Connecticut western news., 1894-10-11
MISS THANKFUL.

M1DD l 1llhNhI U IL.
 It seemed to be one of the ironies of 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
 She was faded looking little woman of 40, whose plain face was only re- deemed by pair of smiling brown eyes She was day seamstress and made enough to pay her board and usually to keep herself suitably clothed
 It was standing joke among the oth- CT boarders that no matter how dis agreeable the day Miss Thankful could always find something pleasant to be said about it. And, no matter how un- prepossessing the last new boarder, Miss Thankful's kind heart was sure to dis cover some excuse.
 She had watched Florence, Mrs. Sim ! 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 Thank ful which invited confidence, and the two were warm friends
 It was dull February evening, slight SHOW was falling, and Miss Thank ful hurried along toward home in the early dusk. The windows were lighted up and presented tempting array of millinery, dry goods, flowers and con- feotionery.
 But Miss Thankful did not notice any of them until she turned into Bond street, and there she walked slowly, coming to standstill at last in front of Cooper & Cooper's large dry goods house.
 She smiled us she looked in at the window. "Yes," she said softly, tits there yet. I made sure it would be sold So cheap too, Only $1.5O." She was gazing at a 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.
 1T 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 if I could buy that bag if want to. Only it would be silly downright sillyi" and she sighed.
 ssT ,auor hoI onuthinn y,yaftu ao that Maybe that's why I seem to have set my heart on it. Even my dresses have been brown or black. They last better.
 'sI've had Q kind of brown and black life anyway. But there now, that sounds complainin, and Ive no cause to com plain. The Lords been good to me and prospered me right along"
 s"Good evening, Miss Thanfkul," " said 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 a head clerk.
 Good evening, MT. Jones'" answer ed Miss Thankful. "Yes, I was just looking in at the goods. I'-she hesi- tated-'was just noticing that blue satin bag over there ill the corner-see?" "Oh, yes, that pretty bag. Pretty | thing Cheap too. know good piece of satin when I see it. Funny it was not sold today. Will be tomorrow likely" Miss Thankful felt her desire to pos sess the bag increasing
 ''On your way homep Let me take your umbrella" and they walked on to- gether. | 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 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 Mr. Jones had discoursed most of the way upon the amiable qual- ities Florence possessed, all of which re- marks she had heartily seconded. When she had lighted the gas, she sat down with the thoughtful expression still on her face.
 "I wonder" she said. ''I do just wonder. But he would never under the shining sun have the courage to tell her, and she smiled.
 "Mr. Jones-a name do abominate, and Florence so pretty-and him with those colorless eyes and washed out hairl But then he is just as kind as he can be, and 1 make no doubt would be good provider
 The next night when Miss Thankful came into her room she turned on both the gas jets-an unheard of extrava gance. She carried small parcel done up in tissue paper, and before she step ped to take off her bonnet she went ovel to the bed and united the package. Il was the blue satin party bag. ...
 "It's lot prettier than it was at tn, store," she said, smiling at it where i lay spread out on the white cover in al the arrogance of assured beauty.
 Those pink roses are lovely. Tn silly as I can be. I know that wei enoughi That's why asked MT. Jone
 not to speak of my getting it. Mayb
 next summer I can have lawn with
 little blue sprig in it This would g
 Beautifully with that I don't thinl
 I'm too old for lawn on a hot day | n,,J To-, i,,of ry1ad I o,ot tl.a~a |,