CHAPTER XIV--BARBARA'S SECRET
"Bab, Bab! What is the matter with you!" cried Mollie, for Barbara hadthrown herself on the bed after their return from the ball, burstinginto a torrent of tears.
"Oh, I don't know," sobbed Bab. "I must be wrong, or crazy, orsomething. Yet how can people doubt their own eyes?"
Mollie stopped spreading out her butterfly dress, in which she hadlooked so pretty at the party, and flung her arms round her sister.
"Just tell me what is the matter, dear! Has anyone hurt your feelings?If it's that Gladys Le Baron I'll certainly get even with her!"
But Bab didn't answer.
"I'm going to call Ruth," said Mollie. "I don't want to waken AuntSallie, but you seemed queer all the way home from the ball."
Bab sat up, when Ruth came in, and dried her eyes.
"I am so sorry you feel so badly, Barbara, dear," said Ruth, "but, ofcourse, it was a wretched mistake for you to have made. Let's try toforget that horrid scene. Some servant will pick up the necklace in themorning, and return it to Mrs. Post. Hugh and I have decided that itwill be wise for those of us who were in the conservatory just at thelast not to speak of what happened. You will forgive us, Mollie, dear,won't you, if we don't tell even you?"
"No, I won't!" cried Mollie, stamping her little slippered foot. "Babcan't have secrets that make her cry--not from her own sister. And Idon't see, anyway, what Bab has to do with Mrs. Post having lost heremerald necklace. If you think the loss is a secret, you're wrong,because everybody in the ballroom was whispering it about half an hourafterwards. I heard of it from a perfect stranger!"
"Mollie," said Ruth quietly, "will you please do me a favor? Don't askBarbara to tell you what happened that has worried her. It was nothingbut an unfortunate mistake, and will all blow over in the morning."
"Very well, Ruth," agreed Mollie. "I won't ask. But I am not a baby, andI am very sure it would be better if I were told."
Thus poor Bab had no one in whom to confide, and had to bear her uglysecret all alone.
Ruth kissed her good night, saying: "Cheer up, silly girl, and sleeplate as you can in the morning. You know, it's to be the last day of ourtennis practice, and you are going to beat me tomorrow!"
Ruth tiptoed over to Mollie, who was undressing in silence. "MistressMollie," she said, "forgive me; do, please, like a dear. Talking abouthorrid things only makes them _horrider_!"
Ruth, in the depths of her heart, thought that Barbara had been mostunwise in her hinted accusation of Harry Townsend. For Bab's sake shethought it best for everyone to forget what had happened. It was a faultin Ruth's nature that she loved only pleasant things, and would oftengive up, even when she knew she was right, in order not to make trouble.
The next morning a Barbara of heavy eyes and white cheeks joined theplayers on the tennis court.
Plainly Harry had confided what had happened to Gladys, for she did notspeak to Bab as she came up to her, but tossed her head and bit herlips. Gladys said nothing, however, for Harry had made her promise shewould not breathe what he had told her.
As for Mr. Townsend, he treated Barbara with cold politeness. ButBarbara was beginning to have her eyes opened. "If I am right abouthim," she thought to herself, "then I shall have to be very careful. Ibelieve he is more clever than any of us dream!"
It was Hugh whose manner was most constrained. He could not forgive thescene of the night before, in which he had been forced to take anunwilling part. Not until Ruth called him over to her, and gave him alecture, did he beg Bab's pardon, and ask that they all forget theexperience of the night before.
"Come on!" he called, cheerily, to the group of tennis players. "It's door die to-day--the last test day for us. It will show us who is torepresent our crowd at the tournament. The girl and the fellow who canbeat all the rest of us stand a good chance of winning the silver cup.Mrs. Cartwright says she has been closely following the game of the starplayers and she thinks we have them beaten to a finish. Come on, Ruth,let's show 'em that we're out for blood!"
Swish! Barbara's ball flew over the net and curved toward the ground atHugh's left. Not too swiftly for that young gentleman; while Ruth'sheart gave a jump of apprehension, Hugh made a left-hand swing with hisracquet and sent the ball whizzing back.
"Fifteen!" Ralph called out, in a bored tone. He had failed in hisreturn.
The battle raged all morning.
Grace and Donald Cartwright, Gladys and Mr. Townsend were soon out ofthe running. When they had finished they sank gratefully on the ground,to watch the others play.
The field was thus left to Barbara and Ralph, to Ruth and Hugh. The setsstood even, and two more games would decide.
A small crowd of visitors stood around the court. Mrs. Cartwright,having finished her own game, came over to look on. Miss Sallie wastrying to be impartial, but she was really deeply interested in Ruth'ssuccess. Mrs. Erwin, Mrs. Post, the governor, all their friends, werelined up to behold the battle.
A subdued discussion of the lost emeralds had been going on at theCasino all morning. After a thorough search of every inch of Mrs.Erwin's house and grounds, there was still no sign of the jewels; butGovernor Post and Mrs. Erwin had made every effort to have the scandalof the necklace hushed up. They had seen the Newport detectives, and hadtelegraphed to New York for two experts to be sent down to handle thecase. In the meantime they had been advised not to talk.
Now the only upright person, who could have given them any informationhad, for just a little while, forgotten all about it. Whatever Barbaradid she did with her whole heart. Today she played tennis.
"Ralph," Hugh called, "remember, now, it's two straight games to finishthe way we stand!"
There was no more conversation. Even the watchers held their breath. Thereferee sat on the ground, rapidly calling out thescore--"forty--thirty--deuce!"
"Is this game to go on forever?" Miss Sallie inquired, plaintively. "Mygirls will be wholly worn out."
"Advantage in!" shouted the referee.
Ralph sprang forward for his ball; his foot slipped. Barbara, who hadbeen expecting him to return it, was not ready.
"Game!"
Ruth and Hugh shook hands with each other. But Hugh called over: "Say,Ralph, was this game all right? You turned your ankle, didn't you?"
"Surely I did," said Ralph. "I was an idiot, but it is your game justthe same. I'll make it up next time, Barbara--see if I don't!"
"My dear Ruth," said Miss Sallie, "I cannot permit it. You will beexhausted."
"Here, Barbara," said Mollie, "do try to get your breath, and let me fixup your hair."
"No prinking!" Ralph called out. "This is business, ladies!"
The good old Casino courts never saw a finer tennis battle. Ralph andBab played as though they had forgotten their talk in the woods that daywhen they had tea at Mrs. Duffy's. Ruth and Hugh were foeman worthy oftheir best steel.
The game stood forty-all, and it was Bab's serve. Bab's serves were whatmade her tennis remarkable. They were as swift and straight and true asa boy's.
Hugh stood ready waiting. Barbara caught a look in Ruth's face, on theother side of the net. Her big blue eyes, frank and clear as a baby's,were glowing with interest, with hope, with ambition! Like a flash thethought of all Ruth had done for them came into Bab's mind. Did itweaken the force of her drive? Or was it because her mind wasdistracted? The ball fell just inside the net on her own side.
"Try again, partner mine!" shouted Ralph, "show 'em what you're madeof!"
This time Barbara was plainly nervous. She felt that nearly all thefriends around them wanted Ruth to win. They would be delighted, ofcourse, with her success and kind to her, but open-hearted andopen-handed Ruth was the favorite with them all; at least, Bab thoughtso.
With returning courage, Bab hit her last ball a hard blow. It rose highin the air! Hugh sprang on his tiptoes to receive it and gave a mightyshout. The ball had fallen outside the line.
Ralph and Barbara were the first to congratulate th
e victors. Barbaracleared the net with a bound, forgetting both her age and her audience.
"There, Ruth, you and Hugh are the best players that ever happened!"Barbara spoke with a glowing face. Then she turned to Ralph: "I lost thegame for you," she said. "I am so sorry."
"Oh, no, you didn't, my lady," said Ralph. "I lost the game before thisone, so we're even."
An admiring circle had formed around Ruth and Hugh.
"Your father will be delighted, I know, child," said Miss Sallie.
"I haven't won the cup yet, Auntie," protested Ruth.
"But you must, child," said Mrs. Cartwright, smiling. "I am betting onyou and Hugh in the tournament, and you mustn't make me lose my box ofcandy."
"Barbara," said Ralph, shyly, as they walked off toward home a littlelater, "I don't like to ask you, but did you mean to miss those lastserves?"
Barbara shook her head. "No," she said, "I don't think I meant to. Idon't know. But they were the best players, weren't they, Ralph?"
"Certainly," Ralph answered.
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