Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-31
7he Daily NooeleHe
Molly's Luck
Rv Harriet Brunkhurst

saw that dccrcpit old rocker among hut
tctnre household possessions and was
.nolocetically informed by her oon-to-
- husband that they'd have to keep 1t.
"With everything else 50 wonderful
\ ought not 10 make fuss over lit
.,c thing like that" said Molly, cheer.
fully.
"You are some girl said John.
heartily. giving rucful look at the old
rocker.
"The fairies look after me every
~Inutc," declared Molly. "Of course.
~ don't count you as luck--you just
hsppened. But this absolutely perfect
bungalow vacated Just when we need
@ in a town where they isn't house
20 rent Oh any terms: g..
"rhen. with furniture so expensive
that I couldn't see any way out, your
f.tbcr sends along oil this lovely old
mahogany, oak and walnut. We are
lucky" .,ou ;, chi, ,o,, 81,
n,oht by rights to be chopped into
I;ndling wood. don't know why dad
sayed It. except that he always liked
IN sit in it on the back porch
"Then to the back porch it goes,
void Molly. stanchly.
John rushed away then. but Molly
saved 70 plan tho arrangement Of hcr
newly uncrated household treasures.
Tirsf she took the old rocker to the
hack porch. Since she was alone she
Permitted an expression of di@may to
ssroue, Against the spic .and-span
porch the old cilail. with - grimy.
crocklcd varnish and broken cane, was
certainly grotesque. .y,
my ncighbors won t like looking at
H." sighed Molly. ''If only could keep
4 inside and cover it with chintz--but
john said the back porch. night
naint it white" she added.
CHANGING up she glimpscd Il pink. clad
Arurc upon n nCighbOrng porch.
~ .hoo-o." she called gayly. Come
bn over
Mrs. Startling. crisply dainty in her
house frock. smiingly accepted the in
vttation. -.
:.pla'G%ss :.Es' %sa.n!t Mo'it is;" LOOKS like MIS-
"I've always loved those high. backed
rockers said Mrs Startling. ours at
home was most comfortable. Ours did
not have carved back" she added
Shouphtfulk, IT wonder" She tip
ped the old chair over and looked at
the unfinished wood beneath.
II thought so!' she cried trium-
phantly. "Solid mahogany
"Ard it is ruined mourned Molly.
"Wait a minute said Mrs. Star
jing, running back to her own house
and reappcarng presently with Il bot
tle and handful Of clean rags. 'Dc.
natured alcohol. Watch me make a
mogc.'
She dampened rag with the fuid
then rubbed lightly a small portion
Of the grayish. cracked surface of the
chair.
"i.ook.': she exclaimed
4 spot an inch wide and two inches
long showed the clean bare wood. the
reddish brown Of unfinished n.ahog-
any. "It is up to us she said cheer
fully. "Stay for luncheon with me and
we'll reclaim this old aristocrat.
1t was sticky. messy task, and
Il was late afternoon before the chair
stood revealed. pure mahogany in its
every stick.
"Now it needs only a retinisil:ns coat
of varnsh or wax said Mrs. Star.
good job
\ "Wax." said Molly. eve had
enough varnish to last tho rest of my
II llfe:'
still" Mrs. Starting spoke thought
fully, ''only the varnish sated it from
ruin through exposure on tho back
porch. So there you arc. And II will
take an hour to restore our hands -
"Its very lines seem more graceful,
loarveled Molly.
Naturally. 1t had a clowns make =
up; it couldn't look like itself.
Molly nodded assent.
"On Chestnut street there is 4 blind
man who canes chairs" she said 'I'l'
send it over there this afternoon and
surprise john.'
Despite the hour spent upon their
hands. John noticed that MoIiy's were
not quite as usual that evening.
"What have you been doing with
your hands?' he demanded.
"Oh, splitting kindling wood!' said
Molly evasivcly.
That is my job said John. Don J.,
do it again. Shall we stroll over to the
bungalow
Not this evening. am too tired,
said Molly truthfully.
When they went to their prospective
home for their next inspection Molly
was relieved that John did not rcmark
npon the absence Of the chair.
where's your kindling wood:'' he
asked.
"Kindl!ng wood?" repeated Molly
vaguely, as she pulled open drawer
In the secretary. Then cxcitcdly, "Oh
John, look :"
In her excitement over an exquisite
tnlaid box she failed to notice Il shadow
upon Johns face, and he had cleared
Il quite away when he asked:
You like the things, don't you:'
Il adore them" cried Molly. Even
tho There she checked herself
without bctrayng her secret.
Johns father came for the wedding
and was proudly escorted to the bun
galow, now ready and waiting for its
occupants.
Such wedding Gift 80 said Molly
softly, indicating the fine old furni
turc in the pleasant rooms.
Glad you like it," said the elder
man heartily. "Lots of young folks
wouldn't thank you for unloading OLD
stuff on them.
Then with an exclamat ion Of sur
prise he strobe to the sun porch, where
stood the shining mahogany rocker.
,'Wcll.' he exploded. 81 shonl,
mink something had happened to my
old chair. If that isn't q miracle -
,John stared. speechcss, while
Molly smiled happily
u thought you wouldn't mind keep
ing 1t in the background somewhere,
Iohns father said. ''lor you see it wa'
The first thing this lads mother ant
bought for ou: housc--lhe very first
Mind il sit in it:"