The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1919-10-09
THE LUCKY STONE
BY ELIZABETH r. GREENE.
Jerry was coming home.

the next-for what would Uncle Nate
say when Jerry told him of their love
and future plans?
The troublesome question lay like
cloud upon Annes happiness, as one
by one her busy fingers tucked away |
exquisitely embroidered linens into
the little hope chest in her room.
It was ridiculous to think that the
petty. quarrel over the loss of a
lucky stone should, wreck her hap
piness, but Anne knew that her uncle
had reputation for being "set,"
which, alas, he managed to-live fairly
we'll up to-.
'But he won't spoil my life, just for
an old lucky stone!" argued Anne,
one day to Aunt Jane; as they. sat ut
their sewing.
Twelve years ago Uncle Nate had
purchased at a fair in Buxton a gilt
tering red bauble called lucky"
stone.
Then one fateful day-Anne had
never forgotten 1.-THE magic stone
had mysteriously disappeared out of
Uncle Mates pocket.
1t had happened the day that he
| and Jerry:s Uncle Cyrus had moved
the south field together. Anne remem-
bered that her uncle had been over
come by the heat and helped to the
house by his old pal, Cyrus. Lying on
the lounge in the cool living room,
| Uncle Nate had lapsed into brief un-
| consciousness. Later that same day
| he had startled them all by announc-
ing the loss of the lucky" stone.
Then one dreadful day Uncle Nate,
tremulous with anger, had stamped
into the kitchen and wrathfully de-
clared to Anne and Aunt Jane that
"Cyrus had stolen the lucky stone!"
| Thus matters stood when one May
| afternoon Anne walked slowly along
the dusty road, from a trip in town.
That her uncle would never consent
to her marrying Jerry, the nephew of
his 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-clad figure was hur-
rying 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 flung an arm, wearing two gold
service stripes, quickly about her.
"Glad to see me, little girl?" III
asked eagerly.
EYES," breathed Anne, "but-" She
turned away her eyes. How could
! she make him understand the hope
lessness of their love?
Jerry, seeing her unhappy face
! quickly OWNED it's meaning.
Don't worry about Uncle Nate
\ sweetheart" he said cheerily. 'I'n
going right now to beard the lion
So together they crossed the pas
ture to the field where Uncle Matt
was planting. Here Anne left Jerr!
9 to make his way alone to her uncle.
Anne was in the garden when Jerry
9 white and determined, strobe up t
! her. 'You were right, Anne" he sai'
= bitterly, ''abOut Uncle Nate"
. ooh, Jerry, told you SOL" faltere'
= Anne woman-like. "What did he say !?
"That no niece of his should MARI,
the nephew of thief"
8 Anne nodded. you see, it's as
= told you," she said. "Our only hope i
8 to find the lucky stone"
"Anne, I'll not give you up for
: dozen Uncle Mates. When will yo
> marry me?'
| "The day I'm twenty-one," sh
flashed, catching his spirit.
| ''But that's whole year away !!
Jerry looked disappointed.
II YES; but perhaps we'll find tn
stone before"
II After Jerry had gone, Anne returne
to the house. Despite her lovers a.
surfing words, she felt depressed.
II Presently soft footsteps sounded Out
side her door.
| "Anne, DEAR"
IL Anne's answef was sob. The
| quietly Aunt Jane opened the door an
came in. Tenderly she smoothed
silent sympathy Anne's silken hal
that had escaped from it's pins. Their
was no need of words between then
But after Anne had had her "cry
she felt better.
II Left alone, Anne proceeded to real
range her disordered locks. ,Findin
one of the pins missing, and thinkin
that perhaps it had slipped into tn
crevice in the back of the lounG
she ran her fingers into the openin
Something hard touched her han'
Drawing it forth, familiar red ston
met her astonished gaze.
1.-THE lucky stonel'' cried Anne /,
credulously; remembering suddenl
that this was the lounge upon Whic
her uncle had lain the day he ha
suffered from sunstroke, so long ag
The stone must have fallen from Ii
pocket then and lodged in the loung
where it had remained hidden all thes
years.