Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-06-27

gas she sat down with the thoughtful
expression still on her face
! Il wonder" she said, Il do JUS
wonder But he would never under
/ the shining sun have the courage tc
/ tell her." and she smiled.
! "Mr. Jones; a name I do abominate
| and Florence so pretty-and him with
! those colorless eyes and that washed
out hair! But then, he is just as kind
as he can be, and l make no doubt
would be good provider.''
The next night when Miss Thankful
came into her room, she turned on
both the gas jets-and unheard OF
extraVagance; she carried a small
parcel done up in tissue paper; and
before she stopped to take off her
bonnet, she went over to the bed and
united the package. 1t was the blue
satin party bag.
Its a lot prettier than it was at
the store" she said, smiling at it
where it lay spread out on the white
cover, in all the arrogance of assured
beauty.
Those pink roses are lovely; I'm
silly as / can be. l know that, well
Jones not to speak of my getting it.
Maybe next summer 1 can have a
lawn with a little blue sprig in it.
This would go beautifully with that.
l don't think I'm too old for a lawn
on Il hot day; and I'm just glad l
got it-so therer' Then she wrapped
up the bag and put it away In her
trunk.
After supper Florence came 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 18th
you know" said Florence, happily.
Il am going and wear my blue cloth
dress; I've worn it a lot, Miss Thank
full, but mother says | may have a
new sash that will freshen it up
But, oh! | wish, l do wish I could
have party bag that l saw down
in Cooper's window. 1t was a light
blue and lined with pink-such a
beauty! | wish you had seen it. I
can't have anything but the sash,
though, and so there is no use in
Wishing"
Il did see it," said Miss Thankful,
'and it was pretty. l sorter wished
for it myself"
Florence laughed. ooh, of course,
you would not want it, but if you
had seen it twenty years ago you
might have she said with a serene
thoughtlessness of youth.
Miss Thankful grew silent.
'Mr. Jones has asked me to go to
evening service twice lately" she went
on
Il think he is about the best-loOking
young man here, don't you, Miss
Thankful? He never talks much, but
| suppose he thinks a great deal.
used to think he disliked me, he STAN
mered so whenever | spoke to him :;
but | guess it was just because he
didn't feel acquainted" And then fol-
lowed a recital of Mr.. Jones sayings.
After she had gone Miss Thankful
sat for IA long, long time in front of
the CRATE, with sad, 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
I acted as careless and indifferent as
L knew how Girls aro- fnnienh- oaree.
lures. He never got up the courage
to tell me- And then we moved away,
and that was all. No other man ever
looked at me, and l can't say as [
want them to-"
She undressed slowly. She felt old.
This looking back at ones youth has
a tendency to make one feel old, II
it lies twenty-five years behind one.
When she was all ready for bed she
opened the trunk and ~.took out the
party bag.
She opened the door and listened.
Everything was still in the dim hall.
Florence's room was only a 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.
so, Miss Thankful!' she cried, Il
have had the loveliest gift; what dc
you think-that blue satin party bag.
,"Of course Mr.. Jones sent it.
asked him last night if it was sold
yet, and he grew just as red and
stammered so, l know why now
Mother says L may keep it, [ wrote
! him a note 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 sc
| thought l would wait and go down
with you this time" And she tut
tered about the room in happy ex
element.
| Meantime Mr.. Jones was in a very
/ uncertain and puzzled state of bliss
The note had thanked him for his
! beautiful gift, but neglected to tel
what the gift was.
He left the house without being able
to get a glimpse of Florence.
At noon there was another tiny
white missive under his door. Bu