St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1894-05-12
a BLUE SILK PARTY BAG.

a BLUE SILK PARTY BAG.
t7ow Miss Thankful Hope Figured
In . Romance.
NeeeI'ed to be one of the ironies of
1Ate that her name should have been
Miss Thankful Hope. Strangers
.mued instinctively at the name when
tney first met her. For to them there
was DO little In her narrow life to be
thankful Tor. and nothing to hope for.
and yet to those Of the limited number
who grew to know Miss Thankful, the
name was after all quite appropriate.
AT number 404 Summerset avenue,
the second-rate boarding house, where
sne lived In room II. second floor back,
miss thankful was accepted year after
year as one of the belongings Of the
place; much rs the hot water bags, for
extra cold nights, and the dessert
every Wednesday and Sunday were ac-
cepted. Settled facts of the house Of
30 long standing that they were never
questioned.
She was faded looking little woman
OF forty-fave, whose plain face was only
redeemed by pair OF smiling brown
eyes She was day seamstrcss. and
made enough to pay her board. and
usually to keep herself suitably clothed
It was a standing joke among the
other boarders that no matter how
disagrceable the day. Miss Thankful
could always find something pleasant
to be said about it. And no matter
how unprepossessing the last new
boardcr, Miss Thanlkfurs kind heart
was sure to discover some excuse.
Other boarders came and went
'transients," Mrs. Simmons called
them-but Miss Thankful stayed on.
For thirteen years she had been an
inmate of the house, until now she felt
that no place would be home to her
but the tiny twelve by twelve room.
where she had spent her evenings and
her Sunday afternoons for so many
years
She had watched Florence, Mrs. Sim
mons young daughter, grow up into
womanhood; and had shared her timid
condolences and opinions about the diff
ferent young men of the house. Conf
Gences which Florence would never
have thought of telling her practical
mother. There was something about
Miss Thankful which invited conf
dencc, and the two were warm friends.
It was a dull February evening; a
slight snow was falling, and Miss
Thankful hurried along toward homo
In the early dusk. The windows were
lighted up. and presented 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 slower.
coming to . standstill at last in front
Of Cooper d Cooper's large dry-goods
house.
She smiled as she looked in at the
window. .'Yes," she said, softly, Its
there yet; I made sure it would be
sold So cheap. too; only q dollar and
. half" She was gazing at blue satin
party bag. lined with delicate pink.
One of those dainty French affairs
which always catch . woman's eye.
II she has any soul for pleasing effectA
Il can't 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 il could buy
that bag il want to. Only it would
be silly-downright silly" and she
sighed
81 never had anything As pretty as
that. Maybe that's why seem to have
so set my heart on it Even my
dresses have always been brown or
black; they last better"
1--WE had a kind Of . brown and
black life, anyway. But there now.
that sounds comrlainin', and I've no
cause to complain. The Lords been
good to me and prospered me right
along"
Good evening, Miss Thankful" said
q cheerful voice ut her side. Right
nice window. Our trimmer beats any
in town. Lots Of pretty things. too.
he edded. with the pardcnable pride Of
. head clerk.
Good evening. Mr.. Jones, answered
Miss Thankful "Yes, 7 was just lcok-
inr in at al the goods. I'-she hesi-
tated-..was just noticing that blue
satin bag, over there in the corner
see2"
.ph, yes, that party bag; pretty
thing, and cheap, too. know a good
niece 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
cess the bag. increasing.
'On your way home? Let me take
vour umbrella" and they walked on
together.
Miss Thankful had decided liking
for this one of the boarders. Partly be-
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 q woman who
has no claim to youth or beauty.
He was . timid young man. with a
colorless inustache and drab hair. who
talked with \ jerk, but Miss Thankful
always liked him.
When they reached the boarding
house, she went very thoughtfully up
10 her room Mr.. Jones had discoursed
most of the way upon the amiable
qualities Florence possessed. all Of
which remarks she had heartily Sec
opded. When she had lighted the gas
she sat down with the thoughtful ex-
preston still on her face.
II wonder" she said. Il do just won.
der. But he would never under the
aiming sun have the courage to tell
her" and she smiled.
ssMr. Jones; a name do abominate!