The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-04-21

She was on the point Of sailing
ma1estically from office when SHE
caught sight of her reflection in {
mirror and hesltated. Arthur under
stood and. springlng CALAMITY across
the room, with a deep bow hunl
open the door Of a lavatory.
At this evidence OF thoughtfulness
Angelica thawed perceptibly, and Il
was with little less than her queen
of-all-the-Russias air that she en-
tered the lavatory and closed the door
Fifteen minutes later It was a diff
ferent Angelica who emerged. HeI
face wore It's usual aspect, and while
the spots in the gown still looked
big there was a vast improvement in
the General appearance Of the gar
ment, and her hat, denuded Of Its
plume, which she bore in her hand,
was really presentable.
Arthur looked at her If she were
a butterfly. Angelica, furiously an
CRY, and with soiled face and gar
ments, was 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
graciousness personihed. After which
Arthur sat down and made an honest
effort to clear away the mass Of mail
on HIS desk But somehow Angelica's
face as he had last seen it continu-
ously intruded itself between his
eyes and his work until, noon arriv-
ing, he gave up 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 thN
bottom Of the glass, and finally an
swered confidently:
Show me anything l can't clean in
the dry goods line and I'll blow you
to a dinner"
Two hours later the velvet gown,
carefully wrapped by Arthur's own
hands, was speeding via special mes
senger to the plant of the Universal
Dry Cleaning Company.
II Arthur imagined that his trou-
bles were over he was speedily dis
obuead of tho FdooI Tho ovnroaapd
condolences Of his friend Sam was not
borne out in deed. 1t proved an easy
task to rehabilitate the hat, but the
gown-ah, the gown!
The stains refused to go, even un.
der the stimulus offered his cleaners.
Meanwhile, Mr. Hayes learned to an
athematize his friend Arthur in q
most whole-souled manner. Arthur,
on his part, thought evil things Of
Mr.. Hayes and took a fiendish pleas
use in exacting 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 like of which was never seen
before. Arthur scarcely ate or slept
Business was neglected. His face be-
came haggard. His eyes assumed a
wild, unearthly light. BY day and by
night the gown was upon his mind
when his thoughts were not coupled
by the owner Of the gown, whom he
had seen several times, ostensibly in
roos rd 10 tho prOgroge he ytyoo N, q lyinO
in the elimination of the spots.
AS far as Angelica herself was con-
cerned, she had lost interest in the
fate of the gown, and her attention
became rather forcibly centered in
Arthur.
Summer was passing by. The
gown, like a frayed and oft-rejected |
came back from the last
Of the dry cleaners, the pile prac-
tically gone from it and the results of
Thomas Jefferson Whites misguided
efforts bigger and blacker than ever.
Arthur called at the home of An
gelica, bearing his personal check for
.hree hundred dollars.
Some hours later he left. The
steps which led up to Angelica's front
loor may have been in their usual
place, but as Arthur foated on air, he
neither saw not needed them. Also,
he three hundred-dollar cheek re-
posed in his pocketbook.
The following day, the stub bear
ng Angelica's' name was marked
Cancelled" and the next following
displayed the name Of a well-known
ewelry firm.
Autumn arrived. Thomas Jefferson
White, resplendent in a new suit Of
lack and distinguished by his broad
md happy grin, opened the door for
n endless procession of guests at An
,elica's home.
AS the harpers struck up the we'd
ing march and the bride glided into
he large drawing room, a universal
asp of establishment went up, when
/ was discovered that instead of the
white she wore purple
elvet.