The Forrest City times., 1894-03-23
A BLUE SILK PARTY BAG
How Miss Thankful Hope Figured
 m Romance.

It SeSllleu tO bc one OI the lrOnleS Ol 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 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 she lived in room II, second floor back, Miss Thankful was accepted year after year as one of the belongings of the place; much as the hot water bags. for extra cold nights. and the dessert every Wednesday and Sunday were ac cepted. Settled facts of the house of so long standing that they were never questioned.
 She was a faded looking little woman of fortyfve, whose plain face was only redeemed by pair of smiling brown eyes. She was a day seamstress, and made enough to pay her board, and usually to keep herself suitably clothed
 It was standing joke among the other boarders that no matter how disagreeable the day, Miss Thankful could always find something pleasant to be said about it. And no matter how unprepossessing the last new boarder, Miss Thankfurs 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 mp into womanhood; and had shared her timid condolences and opinions about the diff ferent young men of the house. Confi- dences which Florence would never have thought of telling her practical mother There was something about Miss Thankful which invited confi- dence, and the two were warm friends.
 
 slight snow was falling, and Miss Thankful hurried along toward home 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 x 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 1t would oe sold So cheap, too; only dollar and a 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, if she has any soul for pleasing effects.
 "I can't afford new dress this year. That three weeks 1 was sick last month put that out of the question. and so it does seem as if l could buy that bag if want to. Only it would be silly-downrigh silly" and she sighed.
 .I 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
 i've had kind of brown and black life, anyway. But there now, that sounds complainin', and I've no cause to complain. The Lords been good to me and prospered me right along"
 .Good evening, Miss Thankful. said a cheerful voice at her side. "Rignt nice window Our trimmer beats any in town. Lots of pretty things, too"