Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1895-02-22

she arrogance OF assured beauty.
Those pink roses are lovely. I'm
silly as / can be. / know that we'll
onoughi That's why / asked Mr.. Jones
not 10 speak Of my getting it. Maybe
nextaummer / can have q lawn with o
little blue sprig In it This would 90
beautifully with that 1 don't think
I'm too old for q lawn on a hot day,
and I'm just glad / got it-so therei'
Then she wrapped up the bag and put
II away in her trunk
After supper Florence came mp ovisit
her, and Miss Thankful was tempted to
tell her about It But she was full Of
her own plans, and the bag was not
mentioned.
"There is to be a party tomorrow even
ing at Mary Moor's. It's the 14th, you
know" said Florence happily. IT am
going to wear my blue cloth dress. I've
worn it a lot, Miss Thankful, but moth
or says L may have new sash That will
freshen it up. But, oh, I wish, 1 do
wish / could have a party bag hat 1
saw down in Cooper's window. It was
a Light blue and lined with pink Such
a beauty / wish you had seen it
/ can't have anything but the sash,
though, and so there is no use in wish
ing"
IT did SEQ it. " said Miss Thankful,
land it was pretty. 1 sorter wished for
it myself"
Florence laughed. "Oh, Of course,
you would not want it, but If you had
seen it 30 years ago you might have, +"
she said, with the serene thoughtless-
ness of youth.
Miss Thankful grew Silent.
"Mr. Jones hos 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 Thank
full? He never talks much, but 1 suppose
he thinks "a great deal. 1 used to think
he disliked me, he stammered so when
yer / spoke to him, but 1 guess it was
just because he didn't feel acquainted. "
And then followed q recital of Mr..
Jones' sayings.
After she had gone Miss Thankful sat
for a long, long time in front Of the
CRATE, with sad dreamy eyes fixed or the
fire. She was going over in her mind a
time 20 years before.
"He was nothing like Mr.. Jones, " she
said. he was good looking and so tall,
but he was Just as timid, and 1 acted as
careless and Indifferent as / knew how.
Girls are foolish creatures. 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 I
can't say as l want them to-"
She undressed slowly. She felt old
This looking back at ones youth has a
tendency to make n feel old if it lies
20 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 tho dim hall.
Plorence's room was only q few doors
away. Miss Thankful slipped nojseless-
ly along, and when she reacted 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 O
flushed, happy face.
"Oh, Miss Thankful, +" she cried, 81
have had the loveliest giftl What dc
you think-that blue satin party bagl
"Of course AIr. Jones sent it I asked
him last night if it was sold yet, and
he grew Just as red and stammered so.
/ know why now. Mother says 1 may
keep it, and 1 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, so I thought 1 would
wait and go down with you this time. D
And she huttered about the room in
happy excitement.
Meantime Mr.. Jones was in a VEN
uncertain and puzzled state of bliss
The note had thanked him for his beau,
tiful gift, but neglected to tell 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. But this, much
to his disappointment, proved to be
from Miss Thankful.
DEAL Mr.. JoNEs-Florence thinks you sent
that satin bag. 1t would be dreadful for her tC
know differently after thanking you for It. Fol
her sake, please do not ever tell her that YOU
did not. Your friend, THANKFUL Hop.
Mr.. Jones studied this note with
smiling eyes
For hersake, +" 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, an6
this was the result Of a half dozen at,
tempts;
DEAR MICS F~LORENcE-That bag could moi
dared. II is the biggest and homeliest valen.
tine a young lady ever got. II you care 10 hav,
me tell you about Il, please carry the blue satin
bag when you como down to dinner.
ERAsTUs JONES.
He could hear Florence singing in her
room, and he called the bellboy 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 tho oft IN Sand that and .rbotis