A LONG-REMEMBERED CHRISTMAS
THERE had been an air of new mystery about Treasureholme for the last
three or four days. Packages large and small, all addressed to Mrs.
Presby had been delivered from the city. Mysterious conferences were
being held between Mrs. Presby and this and that girl. Each of the
"Automobile Girls" appeared to be bursting with the burden of the secret
she was carrying about with her.
The explanation of all this mystery was that it then lacked but two days
to Christmas. Bab had in a measure recovered from her disappointment and
chagrin at losing the slip of paper found in the chimney, and strange to
say she had wholly forgotten the words that were written on the little
slip. All the information that Robert Stevens could give her was that it
was something about a "minute." The excitement under which all hands
were laboring at the time of the find, perhaps might be blamed for their
short memories. However, there was no help for the disaster now. The
coming holiday served to take their minds from the subject of the buried
treasure, though now and again Tom brought in reports of having seen
strange men in the grounds out near the woods. One evening the girls had
been frightened almost to the verge of hysterics by discovering a man
peering through the window of Olive's sitting room upstairs, while the
girls were chatting after the others below stairs had gone to bed. A
ladder found on the outside explained how the man had gotten to the
window. That his spying had something to do with the mad hunt for the
treasure, they had no doubt. In this instance their screams, aided
perhaps by the bottle of smelling salts that Olive had instantly hurled
through the window upon catching sight of him, had driven him away.
Christmas eve at last was at hand. The air without was crisp and clear,
within all was cheer from the blazing fireplaces, with decorations of
holly festooned with ribbons in all the downstairs rooms. The dining
room had been cleared as soon as possible after dinner, for it was there
that a Christmas tree was to be set up, there that the presents were to
be distributed to the "Automobile Girls" and various members of the
family. Excitement ran high. Bob Stevens had been invited to join in the
festivities, which included a molasses candy pull and games appropriate
to the occasion.
Seven o'clock had just boomed out on the grandfather's clock in the
hall when there came a ring at the door. The girls, with ears alert,
heard a familiar voice greeting Mr. and Mrs. Presby. Down the stairs
rushed the girls, with Ruth in the lead, crying at the top of her voice:
"It's my daddy! Oh, it's my dear daddy!" Ruth flung herself into her
father's arms. She had not seem him in more than two weeks. The rest of
the girls rushed up to Mr. Stuart, each giving him an affectionate hug,
for to them he seemed almost as much a father as he did to Ruth.
Barbara's heart sank as she stepped back to take a good look at Mr.
Stuart. His face was positively haggard. Ruth had observed this in the
first glance and two great tears dropped from her eyes to Mr. Stuart's
shoulder as she clung there.
"Dear daddy. Don't take it so hard. You have me," whispered Ruth. This
brought a momentary relaxation to the tense muscles of the speculator's
face.
Barbara was shocked at his appearance. He seemed to have added years to
his age since last she saw him. Mr. Stuart observed her inquiring gaze
fixed upon his face. He smiled reassuringly, well understanding that she
had noted the change in him. Then, to divert Bab's thoughts, he pinched
Mollie's dimpled chin.
"How is my little Molliekins since her adventure in the lower regions of
Treasureholme?" he questioned.
"My stock went down that day. It hasn't come up yet," answered Mollie
brightly.
"I am afraid you are not alone in that experience," laughed Mr. Stuart.
"Am I right, Richard?" addressing Mr. Presby. Mr. Presby nodded
solemnly. "By the way, Ruth, the chauffeur will drive your car out in
the morning. I heard all about that last drive of yours from the people
of Brightwaters. I expect my little girl will break her neck and at the
same time her dad's heart one of these days."
"I am not afraid for the first, but I shouldn't like to be responsible
for the latter," answered Ruth soberly.
"To-night we won't think of serious subjects. We are to make it a real
holiday, eh, Richard?"
"That is our plan. We want the 'Automobile Girls' to enjoy themselves.
It makes us happy to see them so happy. I've never seen Olive more happy
than she is to-night."
Olive was radiant. She, like her girl guests, was dressed in white, with
a sprig of holly pinned to her waist. Faces were flushed, eyes
sparkling. They were a happy, joyous lot of young women. Olive stole
into the drawing room that at her direction the servants already had
cleared of rugs, moving the furniture to the sides of the room. The only
light there was from the blazing fireplace. Olive sat down at the piano.
"Come on, everybody!" she called, striking up a lively two-step.
The "Automobile Girls" ran for the drawing room. With them went the
older members of the party. Ruth grabbed her father and led him a giddy
dance. Bob Stevens claimed a dance with Bab. Mr. Presby's gouty foot
would not permit his joining in the frolic, so Bob very thoughtfully cut
short his dance with Barbara, dancing a few minutes with each of the
other girls. Thomas Warrington Presby was turning handsprings in a
corner of the room, and, being in the shadow, he was not disturbed in
his antics.
Soon after this Mrs. Presby appeared at the door.
"Children," she called. "You are invited to come to the dining room. I
do not think a second invitation will be necessary."
It was not. There was a grand rush for the dining room, followed by a
chorus of "ahs" and "ohs" as they caught sight of a real, old-fashioned
Christmas tree, all alight with candles, glittering with spangles,
many-hued balls and yards and yards of sparkling frosted fringe. At its
top and hovering over it, floated a cherub, supported by an invisible
wire suspended from the ceiling. At the base of the tree were the
presents. There seemed to be a whole truck load of them. Some very large
packages excited the curiosity of the girls, but what caused the most
merriment was a huge red automobile, made of wire and red paper. The
automobile was filled with red roses, both being the gift to the
"Automobile Girls" from their friend, Mrs. Cartwright.
It fell to the lot of Mr. Stuart to distribute the presents. There was a
rifle for Tom, small gifts for all the girls from Mrs. Thurston, Mrs.
Presby and Miss Sallie, who had come over earlier in the day, having
spent most of her time thus far in getting the gifts ready for the
presentation. Bab and Mollie gave each of their friends drawn-work
handkerchiefs and some small pieces of embroidery, all their own work,
to Miss Sallie and Mrs. Presby. As yet the large packages that held so
much of mystery had not been opened.
Ruth finally slipped over and whispered to her father. He nodded. At
that she hurried to the tree, dragging the largest of the packages out
into the light. Mr. Stuart cut the strings, Ruth being too impatient to
untie them. A great heap of tissue paper, that piled high on the floor,
gave promise of something good. Ruth drew out a long, black object which
she ran over and placed in Barbara's arms.
"There, you dear! That should keep you warm," she said. "This is from
father and myself."
Barbara stared at the object that lay across her arms. It was a
three-quarter length Persian lamb coat. Barbara was too astonished to
catch the meaning of it all.
Aunt Sallie took the coat from Barbara's arms, turned the girl about and
slipped the coat on.
"Oh-h-h!" gasped Bab, catching sight of herself in a mirror. "No, no, I
can't accept it. It is--isn't right, Ruth--Mr. Stuart. Oh, you shouldn't
have done this! I didn't look for anything but some simple little gift.
But this lovely coat. Oh, Mollie, Mollie." Bab's eyes were swimming.
"Never mind, Molliekins," twinkled Mr. Stuart. "There is something in
the other package that I think will please you equally well. Ruth,
aren't you going to give my little golden-haired girl her present?"
Ruth flew to the second large package, the strings of which had been cut
by Mr. Stuart. From this package Ruth drew forth a coat exactly like
Barbara's, for Mollie. Two caps of the same material were placed on the
heads of the Thurston girls. Mollie needed no urging to put her coat on.
She slipped into it, then began dancing about the floor, regardless of
whose toes she stepped on. Fortunately for her, she missed Mr. Presby's
gouty foot.
"Now what do you think of yourselves, you dears?" questioned Ruth.
"Splendid!" cried Mollie.
Barbara shook her head, though her flushed face reflected the happiness
she felt. She glanced questioningly at Grace. The latter was smiling
with no trace of envy in her pleasant face. Then came Grace's turn. She,
too, received a coat and cap, these being of gray squirrel. Olive's
surprise was a set of silver fox furs, with a stole that reached almost
to her feet.
Ruth was last. Mr. Stuart opened a velvet case, then slipped a slender
gold chain about the neck of his daughter. From the chain was suspended
an exquisite pearl pendant. For Bob Stevens there was a handsome scarf
pin from the Presbys. The girls' gifts to the young man were gloves and
ties, a silver-handled pocket knife and other odds and ends that caused
Tommy to sniff disdainfully.
"That's just like girls," he jeered. "Why didn't you get him a rifle or
an automobile or something that he could do something with? I'd rather
have a pair of rubber boots than all of that truck."
But Bob Stevens was well pleased. He was greatly surprised, for he had
not looked for presents. The candy pull had been forgotten. The girls
were too happy in their new possessions, though Barbara Thurston was a
little troubled over the magnificence of the gifts for herself and
Mollie. She did not think Mr. Stuart should have given them such
expensive gifts. In spite of the happiness of the day and evening a
shadow overhung the entire party at Treasureholme. Perhaps Barbara
Thurston felt it more deeply than any of the other girls. And instead of
lightening the shadow was to grow deeper before the night was ended.