderly. The message of the lights had carried one to them as well.

CHAPTER XIII

YULETIDE

”We are one real old-timey family, sure enough,” said Captain Stewart heartily, as he gathered his girls about him in Mrs. Harold's sitting-room Sat.u.r.day morning. ”But, my-oh, my! I wish I were that Indian-Chinese-j.a.p G.o.d, what's his name? who has about a dozen, arms.

Two are just no account,” he added laughingly as he held Peggy in one and Polly in the other, while all the other girls, Gail included, crowded around him, all talking and laughing at once, all demanding to know what would be the very first thing on the day's program.

Mr. and Mrs. Harold, Mrs. Howland, Constance and Snap were seated about the room, highly amused by the group in the center, for the girls had gathered about Captain Stewart as honeybees gather about a jar of sweets.

”Come close! Come close, and I'll tell you. Can't talk at long range,”

rumbled the kindly man, flopping his arms over Peggy's and Polly's shoulders like an amiable sea lion.

Rosalie flew to snuggle beside Polly. Natalie by Peggy, the other girls drawing as close as possible, Stella excepted, who laughed, blushed prettily and said:

”I think Captain Stewart has more than his arms full now, so I'll hover on the outskirts.”

”I used to be scared to death of him,” confessed Gail, ”but those weeks up in New London scared away my scare.”

”Well, what is it to be this morning?” asked Peggy.

”Suppose we all go over and take a look around the yard. It may be rather slow with just two old fogies like Harold and me for escorts, but we'll leave the matrons at home and take Snap. That ensign's stripe on his sleeve makes him seem a gay young bachelor even if he is a staid old Benedic, and Constance can lend him to you girls for a little while, anyway.”

”I'm game! No telling which one will be responsible for an elopement, Connie,” cried Snap, bending over his pretty young wife to rest his dark hair against hers for a second.

She laughed a happy little laugh as she answered:

”Go along, Sir Heartbreaker. People down here have not forgotten auld lang syne and I dare say the rocking chair fleet will at once begin to commiserate me. But you girls had better watch out; he is a hopeless flirt. So beware!” Nevertheless, the light in her eyes as she raised them to the handsome man whose hand rested upon her shoulders held little of apprehension.

Ten minutes later the merry group had set forth. Mrs. Harold, Mrs.

Howland and Constance were only too glad to have their lively charges out of the way for an hour or two, for a good bit must be attended to before they could leave for Severndale that evening. Captain Stewart and the girls would not return until twelve o'clock and the boys--who had been invited out for luncheon rather than to dine, former experiences having taught Mrs. Harold the folly of inviting dinner guests on a hop night--would arrive immediately after formation.

At twelve o'clock the girls returned from the Yard, and when one bell struck were watching in undisguised eagerness for their luncheon guests.

From Mrs. Harold's windows they could see the steady stream of men rus.h.i.+ng from Bancroft toward the main gate, and in less time than seemed possible, footsteps were audible--yes, a trifle more than audible--as ”the bunch” came piling up Wilmot's stairway; for the prompt.i.tude with which ”the Little Mother's boys” responded to ”a bid” to Middies' Haven was an unending source of wonder to most people and certainly to her school-girl guests.

Eight mids.h.i.+pmen, came tramping up the stairs, eager to welcome old friends and ready to meet new ones upon the old ones' recommendations.