The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1894-05-04


enoughi That's why / asked Mr.. Jones
not to speak of my getting it Maybe
next summer can have a lawn with a
little blue sprig in it This would go
beautifully with that don't think
I'm too old for lawn on n hot day; and
I'm just glad got it-so there!" Then
she wrapped up the bag and put it away
in her trunk.
After supper Florence care up to
visit her, and Miss Thankful was
tempted to tell her all about it But
she was full of her own plans, and the
bag was not mentioned.
''There is to be party tomorrow
evening at Mary Moor's. It's the 14th,
you know" said Florence, happily. II
am going, and wear my blue cloth
dress; I've worn it lot, Miss Thank
full, but mother says may have new
sash that will freshen it up. But, obi
I wish, I do wish could have party
bag that saw down in Cooper's win
dow. 1t was light blue, and lined with
pink-such beauty! I wish yon had
seen it. can't have anything but the
sash, though, and so there is no use in
wishing"
81 did see it," said Miss Thankful,
''and it was pretty. I sorter wished
for it myself"
Florence laughed "Oh, of course.
you would not want it. but if you had
seen it twenty years ago you might
have" she said, with the serene
thoughtlessness of youth.
Miss Thankful grew silent.
"Mr. Jones has asked me to go to
evening service twice lately" she went
on presently.
81 think he is about the best-looking
young man here, don't you, Miss
Thankful? He never talks much, but
l suppose he thinks a great deal. l
used to think he disliked me. he stam-
mered so whenever / spoke to him; but
guess it was just because he didn't
feel acquainted And then followed a
recital of Mr.. jones' sayings.
After she had gone Miss Thankful
sat for long, long time in front Of the
CRATE, with lad, dreamy eyes fixed on
the fire. She was going over in her
mind time twenty-five years before.
He was nothing like Mr.. Jones"
she said.
He was good looking, and so tall:
but he was just as timid, and l acted as
careless and as Indifferent as 1 knew
how. Girls are foolish creatures He
never got up courage to tell me- And
then we moved away, and that was all.
No other man ever looked at me, and
can't say as I wanted them to-"
She undressed slowly. She felt old.
This looking back at ones youth has a
tendency to make one feel old, if it lies
twenty-five years behind one.
When she was all ready for bed she
opened the trunk and took out the par
ty bag.
She opened the door and listened.
Every thing was still in the dim hall.
| Florence's room was only few doors
away. Miss Thankful slipped noise
lessly along, and when she reached the
door she hung the ribbon over the
knob, and as softly stole back.
She had put no card in the bag
there was no need. Florence would
know who sent it. And then she went
to bed and to sleep.
The next morning Florence knocked
at the door, almost before Miss Thank
full was dressed, and came in with a
flushed, happy face,
20 Miss Thankfulp' she cried. ~
have had the loveliest gift, what do you
think, that blue satin party bag"
''Of course Mr.. Jones sent 1t, ! asked
him last night if it was sold yet and he
grew just as red and stammered SO;
1 know why now. Mother says l may
keep it and I wrote him letter of
thanks this morning and put it under
his plate, That was the easiest way of
thanking him. He is having an early
breakfast now, so thought I would
wait and go down with you this time"
| And she huttered about the room in
happy excitement.
Meanwhile Mr.. Jones was in q very
uncertain and puzzled state of bliss.
The note had thanked him for his
beautiful gift, but neglected to tell
what the gift was.
He left the house without being able
to get q glimpse of Florence.
At noon there was another tiny
white missive under his door. But this,
much to his disappointment proved to
be from Miss Thankful.
"DEAR Mr. JONES: Florence thinks you
sent that satin bag; 1t would be dreadful for
her to know differently, after thanking you for
it For her sake, please do not ever tell her
that you did not Your friend,
"THANKFUL HOPE"
Mr.. Jones studied this note with smil-
ing eyes
For her sake" that clause gave him
a quick thrill of pleasure She would
be sorry to find out then that it was
not his gift.
He must answer Florence's note, and
this was the result of half dozen at
tempts.
DEAR MISS FLORENCE: That bag could
not hold the valentine would like to give you
II dared.
att is the biggest and homeliest valentine o
young lady ever got II you care to have me
tell you about 1t, please carry the blue satin
bag when you come down to dlaneF,
"ERAsTUs JONES"
He could hear Florence singing in
her room, and he called the bell boy,
and sent the note to her.
There now." he said. when this had
been accomplished; 'if it had not been
for Miss Thankful, would never have
had the grit to have sent that And
what's more, believe Miss Thankful
knew it. Bless heri
IF Florence does have that blue
thing on her arm, I'll give Miss Thank
full the very best black cloth dr. that
Cooper & Cooper have in the store.
And Miss Thankful got the dress
Anna D. Gray, in Interior.
| ie fha~a