The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-09-19

wish ] could have q patty bag That
saw down in Cooper's window. II wa'
light blue and lined with pink. Such
beauty ] wish You had seen it.
can't have anything but the sash
though, and - there is no use in wish
ing"
~ did see it,r said Miss Thankful,
"and it was pretty. / sorter wished
for il myself"
Florence laughed. '0h, of course,
YOU would not want il, bat if YOU had
seen ii 20 wears ago you might have, y
she said, with the serene thoughtless-
ness OF youth.
Miss Thankful grew silent.
"Mr. Jones has asked me TO go to
evening service twice lately" she went
OH presently.
Il think he is about the best looking
Young man here, don't you, Mis-
Thankful He never talks much, but |
suppose he thinks great deal. | used
To think he disliked me, he stammered
50 whenever ] spoke TO him, but |
guess Il was just because he didn't feel
acquainted And then followed re-
cital of Mr.. Jones' sayings.
After she had gone Miss Thankful
sat for long, long time in front of the
CRATE, with sad dreamy eyes fixed ON
the fire. She was going over in her
mind time p years before.
ale was nothing like Mr.. Jones, y
she said. ''He was good looking and
SO tall, but ne was inst as timid, and i
acted as careless and indifferent as |
knew how! Girls are foolish creatures.
He never got up the courage to tell me-
And then we moved away, and that
was all. No other man ever looked at
me, and l can't say as | want them to,
either"
She undressed slowly. She felt old.
This looking back at ones youth has a
tendency to make one feel old if il iies
p years behind one.
When she was all ready for bed, she
opened the trunk and took out the par
" bag.
She opened the door and listened
Everything was still in the dim hall
Florenee's room was only a few door
away. Miss Thankful Slipped noise
Iessly along, and when she reached the
door she hung the ribbon over the knot
and a. softly stole back.
She had put no card in the bag
there was no need. Florence would
knew who sent il, and then she went
to bed and TO sleep.
The next morning Florence knocked
AT the door almost before Miss Thank
ful was dressed and came i'm with !
flushed, happy face.
"Oh, Miss Thankful" she cried, 81
have had the loveliest gift, What dc
you think-that blue satin party bag
"Of course Mr.. Jones sent it. | ask
ed him last night if it was sold yet
and he grew just as red and stammer-
ed so. / know why now. Mother
says may keep it, and | wrote him Z
note of thanks this morning and put il
under his plate. That was the easiest
way of thanking him. He is having
AN early breakfast now, 50 / thought
would wait and go down with you this
time.u And she fiuttered about the
room in happy excitement.
Meantime Mr.. Jones was in a very
uncertain and puzzled state of bliss
The note had thanked him for hi,
beautiful gift, but neglected to tell whai
the gift was.
He left the house without being able
TO get glimpse of Florence.
At noon there was another tiny white
missive under his door. But this,
much to his disappointment, proved to
be from Miss Thankful.
DEAR Mr.. JoNEs-Elorence thinks
you sent that satin bag. 1t would be
dreadful for her To know differently af-
ter thanking you for it. For her sake
please do not ever tell her that you did
not. Your friend,
THANKFUL Hope.
Mr.. Jones studied this note with
smiling eyes.
''Eor her sake that clause gave him
a quick thrill of pleasure. She would
he sorry to find out then, that it was
not his gift.
He must answer FiOrcnce's note, and
this was the result of half-dOzen at
tempts:
DEAR Miss FL0RENCE-That bag
could not hold the valentine | would
like to give you if | dared 1t is the
biggest and homeliest valentine Il
young lady ever got. If You care to
have me tell you about ii, please carry
the blue satin bag when you come
down To dinner.
ERASTTTs JONES.
He could hear Florence singing i'm
her room, and he called the bellboy
and sent the note To her.
''There now" he said, when this had
been accomplished, ''if it had not been
for Miss Thankful | would never have
had the grit to send that, and, what's
more, | believe Miss Thankful knew it,
bless her,
"if Florence does not have that blue
thing on her arm, I'll give Mis-, Thank
ful the very best dress that Cooper 4
Cooper have in the store"
And Miss Thankful got the dress.