mlin behaved very strangely. She was shut up in the room with Mollie for a long time; when she came out Mollie

the White House reception, Mollie got

night, Mollie," Bab protested. "I hope you won't b

d. "Bab, would you mind leaving me alone while I dress? I do feel ner

ver her little sister. "Call me when you wish me to button your gown. I h

the reception altogether. But, after a while, she walked over to her closet and drew out a great box. With trembling finge

Mollie had not yet mustered up the courage to make her confession. Well, come what might, Mollie decided to wea

e other girls downstairs a long part

ong as Ruth's automobile was in Washington, he decid

ve to take their position in the line of carriages that slowly approached the W

ys have so much to say to each other. And perhaps this is my best chance to learn to know y

ab felt absolutely tongue-tied before Mr. Hamlin. F

learned the titles of the different members of the President's Cabinet, but I have not the faintest idea what they do. Mollie and I looked over the cards of the

ssed expression, that he usually wore before the g

bout them, but she seems devoted only to society." Mr. Hamlin sighed under his breath. "Yes; it is the custom for the officials in Washington to put only t

ed her hea

charge of all the correspondence between the foreign countries and their rep

e Bab leaned over from the next seat to see if sh

tion is very important and very secret. It might bring on serious trouble, perhaps start a war with another country, if some of these secrets were discovered. The Secretary of State has oth

don't understand what you mean. I have been living in Washington for four years, and I have not hal

xecutive Mansion at the extremity of the eastern wing. The house

e President's receptions, quickly marshaled her guests into

number of people about her, that she

n Harriet called the other girls to hurry up the broad stairs to the vestibu

urston's heart was heavy within her on this brilliant occasion, she held her pretty head very high. The worr

race together. "Where did you get that wonderful gown? You

gown when they left home together, for she had packed her sister's trunk for her. But this was not the time to ask questions. Bab's mind was divided between the wonder and delight she felt at the scene before her, and amazement at Mollie's secret. "I do

wly that the girls had a chance to look about them. Never had any one of them beheld such a beautiful spectacle. Of course the "Automobile Girls" had been present at a number of receptions during their brief social careers, but for the first

n she had ever seen, and Mollie blushed when Lieutenant Elmer

would never grow weary of looking about them. But by and by, as they waited a

nds with the President. She had a note book and a pencil in her hand and was evidently bent on b

The President and his receiving party stood by a p

or the "Automobile Girls

were overcome

Bab stood just behind Harriet, f

he President's wife is next and you may greet the other women in the receiving line as you pass along. Th

arefully. She was determin

t her heart stop beating for a moment, and the color mount to her cheeks. The

felt glad, indeed, when Mr. Hamlin drew her behind a thick blue silk cord, where the President's special gu

re he spoke to her. She thought it was polite to make some kind of a remark when she was i

bent over slightly. For a very small voice sai

ed. "I am glad you

s of Mr. Hamlin's friends were standing about laughing and talking together. Barbara was next Mr. Hamlin when she happened to glance toward a far corner

Bab only saw the broad back of the little Chinese Minister and the stately form of the Russian Ambassador. The two men were talking to a number of Washington officials

vidently, her news was a secret, for Miss Moore did not come near Mr. Hamlin's p

oked across at Miss Moore. This time the newspaper girl pointed with her pencil through a small open door, near which she was standing. Her actions said as plainly as any

door to see whether Miss Moore were waiting for her in the hall. Bab carefully watched her opportunity. Mr. Ha

Miss Thurston," s

the Chinese Minister looking more magnifice

regarded her gravely with his inscrutable Oriental eyes that seemed to lo

he was still devoured with curiosity to know what the girl had wished to say to her. Th

ntleman had himself withdrawn from the reception room that she mu

e now," Barbara thought. "But as I have a

ing idly in the hall. Should she go forward? No; Barbara did not, of course, dare to wander through the Wh

ver and whispered mysteriously: "You are to come to the door at the west side, which

altered hesitatingly, feeling that she

ant for her to see you; I can show you t

only a girl like herself. If she needed her or if she w

co deserted. There

ran quickly out into the garden without thinking. It was, of course, Marjorie Moore ahead of her. But Bab had not gone far, when the figure d

n she could make if Harriet or Mr. Hamlin asked where she had been. As usual, Barbara was repenting a rash impulse too late. She ran obliquely across the yard in order to