Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-07
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
THE LUCKY STONE
BY ELIZABETH r. GREENE

IL was perfect day and the air was
sweet with bird song and the breath OF
myriad blossoms. But Anne was not
conscious of any of these things. Her
thoughts were of Jerry and the
"lucky' stone.
That her uncle would never consent
to her marrying Jerry, the nephew of
ms Old enemy, Anne knew only too
well; but Jerry, joyous, undaunted
Jerry, still confidently believed that
Uncle Nate could be won over"
Absorbed in her thoughts, Anne took
the narrow footpath leading across lots
to Aunt James. quite unconscious that
tall. khaki-cla figure was hurryipg
joyously after her.
The. third time that Jerry whistled
Anne turned and looked behind her.
Jerry. where on earth did you come
from! she cried joyously. as her lover
hung an arm. wearing two gold service
stripes, quickly about her.
Glad to see me, little girl?' he ask,
cd eagerly.
'1cs,' brcathcd Anne, "but-''
She turned away her eyes. How could
she make him understand the hopeless
u'NS VI llclr love!
Jerry. seeing her unhappy face, quick
Iy OWNED its meaning. . ~.
Don't worry about Uncle Nate,
sweetheart he said chcerly. I'm
going right now to beard the lion"
Anne, looking into her lovers conf
dent face, felt her doubts vanish. Sure
ly, Jcrry's manlincss and those two
gold servic5 stripes he proudly wore
would conquer her uncle's scruples, she
thought happily.
So together they crossed the pasture
to the field where Uncle Nate was
planting. Here Anne left Jerry to make
his way alone to her uncle.
Anne was in the garden when Jerry,
white and determined, strodc up to her.
You were right, Anne" he said bitter
ly, 'about Uncle Natc--''
''Oh, Jerry, | told you sou faltered
Anne. womanlike. What did he
say"
That no niece of his should marry
the nephew of thicf'---'
Anne nodded You sec. it's as I
told YOU she said. Our only hope is
to find the lucky stone--"
Anne. I'll not give you up for
dozen Uncle Mates. When will you
marry mcT'
The day I'm twenty one" she
flashed. catching his spirit.
But that's whole year away!"
jerry looked disappointed.
Yes, but perhaps Wen find the stone
before
..Ium,,b crnntpd Jorrv rI,nn,;l,,
then, squaring his broad shoulders,
''rhcre must be some other way out of
this, Anne" he added earnestly, 'and
I'll fud it
After Jerry had gone Anne returned
to the house. Despite her lovers as
| suring words, she felt depressed.
In the refuge of her room she flung
herself upon the chintz covered lounge
in the despairinggr that only twenty
knows.
Presently soft footsteps sounded out :
side her door.
"Anne, dear"
Aunes answer was sob. Then
quietly Aunt Jane opened the door and
came in. Tcnderly she smoothed in si-
| lent sympathy Annes silken hair that
had escaped from its pins. There was
no need of words between them.
But after Anne had had her cry"
she felt better.
1--we been such a baby" she said,
sitting up with a trcmulous smile.
Aunt Jane nodded understandings.
'"Things are never so bad as they seem,l
dearie," she comforted, ''and where
there's will there's way. There,
honey, fix up your hair and come to
superhero cheese biscuits"
Left alone, Anne proceeded to rear
range her disordercd locks. Finding one
of the pins missing, and thinking that
perhaps it had slipped into the crevice
between the back of the lounge. she
ran her fingers into the opening. Some
thing hard touched her hand. Drawing
it forth, familiar red stone met her
astonished gaze.
1.-THE lucky stone - cried Anne In :
credulously remembering suddenly that
this was the lounge upon which her
uncle had lain the day he had suffered
from sunstroke, so long ago. the ssons
must have fallen from has pocket then
and lodged in the lounge, where il had
remained hidden all these years.
You've kept your secret pretty well,
old lounge said Anne aloii, "but I've
found you out at last.
Then with joyous steps she ran In
searcha of Uncle Nate, who soon
Strengthened matters with Cyrus, much
TO the comfort of Anne and Jerry, who
together with Aunt Jan Cyrus aud
Uncle Nate, celebrated the reunion
which had brought boundlcss joy to all,
especially Anne and jerry.
The next complete novelette, JImmy's
Hoss *. ~ r 1I