Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1894-07-14
THAT BLUE SATIN BAG.

THAT BLUE SATIN BAG.
1t seemed to be one Of the ironirs of
fate that her name should have been
Miss Thankful Hope Strangers
smiled instinctively at the name when
they first met her, for to them there
was so little in her narrow life to be
thankful for, and nothing to hope for.
And yet to those of the limited num-
Der who grew to know Miss Thankful
the name was, after all. quite appro-
pirate
She was a blocking little wo-
man of forty-tivc, whose plain face
was only redeemed by Il pair of Smil-
ing brown eyes. She was a day scaln
stress and made enough to pay her
board and usually to keep herself suit
ably clothed.
1t WIS a standing joke among the
other boarlSrs that no natter how dis
agreeable the day Miss Thankful
could always find something pleasant
to be said about it,. And. no ma, ter
how unprcposSesSing the last new
boarder. Miss ThankfurS kind heart
WAS sure to discover some excuse.
She had watched Florence. Mrs.
mmons' young daughter. grow up
INTO womanhood and had shared her
tim,d condolences and opinions about
the different young men of the house.
contiIenccS which Florence would
never have thought of telling her prac-
teal mother. There WAS something
about Miss Thankful which invited
confidence. and the two were warm
friends
1t was a dull February evening.
slight snow WAS falling. and Mss
Thankful hurried along towards home
in the early dusk. The windows were
lighted up and presented Il tempting
array of millinery, dry goods, flowers
and confectionery.
But Miss Thankful did not notice
any of them until she turned into Bond
street. and there she walked slowly.
com ny to Il StandStill at last in front
of Cooper x Cooper's large dry goods
house.
She smiled as she looked in at the
window. YES" she said. softly. its
there yet. | made sure it would he
sold. So cheap. too. Only S1.5O." She
was gazing at Il blue satin party bag.
Lined with delicate pink. one of those
dainty French amairs which always
catch woman's eye if she has any
soul for pleasing effects.
Il cant afford new dress this year
That three weeks I was sick last
month put that out of the question.
and So it does seem as if | could buy
that bag if | want to. Only it would
be Silly-downright silly!'' and she
sighed.
Il never had anything as pretty as
that. Maybe that's why | seem to
have set my heart on it. Even my
Dir, sSeS have been brown or black.
They last better
1--WE had kind of brown and black
FIFE. anyway. But there now that
sounds complainin'. and I've no cause
to compla II. The Lords been good
to me. and pro~pered me right along"
Good evening. Miss Thankful" said
a cheerful voice at her side Right
nice window Our trimmer beats any
in town. Lots of pretty things. too"
ne added. with the pardonablc pride
of Il head clerk.
Good evening Mr.. Jones'" answered
Miss Thankful. Yes. l was just look
ing n at the goods: I"-She hesitated
was just noticing that blue satin
bag over there in the corner-See?'
"Oh, yes. that pretty bag. Pretty
thing. Cheap, too. l know a good
piece of satin when l see it. Funny
it was NOT sold to-day. Will be to-
morrow likely"
Miss Thankful felt her desire to pos
SCStS the bag increasing.
''On your way home? Let me take
your umbrella" and they walked on
together.
IL II l,,.I RI InI ina
for this one of the boarders. partly
because he never forgot to show her
the same courtesy that he would show
10 Florence or any younger woman.
And this is very gratifying to wO-
man who has no claim to youth or
beauty.
He WaS timd young man. with a
colorlcSs mustache and drab hair. who
always liked him.
When they reached the boarding
house she went very thoughtfully up
to her room. Mr.. Jones had diScOurSed
most of the way upon the amable
qualities Florence possessed. all of
which remarks she had heartily sec
ondcd When she had lighted the gas,
she sat down with the thoughtful eX-
preston still on her face.
Il wonder" she said. 81 do just
wonder But he would never under
the shining sun have the courage to
tell her" and she smiled.
MIR. Joncs-a name l do abomina tc.
and Florence so pretty-and him with
those colOrless eyes and washed out
hair! But then he is just as KIND az
he can be, and l make no doubt would
be Il good prOvider."
The next night when Miss Thankful
came into her room she turned on
both the gas jets-an unheard of ex-
travagance. She carried small par
eel done up in tissue paper, and be-
fore she stopped to take off her bon
net she went over to the bed and un-
tied the package. 1t was the blue
satin party bag.
IFS a lot prettier than it was at
the store" she said, smiling at it where
it lay spread out on the white cover
in nj tha nt.rncpn M n SsnrpI 1an