The Automobile Girls at Palm Beach; Or, Proving Their Mettle Under Southern Skies

by Laura Dent Crane

  CHAPTER V

  THE DAUGHTER OF MRS. DE LANCEY SMYTHE

  Breakfast was hardly over next morning before a note on thin foreignpaper was handed to Miss Sallie Stuart. She read it aloud: it asked forthe pleasure of their company at luncheon. It was signed "Sophia vonStolberg." The messenger would wait for the answer. Mr. Stuart wasincluded in the invitation.

  "There's only one answer to that note," laughed Mr. Stuart, scanning thefour eager faces of the "Automobile Girls." "Shall I translate yourexpressions into a single word? It is 'yes,' my hearties."

  "Did you think they would fail to accept?" teased Miss Sallie. "Look atthe foolish young things! They have all fallen in love with the countessat first sight, and can hardly wait for one o'clock to arrive. But Iwill send our acceptance at once, so as not to keep the man waiting."Miss Stuart hurried off to the writing room of the hotel.

  So the girls were alone when they were joined on the piazza by Mrs. DeLancey Smythe and Marian.

  "Good morning, my dears," said Mrs. De Lancey Smythe, with an attempt ataffability. "Isn't it delightful after the storm?"

  "Very," answered Ruth, rather shortly.

  "Have you seen dear Maud and her father this morning?" pursued Mrs.Smythe, ignoring Ruth's lack of cordiality.

  "No," replied Ruth. "Have you?"

  "I saw them a few minutes ago, and they were engaged in a familydiscussion," replied the older woman. "Such discussions are mostdisagreeable to me. Marian and I never have them. For some stupidreason, Mr. Warren is opposed to his daughter's receiving attentionsfrom the Count de Sonde. I have assured him that I know the count well.He belongs to an old and illustrious family. But tell me, what is youropinion of the Countess Sophia von Stolberg? Do you think she is animpostor?"

  "An impostor!" exclaimed Ruth indignantly. "I think she is simplyperfect. I never met any one in my life who impressed me so much."

  "Beware, my dear, that your feelings do not run away with you," warnedMrs. De Lancey Smythe with asperity. "I have heard rumors, since I sawyou last night. There are suspicious circumstances connected with thiscountess. She may very possibly be an impostor."

  "Who told you such a dreadful falsehood?" demanded Ruth. She was almostchoking with anger. But Barbara had joined her. Bab's firm fingers onRuth's arm warned her to be careful.

  "The man who told me is in a position to know the truth. He is a cleverman of the world, a foreigner himself," replied Mrs. Smythetriumphantly.

  "I am afraid I cannot credit his story," replied Ruth, with morecomposure. "I cannot forget that we accepted the countess's hospitalityyesterday and we are to have the pleasure of accepting more of itto-day. My father and Aunt Sallie, and we four girls, are to haveluncheon with the Countess von Stolberg and Madame de Villiers."

  Ruth drew Barbara's arm through hers. They moved away from Mrs. DeLancey Smythe.

  But Mrs. De Lancey Smythe had said her say and left a sting, and shesmiled maliciously as the two girls walked away.

  "I can't endure that woman, Barbara," exclaimed Ruth. "I'll lose my headcompletely if she attacks our beautiful countess again."

  "She is too disagreeable to notice," answered Bab vehemently. "Herecomes Maud Warren. Shall we ask her to take a walk with us along theBeach?"

  "I suppose so," assented Ruth, whose enthusiasm had somewhat cooled overnight. "I don't want her. But we ought to be polite."

  The two girls greeted Maud Warren cordially. There was a discontentedline across that young woman's brow, and an angry look in her pale blueeyes.

  "I am looking for the count," she declared defiantly.

  The girls instinctively knew that Maud was disobeying her father. Mr.Warren had just finished lecturing Maud and had commanded that she cutthe count's acquaintance.

  "I saw the count a few minutes ago. He was starting off with his friendfor a walk," explained Bab gently. "Won't you take a stroll on the beachwith us, Maud? It is such a perfect morning."

  "Oh, do come, Maud," begged Ruth, with a charming, cordial smile. Ruth'ssweet nature was again asserting itself.

  "Yes, do," cried Mollie and Grace, who had just joined the little groupof girls.

  Maud's face softened. "You are awfully nice," she said. Maud was alittle taken aback by so much friendliness. She had been spoiled all herlife, and had never had real friends among young girls. People hadthought her disagreeable and overbearing, and she had held herselfaloof, displaying a degree of hauteur that admitted of no friendship.

  "Let's get our hats and go immediately. It will soon be time to go inbathing," suggested Bab. Barbara never missed a swim if she could helpit.

  "All right, old water dog," Ruth agreed. "Meet us on the piazza lookingtoward the ocean, Maud. We will be back in ten minutes."

  The girls were back on the piazza at the appointed time. Maud was there.But with her were Marian De Lancey Smythe, and the Count de Sonde.

  "What a nuisance!" exclaimed Ruth under her breath. But there wasnothing to be done; therefore the girls decided to accept this undesiredaddition to their number with the best possible grace.

  The entire party started down the avenue of palms toward the ocean.

  The "Automobile Girls" were thrilled with the beauty of the greatstretch of blue water. Marian De Lancey Smythe, too, had a soul stirringwithin her. It had been choked by the false principles and ostentationsthat her mother had taught her. But Marian was not a stupid girl. Herwits had been sharpened by years of managing and deceit. She had thesense to see the difference between herself and the four sweet,unaffected "Automobile Girls," and she knew the difference was in theirfavor.

  Under her fashionable exterior a really simple heart beat in Marian'sbosom, and she was filled with a wild desire to shake off her mother'sdespotic rule, and for once let her real self come to the surface. Asshe strolled moodily along beside Barbara she reflected bitterly thatwhile others had been given all, she had received nothing.

  She contrasted the hand to mouth existence that she and her mother ledwith the full, cheerful life of the "Automobile Girls," and a wave ofshame swept over her at the deceptions and subterfuges that were secondnature to her mother, which she felt reasonably certain that no reallyhonest person would practise. Her life was a sham and a mockery, andbehind it was the ever present fear that her mother would some dayoverstep all bounds, and do something to bring the crushing weight ofthe law down upon them. There were so many things that Marian did notunderstand. Her mother never said more about her affairs than wasabsolutely necessary. She only knew that they were always poor, alwaysstruggling to appear to be that which they were not. She had beencommanded to dissemble, to lie, to do without a murmur, whatever hermother asked of her, and her better self sometimes rose in a revoltagainst her mother, that was almost hatred.

  As she walked gloomily along wrapped in her own bitter reflections, shesighed deeply. Bab who was walking with her glanced quickly at Marian,then with one of her swift impulses, she put out her hand and claspedthat of the other girl.

  "Are you unhappy, Marian?" she asked.

  "No," replied Marian. But her emotions got the better of her and shechoked back her sobs with an angry gulp. Then feeling the pressure ofBab's sympathetic hand she said brokenly, "I mean, yes. At least, Idon't know exactly what is the matter with me. I think I amhomesick--homesick for the things I have never had, and never expect tohave."

  "I'm sorry," said Bab, still holding Marian's hand, yet looking away, soshe should not see Marian's rebellious tears. "But why do you think youwon't have the things you want? If you keep on wishing for a thing thewish is sure to come true some day."

  Marian's set face softened at these words. "Do you really think that?"she asked. "Do you suppose that things will ever be any different forme? Oh, if you only knew how I hate all this miserable pretense."

  "Why, Marian!" exclaimed Bab. "What is the matter? I had no idea youwere so unhappy."

  "Of course you hadn't," replied Marian. "Because I never dare let anyone know my real feelings. I never have hate
d my life as I do since Ihave known you girls. You are just girls. That's the beauty of it, andyou have folks who love you and want you to stay girls and not ape grownup people all the time. I'd like to wear my hair in one braid, and runand romp and have a good time generally. Look at me. I look as though Iwere twenty-two at least, and I'm only seventeen. I have to wear my hairon top of my head and pretend to be something remarkable when I want tobe just a plain every day girl. It's intolerable. I won't stand it anylonger. I don't see why I was ever born."

  "Poor Marian," soothed Bab. "Don't feel so badly. It will all come rightsome day. Let me be your friend. I believe I understand just how youfeel. Perhaps your mother may----"

  "Don't speak of my mother!" ejaculated the girl passionately. "SometimesI hate her. Do you know, Barbara, I often wonder if she is really mymother. Away back in my mind there is the memory of another face. Idon't know whether I have only dreamed it, or where it came from, but Ilike to think of that sweet face as belonging to my mother."

  Bab looked at Marian in a rather startled way. What a strange girl shewas, to be sure. Suppose Mrs. De Lancey Smythe were not her mother.Suppose that Marian had been stolen when a baby. Bab's active brainimmediately began to spin a web of circumstances about Marian Smythe.

  "Marian," she began. But she never finished for just then a piercing cryrang out.

  Nursemaids with children began running along the sands. Another nursehad run out into the water. She was wildly waving her arms and pointingto a small object well out on the waves. Barbara saw it for just aninstant. Then it disappeared. She and Marian both recognized what itwas. A child's curly head had risen to the surface of the water, andthen had sunk out of sight.

  Quick as a flash Barbara kicked off her white canvas pumps and threw hatand linen coat on the ground.

  Extending her hands before her, she ran out into the water. Marian ranblindly after her. The Count de Sonde was the only man near that part ofthe beach. He was behaving in a most remarkable manner. Entirelyforgetful of the blood of scores of noble ancestors that ran in hisveins, he had taken to his heels and his small figure was seen flying upthe beach away from the water.

  However, Bab was not thinking of aid. She made straight for the littlehead, which rose for the second time above the waves.

  When Barbara reached the spot where she had last seen the child's headshe dived beneath the surface of the water.

  Marian thought that Barbara, too, had lost her life. She began wringingher hands and calling for help. In her excitement she had waded to herneck in the water and was clinging to the life rope. She did not knowhow to swim, but she had a wild idea that she ought to follow inBarbara's lead, and now she clung to the rope and anxiously watchedBarbara's movements. Bab in the meantime, had dived into deep water andwas groping blindly for the little figure. At last she seized the childby the arm and with lungs bursting rose to the top of the water, whensuddenly she was struck a fearful and unlooked for blow. She had notreckoned with the life line and with the little fellow in her arms hadcome in violent contact with it. She reeled and would have gone underbut a hand grasped her firmly by the arm and pulled her from under thetreacherous rope. She had just sense enough to hand the child over toMarian Smythe and seize the rope herself. Then she filled her exhaustedlungs with the fresh air.

  On the shore Grace and Mollie were running up and down the sandsimploring some one to save Bab. Ruth wished to rush out into the water.But she knew she could not reach the two exhausted girls.

  As for the Count de Sonde, he was nowhere to be seen, while Maud Warrenstood on the shore helplessly wringing her hands.

  In a short time the beach was crowded with people. Marian and Bab hadbrought the little boy in to his nurse. The hotel physician soon tookthe nurse and the baby both away, and the crowd followed them.

  Bab flung herself down in the warm sand. Mollie, Ruth and Grace hungover her anxiously.

  "I'll just rest here a moment," Bab said faintly. "I want to get mybreath. But do see to Marian. She is a brave girl. She saved my life. Istruck against the life rope, and would have gone under with the littleboy had she not caught my arm and held me up."

  "You dear, dear girl," said Mollie with a half sob. "How splendid ofyou!"

  Then the three girls surrounded Marian and hugged her until they werealmost as wet as she was.

  "I didn't do anything remarkable," she averred, almost shyly. "I wentinto the water after Barbara before I realized what I was doing. I justhad to catch hold of her arm, because I saw that she was going under.You girls are perfectly sweet to me and I am happier to-day than I'veever been before."

  "Marian," called the cold tones of her mother. "Go up to the hotel atonce and change your clothing. Your appearance is disgraceful."

  Mrs. De Lancey Smythe stalked majestically over to the little group,frowning her displeasure. "Whatever possessed you and Miss Thurston torush madly into the water after a child you never saw before?" she saidto Marian, whose happy face had darkened at her mother's first word."Really, Marian, dear, you are at times past understanding."

  "Mrs. Smythe," said Barbara coldly. "We could never have been soheartless as to stand on the shore and wait for some one else to rescuethat little child. I felt it my duty to make some effort and I am surethat Marian did."

  "Really, Miss Thurston," retorted Mrs. Smythe, "I addressed my remark toMarian."

  "Yes," said Bab, her eyes flashing, "but you included me in it,therefore I felt justified in answering it."

  For a moment there was a tense silence. Bab stood looking composedlyinto the angry eyes of Mrs. De Lancey Smythe. Then Ruth said, withsuperb indifference. "Oh, come on, girls, don't waste your wholemorning, here. Bab, you'll catch cold. Hurry right up to the hotel withMarian. Good-bye, Marian, we'll see you later."

  Utterly ignoring Mrs. Smythe, Ruth turned on her heel and accompanied byGrace and Mollie continued the stroll along the beach.

  "My I'd hate to meet Mrs. De Lancey Smythe alone on a dark night,"remarked Mollie, with a giggle. "Didn't she look ready to scratch Bab'seyes out, though."

  "She found her match in Mistress Barbara," observed Grace. "She can'tintimidate our Bab."

  Bab hurried along the beach toward the hotel full of sympathy for theluckless Marian, and vowing within herself to be a true friend to thegirl who had been cheated of her girlhood.