The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-06-01
A PURPLE VELVET GOWN

| Arthur looked at her as IL she were
I a butterfly. Angelica, furfously an
CRY. an dwith soilod face and gar
inents. was scarcely prepossessing
Angelica, relieved of the greater por-
( ton OF the visible effects of Thomas
Jefferson Whites blunder, and re-
stored to a state Of partial calm. was
rather more than charming.
Arthur was humblenesS itself as he
bowed her out. and Angelica was
seriousness personified. After which
Arthur sat down and made an honest
effort to clear away the mass of mail
on his desk. But somehow Angetica's
face as he had last seen IL continu-
ousiy intruded itself 'betwecn2 his
eyes and his work until. noon arrfv-
ing, he gave up IN despair and de-
parted for lunch
Thep ,he sought out has friend. MIR.
Samuel HAYES, or the Universal Dry
Cleaning Company.
sam, said Arthur. depositlng his
glass upon the mahogany, can you
cIean purple yelvet2''
Mir. Hayes trowned fneditattveIv al
the bit Of twisted lemon peel at the
bottom Of his glass, and finally an
s"ered confidently:
Show me anything / can't clean
in the dry goods line aud Ill bow
You To a dinner"
Arthur was delighted. Arrange
Inehts were completed on the spot for
restoring the purple velvet gown to
les pristine beauty, aud Arthur hast
ened back To his Office.
Two hours later the velvet gown
carefully wrapped by Arthur's own
bands. was speeding Via special mes
sehger TO the plant Of the Universal
Dry Cleaning Company.
II Arthur imagined that his trou-
bles were over he was speedily dis
abused Of the idea. The expressed
confidence Of his friend Sam was not
borne out in deed. 1t proved an easy
task to rehabiiitate the hat. but the
gown-~ah. the gown
The stains refused to GO, even I'M
DER the stimulus or cash bonus
which Mr. Hayes offered his cleaners.
! Mean while. Mr. Hayes learned to an
athematize his friend Arthur In a
most ~hole-souled manner. Arthur.
on his part. thought evil things of
MT. Hayes and took a fendish pleas
uFe in eSarting the penalty OF the
dinner, when that gentleman at last
confessed himself beaten.
Then began a campaign among the
cleaning establishments of the great
city the Ike of which was never seen
before. Arthur scarcely ate or slept
Business was neglected. His face be.
| came haggard. His eyes assumed a
wild, unearthIy light. BY day and b,
night the gown was upon his mind
when his thoughts We're not occupied
| by the owner of the gown. whom he
| had seen several times. ostenstbIy fl
| regard to the progress he was making
in the elimination of the spots
| AZ far as Angelica herself was con.
| cerned, she had lost interest In the
| fate OF the gown and her attention
| became rather forcIhly- eertAHea- t.
Arthur.
! summer was passing by The
| gown. like Ii frayed and oft-rciecfeC
manuscript. came back from the last
! of the dry cleaners. tho pile practi.
| cally gone from ii and the results 81
| Thomas Jefferson Whites misguided
efforts bigger apd blacker than ever
! Arthur called at the home OF An
gelica, bearing has personal check fo
three hundred dollars,
Some hours later he left. The step,
which led uu 10 Angelica 81 front dool
may have haen In their usual place
hut AS Arthur fioated on air, h.
HeithtF sdW nor needed tnem. Alst
the three hundred dollar check re
| posed in his peck ctboot.
The following day the stub bearins
! Angeiica's name was marked Can
celied,' and the next following dis
played the name Of a well~knowr
jewelry hrm.
Autumn arrived Thomas Jefferso,
/ White, Respondent in "A new suit O
| black and distinguished by his broat
and happy grin, opesed the door 70
an endless procession Of guests "A
Angelica's home
AS the harpers struck UP the we'd
ding march aud The bride glided int,
! the large drawing room 81 universal
gasp of astonishment went up, whet
/ II WAS discovered that instead of tn,
| conventional white she wore purpI,
velvet.