Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-04-05
A BLUE SILK PARTY BAG.
How Miss Thankful Hope Figured
in Romance.

in q Romance.
II seemed TO be one OF the ironies OF
fate that her name should have been
Miss Thankful Hope. Strangers
smiled instinctively at the name when
they first met her. For 10 them there
was 80 little In her narrow life TO be
thankful for, and nothing 10 hope for
And yet to those Of the limited number
who grew 10 know Miss Thankful, the
name was after all quite appropriate.
At number 4O4 Suminerset avenue,
the second.rate boarding-house, where
she lived In room ~, second floor back,
Miss Thankful was accepted year after
year as one OF the belongings Of the
place; much a, the hot water bags. for
extra cold nights, and tho dessert
every Wednesday and Sunday were ac-
cepted Settled facts Of the house Of
30 long standing that they were ncho"
questioned bught
She was q faded looking little /how.
OF forty.fve, whose plain face FOR rather
redeemed by pair OF smV
eyes She was day seyhalr' her face
made enough to pay heff eyes flashing
usually 10 keep hersclfsuiu
II was standing jokde, then she
other boarders that no ubcre to hear
disnpreeable the day. MiFd thnt Is 10
could always find somcthg
TO bo said about II. Angry. admire
how unprepossessing thcpuld be' ana
boardor, Miss Thnnkfurs to spcali at
was sure 10 discover some ex nnk ! have
Other boardors came ahEing what
"trnnsients," Mrs. SimmdHe to say
thctn-but Miss Thankful std b. say III;
For thirteen years she ha,I and yOu
inmate of the house. until noNN You 10
that no plaoo would be homFhmc to
but the tiny twelve Ly twclvA
where she had spent her evenin, It'd and
hSr sunday afternoons for so tstllng
'oUamc
years u,or,,c. ursA
She had watchcu q,
mons young daughter, grow y6n.
womanhood; and had shared her u ..,n
condolences and opinions about thcW
fcrcnt young men Of the house 60
dcnces which Florence would NED ~,
have thought OF telling her practictA
mother There was something nboutV
Miss Thankful which Invited cOnh-
dence, aud the two were warm friends
1t was dull February evening; n
slight snow was falling, and Miss ,
Thankful hurrlcd along toward home
In the early dusk. The windows were :
lighted up. and presented q 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 n standstill at last in front |
Of Cooper S Cooper's large dry-goods
house.
She smiled us she looked In at the |
window. "Ycs," she said, softly, Its
thero yet; | made sure II would be !
sold. So cheap, too; only dollar and /
II 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 effects
81 can't afford new dress this year |
That three weeks | was sick last
month put that out OF the question, /
and so it does seem as II | could buy
that bag II want to. Only 1t would |
be silly-downright sillyl" and she
sighed
'l never had anything as pretty as
that Maybe that's why | seem to have I
30 set my heart on It Even my
dresses have always been brown or
black; they last better"
"l've had kind OF brown and !
black life, anyway. But there now,
that sounds complainin', and I've no q
cause to complain The Lords been
good to me aud prospered me right
along"
Good evening, Miss Thankful" said !
n cheerful voice at her side Right
nice window. Our trimmer beats any
In town. Lots OF pretty things, too"
he added, with the pardonable pride Of |
n head clerk.
Good evening, Mr.. Jones, answered !
Miss Thankful "Ycs, 7 was just look
ing In at all tho goods. p'-sho hesi- Z
tated-''was just noticing that blue
Eatin bag, over there in the corner
see?"
"oh, yes, that party bag, pretty
thing, and cheap, too. | know good
piece OF satin when see It. Funny II
was not sold to-day will be to.mor-
row, likely"
Miss Thankful felt her desire to pos
cess the bag increasing.
ION your way homer Let me take
your umbrella" and they walked on
together.
Miss Thankful had decided liking
for this one Of the boarders Partly he
cause he never forgot to show her the
same courtesy that he would show to
Florence {. any younger woman. And
this is very gratifying to a woman who
has no claim to youth or beauty.
lle was timid young man. with a
colorless mustache and drab hair, who
talked with a jerk, but Miss Thankful
always liked him.
When they reached the boarding.
house, she went very thoughtfully up
10 her room Mr.. Jones mad discoursed
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 OK
preston still on her face.
II wonder" she said. II do Just won
der But he would never under the
shining sun have the courage 10 tell
her" and she smiled.
'Mr. Jones; a name / do abominatei
and Florence 30 pretty-and him with
those colorlcss eyes, and that washed
out hairl But then, he Is jnst as kind
us he can be, and make no doubt would
be good provider."
lan -. nh