The Auto Girls At Washington | Page 4

"You
are like 'Miss Flora McFlimsey, of Madison Square, who never had
anything good enough to wear.'"

"I am no such thing, Ruth Stuart," returned her cousin, a little peevishly.
"You don't understand. Does she, Barbara? Ruth has so much money
she simply cannot realize what it means to try to make a good
appearance on a small allowance, especially here in Washington where
one goes out so much."
"I was only joking, Harriet," Ruth apologized as she and Barbara
obediently followed their hostess upstairs. Bab, however, secretly
wondered how she and Mollie were to manage in Washington, with
their simple wardrobes, if their young hostess thought that clothes were
the all-important thing in Washington society.
Harriet Hamlin was twenty years of age, but she seemed much older to
Bab and Ruth. In the first place, Harriet was an entirely different type
of girl. She had been mistress of her father's house in Washington since
she was sixteen. She had received her father's guests and entertained his
friends; and at eighteen she had made her début into Washington
society, and had taken her position as one of the women of the Cabinet.
Harriet's mother, Ruth's aunt, had died a few months before Mr. Hamlin
had received his appointment as Assistant Secretary of State. Since that
time Harriet had borne the responsibilities of a grown woman, and
being an only child she had to a certain extent done as she pleased,
although she was secretly afraid of her cold, dignified father.
Mr. William Hamlin was one of the ablest men in Washington. He was
a quiet, stern, reserved man, and although he was proud of his daughter,
of her beauty and accomplishments, he was also very strict with her. He
was a poor man, and it was hard work for Harriet to keep up the
appearance necessary to her father's position on his salary as Assistant
Secretary of State. Harriet, however, never dared tell her father of this,
and Mr. Hamlin never offered Harriet either sympathy or advice.
Barbara and Ruth could only watch with admiring eyes and little
exclamations of delight the exquisite garments that Harriet now lifted
out of three big, pasteboard boxes; a beautiful yellow crêpe frock, a
pale green satin evening gown and a gray broadcloth tailor-made suit.
Harriet was tall and dark, with very black hair and large dark eyes. She
was considered one of the beauties of the "younger set" in Washington

society. Ruth had not seen her cousin for several years, until she
received the invitation to bring the "Automobile Girls" to Washington.
Ruth Stuart and Barbara Thurston had changed very little since their
last outing together at Palm Beach. Barbara was now nearly eighteen.
At the close of the school year she was to be graduated from the
Kingsbridge High School. And she hoped to be able to enter Vassar
College the following fall. Yet the fact that she was in Washington
early in December requires an explanation.
Two weeks before Bab had walked slowly home to Laurel Cottage at
about three o'clock one November afternoon with a great pile of books
under her arm.
On the front porch of their little cottage she found her mother and
Mollie, greatly excited. A telegram had just come from Ruth Stuart.
The "Automobile Girls" were invited to visit Ruth's cousin in
Washington, D.C. Ruth wished them to start at the end of the week.
Bab's face flushed with pleasure at the news. She had not been with her
beloved Ruth since the Easter before. Then the color died out of her
face and her cheeks showed an unaccustomed pallor.
"I am so sorry, Mother," Bab responded. "I would give anything in the
world to see Ruth. But I simply can't stop school just now, or I shall
lose the scholarship. Mollie, you can accept Ruth's invitation. You and
Grace Carter can go to Washington together. You won't mind going
without me."
"I shall not stir a single step without you," blue-eyed Mollie returned
firmly. "And Mother thinks you can go!"
Mollie and Mrs. Thurston, aided by Bab's teachers, at last persuaded
Barbara to take a few weeks' holiday. Bab could study to make up for
lost time during the Christmas holidays. For no one, except the young
woman herself, doubted Barbara's ability to win the desired Vassar
scholarship.

And so it was arranged that Bab and Mollie should go with Ruth to
Washington. Bab had grown taller and more slender in the past few
months. Her brown braids are now always coiled about her graceful
head. Her hair was parted in the middle, although a few little curls still
escaped in the old, careless fashion.
Ruth Stuart, too, was looking sweeter and fresher than ever, and was
the same ingenuous, unspoiled girl, whose sunny disposition no amount
of