Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-07-12
MISS THANKFUL.

m ner narrOW u1e 70 DO tnankIul TOT, 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 a faded looking little woman of 45, whose plain face was only re- deemed by pair of smiling brown eyes. She was Q day seamstress and made 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 tho day Miss Thankful could always find something pleasant to Do said about 1t And, no matter how un- prepossessing the last new boarder, Miss Thankul's kind heart was sure to dis cover some excuse.
 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, 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 a dull February evening, q slight snow was falling, and Miss Thank full hurried along toward home in the early dusk. The windows were lighted up and presented a tempting array of millinery, dry goods, flowers and con- fectionery.
 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 ill front of Cooper 6 Cooper's large dry goods house
 She smiled us she looked in at the window "Yes," she said softly, its there yet made sure it would be sold So cheap too. Only $l. 50" She was gazing at blue satin party bag. lined with delicate pink, one of those dainty French affairs which always catch Q woman's eye if she has any soul for pleasing effects
 "I can't afford new dress this year That three weeks I was sick last month put that out of the question. and so 1t does seem as if I could buy that bag if I want to. Only it would be silly downright sillyr' and she sighed
 II never had anything as pretty as 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.
 "I've had kind of brown and black life anyway. But there now, that sounds complainin, and I've no cause to com plain. The Lords been good to me and prospcred me right along"
 "Good evening, Miss Thanfkul, said cheerful voice at her side. Right nice window. Our trimmer beats any ill town. Lots of pretty things, too, he added, with the pardonable pride of q head clerk.
 "Good evening, MT. Jones'" answer ed Miss Thankful 'Ycs, l was just looking in at tho goods. I''-she hesi- tated-''was just noticing that blue satin bag over thcrc i'll the corncr-see?'' "Oh. yes, that pretty bag. Pretty thing. Cheap too. know n good piece of satin when sec 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 home? Let me take your umbrella." and they walked on to gether.
 Miss Thankful had q decided liking for this one of the bOardCrs, partly be | cause he never forgot to show her tn, same courtesy that ho would show tC Florence or any younger woman. Ant this is very gratifying to n woman wh' has no claim to youth or beauty. He was n timid young man, with |; colorless mustachc and drab hair, whC | foll !, inrl- hut IL ftr always liked him.
 | When they reached the JOariins house, she went very thoughtfully uI to her room Mir. Jones had discoursct | most of the way upon tho amiablc qual ities Florence possessed, all of which re marks she had heartily seconded. WhCI she had lighted the gas. sho sat dowI with tho thoughtful expression still or her face
 | "I wonder" she said. "I do jus wonder. But he would never under tn, shining sun have the courage to tel her." and she smiled
 "Mr. Joncs-a name l do abominatc and Florence so pretty-and him witt those colorlcss eyes and washed ou hairl But then he is just as kind us h, can Dc, and make no doubt would b, Q good providcr.
 | The next night when Miss Thankful came into her room she turned on botl tho gas jets-an unhcard of cxtrava gance She carried n small parcel dom up in tissue paper, and before she step ped to take of her bonnet she went ovC to the bed and united the package. I was the blue satin party hag. | ssTt'E lpf than xtHuS store, she said, smiling at Il where
 lay spread out on the white cover in al the arrogance of assured bcauty.
 ''Those pink roses arc lovely. IT. silly as l can be. know that we enoughI That's why asked Mir. JonC not to speak of my getting 1t Mayt next summer I can have a lawn with
 little blue sprig in it This would E
 beautifully with that I don't thin I'm too old for n lawn on q hot day
 and I'm just glad l got it-so thcrel
 Then she wrapped up the bag and pu
 it away in her trunk.
 After supper Florence came up to vis
 her, and Miss Thankful was tempted [
 tell her about 1t But she was full (
 her own plans. and the bag was nc
 mentioned
 There is to be a party tomorrow ever
 ing at Mary Moor's. It's the 14th, yo
 know" said Florence happily. "I al
 going to wear my bluc cloth dress. l'v
 worn it a lot, Miss Thankful, but moth
 CT says may have a new sash That wi
 freshen it up Bus oh, wish, d
 wish could have party bag that
 saw down in Cooper's window. It wa
 light blue and lined with pink Sue
 0 beautyi I wish you had seen il
 can't have anything but the sash
 though. and so there is no use in wish
 ing"
 "I did sec 1t" said Miss Thankful