Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1883-12-27
THE vELvEToNs.

But we must have new dresses for
New Years Day!n said Audrey Velve-
ton, as she sat on the hearth-rug in front
of the fire, her shapely arms folded be-
hind her head, her eyes fixed meditative-
ly on the gleam 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. Yelveton, tall, handsome ma
tron, 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 money for
new dresses, I'd like to know2 Beside
there are the lemon-colored silks that
you only wore twice"
"Lemon is hideous anywhere excep
at ball, " said Muriel, critically.
"Then there are your white gros
grains, . said Mrs. Velveton. "I 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
convent, say So" mildly yawned Au-
drey, tall. blonde beauty, with fluffy
yellow hair, liquid blue eyes, and COM
plexion artfully heightened by cosmet-
les. 'But don't humiliate us by ex-
pecting us to wear made-over dresses on
New Years day, when all the world
comes out in their best and brightest
garbP'
'G'm sure don't know what to do, y
said Mrs. Yelveton, bursting into tears.
"Why, order two pale-bIue damasses, j
said Muriel, serenely; land let Madame
Elisette make them, and supply the
trimmings. Then you will be sure to
have everything CONNIE il faut."
t'But five hundred dollars wouldn't
cover the bill" shrieked Mrs. velveton,
aghast.
''People who move in society must
keep up with the times" remarked
Audrey.
''Do you think have gold mine at
my commando shrieked Mrs. Velveton,
driven nearly to desperation by the placid
assistance of her two doll-like daugh-
ters.
sfWrite to Aunt Tabby," suggested
Muriel, complacently viewing the tip of
her satin-slippered foot as it buried
itself in the feecy pile of the white An
CORA rug.
'1've written until I am ashamed, y
said Mrs. Velveton, Historically. I'm the
last letter, I told her 1 had opened a
boarding house. and she sent me two
hundred dollars to help buy furniture for
the boarders. And how can I have the
face to apply to her again2"
"Make up some plausible new story, !
murmured Mtriel. g What's the use OF
having an old aunt made Of money, il
you can't squeeze little out of her now
and then2 Tell her somebody's dead.
and there's got to be funeral Or say
you've broken your arm, and must pay
an accumulation of doctors bills"
"That's nonsense, said Mrs. Velveton,
gloomily.n ''Aunt Tabby isn't the foo
you take her forl''
"Well, by some hook or crook, new
dresses we must have" announced Au-
drey And soprini must set the table
he does get up things SO stylishlyln
Couldn't we manage the refreshments
ourselves2" said Mrs Velveton, wistfully
"Soprini is SO dreadfully extravagani
in his charges. And when l was girl
we used to make the chicken salads, and
picked oysters, and cake, ourselves,
and
"Oh, when you were a girll'' repeated
Muriel with calm insolence THAI
was in the dark ages Of the world, mann.
ma Surely you can't expect us to &c
back into those times2''
Mrs. velveton sighed She had lived
life of show, excitement, hollow dis
play. She had brought up her tive
handsome daughters to care only for