The Universalist., 1896-01-11


who talked with a jerk, but Miss
Thankful always liked him.
When they reached the boarding
house, she went very thoughtfully up
to her room. Mr.. Jones had dis
coursed most of the way upon the
amiable qualities Florence possessed,
all of which remarks she had heartily
seconded. When she had lighted
the gas, she sat down with the
thoughtful expression still on her
face.
81 wonder" she said. 81 do just
wonder. But he would never under
the shining sun have the courage to
tell her," and she smiled.
'Mr. Jones-a name I do abomi-
nate, and Florence, SO pretty-and
him with those colorless eyes and
washed out hair! But then he is just
as kind as he can be, and I make no
doubt would be good provider."
The next night when Miss Thank
full came into her room she turned on
both the gas jets-an unheard of ex-
travagance. She carried small par
Gel done up in tissue paper, and be-
fore she stopped to take off her bon
net, she went over to the bed and un
tied the package. 1t was the blue
satin party bag.
'It's 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
enough. That's why | asked Mr..
Jones not to speak of my getting it.
Maybe next summer can have a
lawn with little blue sprig in it.
This would go beautifully with that.
I don't think I'm too old for a lawn
on 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 came up to
visit 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 party tomorrow
evening at Mary Moor's. It's the
18th, you know" said Florence hap
PLY. II am going to wear my blue
cloth dress. I've worn it a lot, Miss
Thankful, but mother says l may
have new sash. That will freshen
it up. But, oh, I wish, I do wish l
could have party bag that | saw
down in Cooper's window. 1t was a
light blue and lined with pink. Such
beauty wish you had seen it. l
can't have anything but the sash,
though, and SO there is no use in
wishing"
81 did see it," said Miss Thankful,
land it was pretty. l sorter wished
for it myself"
Florence laughed. "Oh, of course.
you would not want it, but if you had
seen it 20 years ago you might have"
she said, with the serene thoughtless-
ness of youth.
Miss Thankful grew silent.
''Mr. Jones has asked me to go to
evening service twice lately" she
went on presently.
II think he is about the best look
ing young man here, don't you, Miss
Thankful? He never talks much
but suppose he thinks great deal.
| used to think he disliked me, he
stammered so whenever / spoke to
him, but guess it was just because
he didn't feel acquainted. And
then followed 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
on the fire. She was going over in
her mind time 25 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 Indifferent as
l knew how. Girls are foolish Great
ures. 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
cay as | want them to-"
She undressed slowly. She felt old
This looking back at ones youth
has tendency to make one feel old
if it lies 25 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 few doors