The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-23
THE EVENING STORY
A Purple Velvet Gown.
(By Frank Ashley Wells

| Arthur looked in perplexity from
Angelica's dirt-streaked face and be-
draggled costume to the trembling and
covering Thomas Jefferson White.
Thomas Jefferson's complexion, nor
mally rich seal brown. had for the
moment assumed the pleasing tint
peculiar to an ash heap.
| Get out of here and finish that
work, and mind what you are about!
Won't you please sit DOWN."
The first portion of the remark was
addressed to Thomas. who departed
with commendab1e promptness; the
| tory tone to Angelica, who flung her
self into the indicated chair.
/ Arthur carefully surveyed Angelica
land his heart sank until he imagined
that he heard it thump against the
soles Of his patent feathers.
Angelica's purple velvet gown bore
numerous huge blotches of black; her
plume. recently nodding in its i'm
maculate whiteness, dropped ashamed
beneath burden of sooty filth. There
was also dirt upon Angelica's face and
fire in Angelica's eye.
Arthur realized that this was an oc-
casion calling for the exercise of the
most delicate diplomacy. His inquiries,
deity put, at length elected a fairly
coherent recital of the events imme-
of Angelica into his sanctum sane
forum.
| The story was: Thomas Jefferson,
in the discharge of one of his numer-
Gus duties as factotum Of the gents
furnishing house of Burke & Foster
| (Arthur being the first named of the
drm) had inadvertently swept mass
of filth, the basis of which was SCOT,
from the top of the unrolled display
window awning at the Identical IN
slant that Angelica passed beneath,
with disastrous results to both hat and
gown.
"What is the extent of the dam
age?'' Arthur asked.
| tits ruined" Angelica glowered.
| .I-er-refer to the pecuniary loss"
Arthur hastily interjected, discerning
a resumption of the storm.
1 AngeIica's brow assumed deep
frown and she cogitated for a mo-
ment. =
II paid $500 for my suit" she an
nounced uncomprom1Slngly
| Arthur ruminated. Even to his ex-
perienced eye the gown seemed ruin
ed. Being unacquainted with mil
i linery fabrics, he was not so certain
with respect to the hat. obviously, 1t
| also as obvious that as Thomas JeHer-
son received but eight dollars per week
for his more or less valuable services,
upon which he was engaged In the
task of supporting heipmeet and
rearing numerous and hungry pro-
! geny, it was as possible to deduct the
amount from his wages as to extract
| blood from a turnlp.
/ Arthur, as the visible representative
of the firm, would have to do some
| thing The easiest way out of the
matter would have been to write out a
check for the amount without further
ado. But it unfortunately happened
that three hundred dollars was the
j exact sum Arthur required to COM
pIete the purchase price OF new
motor car upon which he had set his
heart, and he was not disposed to give
UP the car without an effort.
"I'll tell you what I'll do" he an
Inounced hopefully. "If you will send
me the hat and gown, I VIII have
Angelica was not disposed to be I'M
.sVerv WELL she answered in her
most freezing tone. 81 will give you
chance -
She was on the point of sailing ma
jestica1ly from the office Wnen she
mirror and hesitated. Arthur under
stood and, springing gallantly across
the room, with a deep bow flung open
the door of lavatory.
At this evidence of thoughtfulness,
/ Angelica thawed perceptibly, and 1t
was with a little less than her queen
of-aIl-the-Russias air that she enter
ed the lavatory and closed the door.
Fifteen minutes later it was diff
ferent Angelica who emerged. Her
face wore its usual aspect, and while
the spots in the gown still looked big
there was a vast improvement IN the
general appearance of the garment,
and her hat denuded of its plume,
which she bore in her hand, was really
presentable.
Arthur looked at her as if she wer4
a butterfly. Angelica, furiously angry
and with soiled face and garments was
scarcely prepossessing. Angelica, re
Iieved of the greater portion of the visi-
BILE effects of Thomas Jefferson Whites
blunder, and restored to state or par
tial calm, was rather more tnan
charming.
Arthur was humbleness itself as he
bowed her out, and Angelica was gra-
ciousness personiffed. After which
Arthur sat down and made an honest
effort to clear away the mass OF mai
on his desk. But somehow Angeiica
face as he had last seen it continu-
ously intruded itself between his eyes
and his work until, noon arriving, IL
gave up in despair and departed for
lunch.
Then he sought out his friend Mr..
Samuel Hayes, Of the universal Dry
Cleaning company.
Sam" said Arthur, depositing his
glass upon the mahogany. can you
clean purple velvet?''
Mr. Hayes frowned meditatively at
the bit of twisted lemon peel at the
bottom of his glass, and finally an
swered confidently:
show me anything can't clean in
the dry goods line and Til blow you
to a dinner
Arthur was delighted. Arrangements
were completed on the spot for restor-
ing the purple velvet gown to its pris-
tine beauty, and Arthur fastened back
to his Office.
Two hours later the velvet gown,
carefully wrapped by Arthur's own
ihands, was speeding via special mes