The Forrest City times., 1894-03-23

 head clerk
 Good evening, Mir. Jones, answered Miss Thankful "Yes, ' was just look ing in at all the goods. P'-she hesi- tated-'was just noticing that blue satin bag, over there in the corner see?"
 "Oh, yes, that party bag pretty thing, and cheap, too. l know good piece of satin when see it. Funny it was not sold to-day will be to-mor- row, likely"
 Miss Thankful felt her desire to pos sess the bag increasing.
 "On your way home? Let me take your umbrella" and they walked on together.
 Miss Thankful had decided liking cause he never forgot to show her the same courtesy that he would show to Florence or any younger woman. And this is very gratifying to woman who has no claim to youth or beauty. He was timid young man. with a colorless mustache and drab hair, who talked with jerk, but Miss Thankful always liked him.
 When they reached the boarding | house, she went very thoughtfully up | to her room Mir. Jones had dscoursed most of the way upon the amiable qualities Florence possessed all of which remarks she had heartily sec onded When she had lighted the gas she sat down with the thoughtful ex- pression still on her face. l Il wonder" she said ''I do just won- der. But he would never under the shining sun have the courage to tell her." and she smiled
 ''Mr. Jones; a name 1 do abominate! and Florence so pretty-and him with those colorless eyes, and that washed out hair But then, he is just as kind as he can be, and make no doubt would be good provider."
 The next night when Miss Thankful came into her room, she turned on both l the gas iets-an unheard-of extrava- gance; she carried small parcel done up in tissue paper, and before she | stopped to take off her bonnet, she went over to the bed and united the package It was the blue satin party 1 bag
 Its lot prettier than it was at the store," she said, smiling at it where it | lay spread out on the white cover in all the arrogance of assured beauty
 Those pink rosettes are lovely; I'm silly as l can be, l know that well enough. That's why asked Mir. Jones not to speak of my getting it. Maybe next summer I can have lawn with a little blue sprig in it. This would go beautifully with that. l don't think I'm too old for lawn on hot day: and I'm just glad l got it-so there" Then she wrapped up the bag and put it away in her trunk
 After supper Florence came up to visit her. and Miss Thankful was tempted to tell her all about it. But she was full of her own plans, and the l bag was not mentioned.
 ''There is to be party tomorrow evening at Mary Moor's. It's the 14th, you know" said Florence, happily. Il am going, and wear my blue cloth dress; I've worn it lot, Miss Thank full but mother says may have new sash that will freshen it up. But oh! | I wish, do wish 1 could have a party bag that saw down in Cooper's win dow It was light blue, and lined with pink-such beauty! 1 wish you had seen it. I can't have anything but the sash, though. and so there is no use in wishing"
 'I did see it." said Miss Thankful, for it myself"
 Florence laughed. ''Oh, of course, you would not want it, but if you had seen it twenty years ago you might have" she said, with the serene thoughtlessness of youth.
 Miss Thankful grew silent.
 MT. Jones has asked me to go to evening service twice lately" she went on presently.
 ''I think he is about the best-loolling young man here. don't you. Miss Thankful? He never talks much, but I suppose he thinks a great deal. used to think he disliked me, he stam- mered so whenever l spoke to him; but I guess it was just because he didn't feel acquainted And then followed a recital of Mr. Jones' sayings.
 After she had gone Miss Thankful sat for long. long time in front of the grate, with sad. dreamy eyes fixed on the fire She was going over in her mind time twenty-five years before.
 "He was nothing like Mir. Jones. !" she said
 "He was good looking. and so tall: but he was just as timid, and acted as careless and as indifferent as l knew s-L Ia never got up courage to tell me. And