CHAPTER XVII
A LONG-REMEMBERED CHRISTMAS
THERE had been an air of new mystery about Treasureholme for the lastthree or four days. Packages large and small, all addressed to Mrs.Presby had been delivered from the city. Mysterious conferences werebeing held between Mrs. Presby and this and that girl. Each of the"Automobile Girls" appeared to be bursting with the burden of the secretshe was carrying about with her.
The explanation of all this mystery was that it then lacked but two daysto Christmas. Bab had in a measure recovered from her disappointment andchagrin at losing the slip of paper found in the chimney, and strange tosay she had wholly forgotten the words that were written on the littleslip. All the information that Robert Stevens could give her was that itwas something about a "minute." The excitement under which all handswere laboring at the time of the find, perhaps might be blamed for theirshort memories. However, there was no help for the disaster now. Thecoming holiday served to take their minds from the subject of the buriedtreasure, though now and again Tom brought in reports of having seenstrange men in the grounds out near the woods. One evening the girls hadbeen frightened almost to the verge of hysterics by discovering a manpeering through the window of Olive's sitting room upstairs, while thegirls were chatting after the others below stairs had gone to bed. Aladder found on the outside explained how the man had gotten to thewindow. That his spying had something to do with the mad hunt for thetreasure, they had no doubt. In this instance their screams, aidedperhaps by the bottle of smelling salts that Olive had instantly hurledthrough 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 ofholly festooned with ribbons in all the downstairs rooms. The diningroom had been cleared as soon as possible after dinner, for it was therethat a Christmas tree was to be set up, there that the presents were tobe distributed to the "Automobile Girls" and various members of thefamily. Excitement ran high. Bob Stevens had been invited to join in thefestivities, which included a molasses candy pull and games appropriateto the occasion.
Seven o'clock had just boomed out on the grandfather's clock in thehall when there came a ring at the door. The girls, with ears alert,heard a familiar voice greeting Mr. and Mrs. Presby. Down the stairsrushed 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 herfather's arms. She had not seem him in more than two weeks. The rest ofthe 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 thefirst glance and two great tears dropped from her eyes to Mr. Stuart'sshoulder as she clung there.
"Dear daddy. Don't take it so hard. You have me," whispered Ruth. Thisbrought a momentary relaxation to the tense muscles of the speculator'sface.
Barbara was shocked at his appearance. He seemed to have added years tohis age since last she saw him. Mr. Stuart observed her inquiring gazefixed upon his face. He smiled reassuringly, well understanding that shehad noted the change in him. Then, to divert Bab's thoughts, he pinchedMollie's dimpled chin.
"How is my little Molliekins since her adventure in the lower regions ofTreasureholme?" he questioned.
"My stock went down that day. It hasn't come up yet," answered Molliebrightly.
"I am afraid you are not alone in that experience," laughed Mr. Stuart."Am I right, Richard?" addressing Mr. Presby. Mr. Presby noddedsolemnly. "By the way, Ruth, the chauffeur will drive your car out inthe morning. I heard all about that last drive of yours from the peopleof Brightwaters. I expect my little girl will break her neck and at thesame time her dad's heart one of these days."
"I am not afraid for the first, but I shouldn't like to be responsiblefor the latter," answered Ruth soberly.
"To-night we won't think of serious subjects. We are to make it a realholiday, 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 happythan she is to-night."
Olive was radiant. She, like her girl guests, was dressed in white, witha sprig of holly pinned to her waist. Faces were flushed, eyessparkling. They were a happy, joyous lot of young women. Olive stoleinto the drawing room that at her direction the servants already hadcleared of rugs, moving the furniture to the sides of the room. The onlylight 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 theolder members of the party. Ruth grabbed her father and led him a giddydance. Bob Stevens claimed a dance with Bab. Mr. Presby's gouty footwould not permit his joining in the frolic, so Bob very thoughtfully cutshort his dance with Barbara, dancing a few minutes with each of theother girls. Thomas Warrington Presby was turning handsprings in acorner of the room, and, being in the shadow, he was not disturbed inhis antics.
Soon after this Mrs. Presby appeared at the door.
"Children," she called. "You are invited to come to the dining room. Ido not think a second invitation will be necessary."
It was not. There was a grand rush for the dining room, followed by achorus of "ahs" and "ohs" as they caught sight of a real, old-fashionedChristmas tree, all alight with candles, glittering with spangles,many-hued balls and yards and yards of sparkling frosted fringe. At itstop and hovering over it, floated a cherub, supported by an invisiblewire suspended from the ceiling. At the base of the tree were thepresents. There seemed to be a whole truck load of them. Some very largepackages excited the curiosity of the girls, but what caused the mostmerriment was a huge red automobile, made of wire and red paper. Theautomobile 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 arifle for Tom, small gifts for all the girls from Mrs. Thurston, Mrs.Presby and Miss Sallie, who had come over earlier in the day, havingspent most of her time thus far in getting the gifts ready for thepresentation. Bab and Mollie gave each of their friends drawn-workhandkerchiefs and some small pieces of embroidery, all their own work,to Miss Sallie and Mrs. Presby. As yet the large packages that held somuch of mystery had not been opened.
Ruth finally slipped over and whispered to her father. He nodded. Atthat she hurried to the tree, dragging the largest of the packages outinto the light. Mr. Stuart cut the strings, Ruth being too impatient tountie 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 whichshe ran over and placed in Barbara's arms.
"There, you dear! That should keep you warm," she said. "This is fromfather and myself."
Barbara stared at the object that lay across her arms. It was athree-quarter length Persian lamb coat. Barbara was too astonished tocatch the meaning of it all.
Aunt Sallie took the coat from Barbara's arms, turned the girl about andslipped the coat on.
"Oh-h-h!" gasped Bab, catching sight of herself in a mirror. "No, no, Ican't accept it. It is--isn't right, Ruth--Mr. Stuart. Oh, you shouldn'thave 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 inthe 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 cutby Mr. Stuart. From this package Ruth drew forth a coat exactly likeBarbara's, for Mollie. Two caps of the same material were placed on theheads of the Thurston girls. Mollie needed no urging to put her coat on.She slipped into
it, then began dancing about the floor, regardless ofwhose toes she stepped on. Fortunately for her, she missed Mr. Presby'sgouty 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 happinessshe felt. She glanced questioningly at Grace. The latter was smilingwith 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'ssurprise was a set of silver fox furs, with a stole that reached almostto her feet.
Ruth was last. Mr. Stuart opened a velvet case, then slipped a slendergold chain about the neck of his daughter. From the chain was suspendedan exquisite pearl pendant. For Bob Stevens there was a handsome scarfpin from the Presbys. The girls' gifts to the young man were gloves andties, a silver-handled pocket knife and other odds and ends that causedTommy to sniff disdainfully.
"That's just like girls," he jeered. "Why didn't you get him a rifle oran automobile or something that he could do something with? I'd ratherhave a pair of rubber boots than all of that truck."
But Bob Stevens was well pleased. He was greatly surprised, for he hadnot looked for presents. The candy pull had been forgotten. The girlswere too happy in their new possessions, though Barbara Thurston was alittle troubled over the magnificence of the gifts for herself andMollie. She did not think Mr. Stuart should have given them suchexpensive gifts. In spite of the happiness of the day and evening ashadow overhung the entire party at Treasureholme. Perhaps BarbaraThurston felt it more deeply than any of the other girls. And instead oflightening the shadow was to grow deeper before the night was ended.