Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1896-06-11

| lluIilbT.y
Such good friends did we three become
! that fingered on in the place for week,
during which time daily grew moro un-
comfortable at the part l was playing At
last sought out Milly one day alone and
confessed the truth to her.
Il am not surprised" she said. "I
| thought you were not much like the
Charley l used to know. But I am sorry
| for you-sorry to think that your cousin
should have got that $4,000 while you
were not even so much as mentioned
"Ah" l said, with sigh ''that is
] Charley's luck-and mine 1t is always
the same-always has been and always
will be, | suppose"
| was thinking what l dared not say
that If that $4,000 had but been mine 1
would have asked her to be mine, too,
whereas now, with my poor prospects,
well, of COURSE it was folly even to dream
of such a thing.
watched her narrowly after that, but
could see no difference in her treatment of
me.
had written to Charley, telling him of
his good fortune, and was going to stay
on down hero for a few days, but beyond a
brief note expressing wonder at whatever
attraction could see there at that time
of the year he had said nothing and writ
ten no further, not word of thanks or
of reference to his $4,000 legacy.
Another week went by, and l still staid
on. At the end of that time l was in such
state of mind that one day, finding my
self alone with Milly, blurtod out my
hopeless love for her and said should go
away at once, for felt that l could not
| possibly stay on there any longer. Milly,
| always quiet and self possessed, remained
| silent awhile and then said, looking down:
II think you had better speak to papa"
"What!' l rapturously exclaimed. "Do
you really bid me hope, Milly? Do you
really think there is a possibility of your
father stopped and shook my head.
"Alas, mol" said. "Such a thing could
not happen to me. 1t would be Charloy's
luck, that-not mine.'
"Well," said Mily composedly, "they
say you never know your luck till you try,
but If you are too faint hearted to try, why,
of course
"Ill go off and find the major and have
it out at once blurted out
And l saw him accordingly and told
him the whole story, humbly apologizing
for daring to ask for his daughters hand
when as was bound to tell him, was
not Charley, but Jack Wiburn, and had
no 95, 900 legacy and no prospects in par
ticular and mo luck''
"H'm,' said the major. "How is it
Master Charley comes in for all the luck
in this way?"
II don't know, sir" answered dole
fully. "He goes about more and makes
himself more liked, l think, while p 1
hesitated.
"While you stick at homo and work. Is
that its" he said.
You see, | have nothing else to rely OH
or hope for-like Charley. It's his luck
and mine!'
However," said the major, "I have
been told you get your pictures hung and
sell them, which is more than he does. Is
that luck too?"
To this made no reply. Icouldnt see
its relevancy.
"Now, look here, Mr.. Jack Wiburn,'
the major went on. II knew you were
not Charley Wiburn.' looked up in sur
prise "Milly told me, and l have made
certain inquiries of my own, and l have
something to tell you. The late Alexan-
der Stephen Wiburn was very old and
intimate friend of mine and had long ago
set his heart upon Milly's marrying
Charley" Here jumped up excitedly,
but he waved his hand to me as sign to
be quiet. But he was determined that if it
came about at all it should be spontane-
nd of oh tcip on
unworthy motive But in that will you
heard read the other day there was some
thing you did not hear. 1t was mixed up
in another matter, but it comes to this
that if Milly marry his nephew he and
she were to have certain sum between
them to commence housekeeping with. 1
have consulted Mr.. Parchly upon this
matter, and he agrees with me that, as
Charley's name is not expressly mention
ed and as he would not take the trouble
to come down himself, even to the funeral
of his poor uncle, who had been so kindly
disposed to him, If Milly likes you well
enough to have you, she will be just as
much entitled to the sum set aside as if
Master Charley had married her, and am
sure that shall not object to the substitu-
tion. In the will tho only condition is
that Milly shall marry his nephew, and
of course you are as much his nephew as
Charley is. Therefore leave it with Mil
ly; if she says Yes, say the same, and
you will both have something to set up
housekeeping with"
No need to tell the joy with which I
heard this unexpected news or the hearth
ness with which thanked the kind heart
ed major.
"I'll go off and tell Milly at once"
said but had not gone far when he call
ed me back.
"You don't ask how much you will
have to start the housekeeping upon," he
said
"What matter, sir, since you think it
enough?" answered
Him, but you may as we'll know. You
may not think it enough"
"How much Is it, them" 1 asked.
Fifty thousand pounds" said the ma
jor.
And this is what Charley lost and
gained by that journey-Milly (worth
more than ally and $4,000
And now Charley won't speak to me or
my wife-for Milly and are married.
and he says l meanly took advantage of
him, but I say, as 1 used to say before, it
is all his luck-and dmine.-Gentlewom
Persimmon and Medlar.
"To pucker ones lips as by persim-
AL