The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1911-04-27
A Purple Velvet Gown

By FRANK A. WELLS

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 state Of partial calm, was
rather more than charming.
Arthur was humbleness itself as he
bowed her out, and Angelica was
graciousness persorif1ed. 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 tbs
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 dinner"
Arthur was delighted. Arrange
ments were completed on the spot for
restoring the purple velvet gown to
its pristine beauty, and Arthur hast
ened back to his Office.
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.
| If Arthur imagined that his trou.
| bles were over he was speedily dis
abused Of the ideal. The expressed
! 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 I'M
der the stimulus offered his cleaners.
Meanwhile, Mr. Hayes learned to an
athematize his friend Arthur in a
most whole-souled manner. Arthur,
! or, bfc o,.i1 ~
Mr.. Hayes and took a flendish 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 q
wild, unearthly light By day and by
night the gown was upon his mind
when his thoughts were not Occupied
by the owner OF the gown, whom he
had seen several times, ostensibly in
regard TO the progress he was making
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 q frayed and oft-reiected
manuscript, came back from the last
of the dry cleaners, the pile prac-
tically gone from II 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
three hundred dollars.
Some hours later he left The
steps which led up to Angelica's front
door may have been in their usual
place. but as Arthur floated on air, he
neither saw not needed them. Also,
the three hundred-dollar chess re-
posed in his pocketbook
The following dag, the stub bear
ing Angelica's name was marked
Cancelled" and the next following
displayed the name of a well-known
| jewelry firm.
Autumn arrived, Thomas jefferson
White, resplendent in a new suit Of
black and distinguished by his broad
and happy grin, opened the door for
an endless procession OF guests at An.
! gehca's home.
AS the harpers struck up the we'd
ding march and the bride glided into
the large drawing room, a universal
/ gasp of establishment went up, when
II was discovered that instead Of the
conventional white she wore purple
| velvet
From Dicke1s After Death.