Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1882-12-28
A NEW YEARS CALL.


New Years dayr' 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 meditatively 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 gros
grains said Mrs. Velveton. Il don't
dare to think what the dressmaker's bill
will be for the making over Of those two
dresses"
Mamma, ii you want us to 90 into q
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
humiliate us by expecting us to wear
made-over dresses on New Years day,
when all the world comes out in their
best and brightest garbr'
Ppm sure I don't know what to dc"
said Mrs. Velveton, bursting into tears.
''Why, order two pale-blue daDlasSes, -
said Muriel, serenely; "'and let Madame
Elisette make them, and supply the
trimmings, Then you will be sure to
have everything CONNIE u faalL. "
''But five hundred dollars wouldn't
cover the billr' cried Mrs. Velveton,
aghast.
People who move in society must
keep up with the times" remarked
Audrey.
''Do you think I have a gold mine at
my commando shrieked Mrs. Velveton,
driven nearly to desperation by the placid
insistance of her two doll-like daugh-
tiers.
Write to Aunt Tabby,' suggested
Muriel, complacently viewing the tip of
her satin-slippered foot as it buried itself
in the tleecy pile of the white Angora
rug.
Eve written until am ashamed, -
said Mrs. Velveton, Historically. ''In
the last letter 1 told her that I had
opened clearinghouse, and she sent
sent me 5000 to help buy furniture for the
boarders, And how can have the face
to apply to her againP''
''Make up some plausible new story, -
murmured MurieL whats the use of
having an old aunt made of money, il
you can't squeeze little out of her now
and thenP Tell her somebody dead and
there's got to be a funeral. Or say
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 forr'
''Well, by some hook or crook, new
dresses we must have" announced
Audrey. ''And Soprini must set the
table; he does get up things so styl-
ishlyr'
"Couldn't we manage the refreshments
ourselYes?n said Mrs Velveton, visit
fully. ''Sopriniis so dreadfully extrava-
giant in his charges. And when was a
girl we used to make the chicken-salads,
and picked oysters and cake ourselves,
and
40, when yoW were a grip repeated
Muriel, with calm insolence. THAT was
in the dark ages of the world, mamma.
Surely you can't expect us to go back
into those timesP"
Mrs. Velveton sighed. She had lived
n life of show, excitement, hollow dis
play. She had brought up her two
handsome daughters to care only for
society-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.
Velveton had far outrun her slender in
come; she was hopelessly in debt aud
haunted constantly by the horrible
visions of duns, bills and sheriff sales;
and now Audrey and Muriel declared
that they must have new dresses for the
coming ''New Years Day"
- You must do with the lemon-colored
g5GceS, or the white gros grain" said
she. las for anything newit's entirely
out of the question:
Then, " said Audrey. quietly, "we'n
close the house and direct Sniffen to say
that we are not at home. 1 won appear
at all if can't appear like a lady!'
Mrs. Velveton looked dismayed. New
Years day was VIGOROUSLY a ''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
.'eilded Yeuth'' on New Year day which
might haply terminate in matrimony.
Secluding themselves would be social
suicide, and Mrs. Velveton was Just open
ing her mouth to demonstrate, when
Sniffen, the tall servant-man, whom they
kept because he was $50 much more
genteel than maid, brought in let
ter.
ats from Aunt Tabby," cried Mrs
Velveton, and she made haste to open it.
Out fell cheque for five hundred dol
lars, made payable to the order of We
Meta Velveton. and signed ''Tabitha
Clark" Audrey picked it, up with a
shrek of delight and surprise
:. The old darlingr' she cried. .'It's
q present for US, of courSe-a New
Year present.
g Nothing Of the sortp' said Mrs. Vel