"I will be ready, and so will Harriet," cried Peggy, darting to his side and seizing the hand of the arm that she had wounded. Bending quickly she kissed it, exclaiming, "I will never forget how good thee has been, sir."
"There," exclaimed he. "I have no more time to spare." And he strode away.
It was a snowy day in early December, fourteen days later, that Peggy, mounted on Star and Harriet on Fleetwood, left the ferry, and galloped into Philadelphia.
""Tis my own dear city at last," cried Peggy excitedly. "And that is the Delaware in very truth. Thee hasn"t seen a river like it, has thee, Harriet? We will soon be home now. "Tis not much further."
And so in exuberance of spirit she talked until at length the home in Chestnut Street was reached. She sprang to the ground just as Tom, the groom, came to the front of the house. The darkey gave one glance and then ran forward, crying:
"Foh ma.s.sy sake, ef hit ain"t Miss Peggy! An" Star! Yas, suh, an" Star!
Mis" Owen will be powerful glad ter see yer. She am in de dinin"-room."
"Yes, it"s Peggy. Peggy-come to stay," cried she, giving the bridle into his hand. "Come, Harriet!"
But Harriet hesitated. For the first time something like confusion and shame appeared upon her face.
"Your mother?" she whispered. "How will she receive me?" She clasped Peggy"s hand convulsively. "What will she say to me?"
Before Peggy could answer, the door of the dwelling opened and Mistress Owen herself appeared on the threshold. There were lines of care and grief in her face, and Peggy was shocked to see that her hair was entirely white, but in manner she was as serene as of yore.
"I thought--" she began, but at sight of the slender maiden advancing toward her, she grew pale, and leaned against the door weakly. "Peggy?"
she whispered.
"Mother! Mother! Mother!" screamed the girl springing to her arms.
"Mother, at last!"
Her mother clasped her close, as though she would never let her go again, and so they stood for a long time. Presently Peggy uttered a little cry. "Harriet!" she exclaimed in dismay. "I had forgotten Harriet." She ran quickly down the steps, and putting her arm around her cousin drew her up the stoop toward Mistress Owen.
For the briefest second a shadow marred the serenity of the lady"s countenance. Then, as she noted the girl"s wasted form, her glance changed to one of solicitude and she took Harriet into her motherly arms.
"Thou poor child," she said gently. "Thou hast been ill."
"I feared you would not want me," faltered Harriet, the ready tears beginning to flow.
"We have always wanted thee, my child, when thou wert thine own true self," answered the lady. "But come into the sitting-room. Sukey shall bring us some tea and thou shalt rest while Peggy and I talk. Thee must be tired."
"Tired?" echoed Harriet, sinking into the great easy chair which Peggy hastened to pull forward. "Tired?" she repeated with a sigh of content as the exquisite peacefulness of the room stole over her senses. "I feel as though I should never be tired again. "Tis so restful here."
"It"s home," cried Peggy, dancing from one object to another in her delight. "And how clean everything is! Was it always so, mother?"
"That speech doth not speak well for the places of thy sojourning, my daughter," observed her mother with a slight smile. "But tell me how it hath happened that thou hast returned at last? I wish to know everything that hath befallen thee."
And nestling close to her mother"s side, Peggy told all her story.
The Stories in this Series are:
PEGGY OWEN PEGGY OWEN, PATRIOT PEGGY OWEN AT YORKTOWN PEGGY OWEN AND LIBERTY
LUCY FOSTER MADISON
Mrs. Madison was born in Kirkville, Adair County, Missouri, but when she was four years old her parents removed to Louisiana, Missouri, and there her girlhood was spent. She was educated in the public schools of that place, and graduated from the High School with the highest honor-the valedictory.
As a child she was pa.s.sionately fond of fairy stories, dolls and flowers. Up to her eleventh year the book that influenced her most was "Pilgrim"s Progress." Mrs. Madison"s father had a large library filled with general literature, and she read whatever she thought interesting.
In this way she became acquainted with the poets, ancient history and the novelists, d.i.c.kens and Scott. It was not until she was twelve that she came in contact with Miss Alcott"s works, but after that Joe, Meg, Amy and Beth were her constant companions. At this time she was also devoted to "Scottish Chiefs," "Thaddeus of Warsaw" and "Ivanhoe," and always poetry.
She doesn"t remember a time when she did not write. From her earliest childhood she made up little stories. In school she wrote poems, stories and essays. When she became a teacher she wrote her own stories and entertainments for the children"s work.
Mrs. Madison"s stories for girls are:
Peggy Owen Peggy Owen, Patriot Peggy Owen at Yorktown Peggy Owen and Liberty A Colonial Maid of Old Virginia A Daughter of the Union In Doublet and Hose A Maid of King Alfred"s Court A Maid of the First Century