The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-12-30
A NEW YEARS CALL.

"But we must have new dresses for
New Year day!'' said Audrey Velveton,
as she sat on the hearth rug in front of
the fire, her shapely arms folded behind
her head, her eyes fixed medtatively on
the CLEAN and dance of the shining
Goals.
"Of course we must" said Muriel,
glancing sleepily up from the pages of
the book she was reading.
Mrs. Velveton, tall handsome mat
ron, who was arranging japanese fans
on the wall, looked perturbed, as the
words reached her ears.
Girls" said she, don't talk non
sense. Where are we to get the money
for new dresses, I'd like to know? Be
sides, there are the lemon-colored silks
that you only wore twice"
Lemon is hideous anywhere except
at ball. said Muriel, critically.
Then there are your white gr0s
grGjIes," said Mrs. Velveton. II don't
dare to think what the dressmaker's bill
will be for the making over OF those two
dresses"
Mamma, if you want us to go into a
convent, say so, mildly yawned Audrey,
tall, blonde beauty, with fluffy yellow
hair, liquid blue eyes, and a complexion
heightened by cosmetics. But don't
Aumliate us by expecting us to wear
made-over dresses on New Years day,
when all the world comes out in their
best and brightest garbn'
Pm sure | don't know what to do"
said Mrs. Velveton, bursting into tears.
"Why, order two pale-blue dnmnSSeS, ="
said Muiel, serenely; land let Madame
nli7otte make them, and supply the
trimmings, Then you will be sure to
have everything CONNIE il faut."
But five hundred dollars wouldn' t
cover the billn' cried Mrs. Velveton,
aghast.
People who move in society must
keep up with the times" remarked
Audrey.
"Do you think have cold mine at
my commando" shrielzed Mrs. Velveton.
driven nearly to desperation by the placid
assistance OF her two doll-like daugh-
tiers.
Write to Aunt Tabby," suggested
Murlel,. complacently viewing the tip OF
her satln-Slippered foot as it buried itself
in the tieecy Pile of the white Angora
rug.
eve written unu | am ashamed >,
said Mrs. Velveton, Historically. ..ip
the last letter | told h,r that had
opened clearinghouse, and she sem
sent me 5000 to help buy furnitt~e for the
boarders And how can | have tsa faoo
to apply to her again."
make up some plausible new story,
murmured Muriel. "What's the use of
having an old aunt made of money, il
you can squeeze little OUT of her now
and then? Tell her somebody's dead and
there's got to be funeral. Or sa,
you've broken your arm and you must
pay an accumulation of Doctors bills
That's nonsense" said Mrs. Velve
ton, gloomily. "Aunt Tabby isn't the
fool you take her for''
"Well, by some hook or crook, new
dresses we must have" announced
Audrey. "And Soprini must set the
ishlyr'
"Couldn'twe manage the refreshments
ourselves" said Mrs. Velveton, wist,
fully. ''Sopriniis so dreadfully extrava-
giant in his charges. And when Twas a
giri we used to make the chicken salads,
and picked oysters and cake ourselves,
and"
~, when yoU were girl!'' repeated
Muriel, with calm insolence. THAT was
IN the dark ages of the world, mamma.
surely you can't expect us to 90 back
into those times?"
Mrs. Velveton sighed She had lived
a life of show, excitement, hollow dis.
play. She had brought up her two
handsome daughters to care only for
Soclety-to aim only for the goal of rich
husbands. But here they were in the
third season, and the Misses Velveton
were the Misses Velveton still. Mrs.
VeIveton had far outrun her slender in
come; she was hopelessly in debt and
haunted constantly by the horrible
visions of duns, bills and sheriff's sales:
and now Audrey and Murel declared
that they must have new dresses for the
coming "New Years Day."
" You must do with the lemon-colored
gSaceS, or the white groS grain" said
she. ''As for anything new it, entirely
out of the question:
"Then," said Audrey. quietly. s.we'T
close the house and direct Snilen to say
that we are not at home. Iwon't appear
at all if | can't appear like ladyr'
Mrs. Velveton looked dismayed. New
Years day was VIGOROUSLY "Great
Exhibition" day, so far as the gentlemen
were concerned. There was ALWAYS a
possibility that Muriel and Audrey
might make an impression upon some
''giIdedyouth' on New Year day which
might haply terminate in matrimony.