Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1896-05-18
Charley Wiburn's Luck.

Charley Wiburn and I are cousins;
belong to the family at all. We had
no end of relations, and he was
general favorite with all, even some
he had never seen, for they would die
and leave him legacies. He was con-
stantly getting some little "windfalI'
of this kind, till at length "Charley
Wilburn's luck" became a general
catchword among us-a synonym for
all that was lucky and fortunate.
One morning at breakfast were
artists, and shared the same rooms
and studio-he received black edged
letter, which, upon opening and read
ing, he cast down with a discontinued
look.
"Another funeral to go to,o he
grumbled, "and here are my pictures
unfinished, and next week is sending
in day!"
''Who is it now?' I asked. can
other legacy, suppose, eh?''
every likely" he returned, indif-
ferently-he was so used to these
things he scarcely took any notice of
them now. "It's Uncle Alexander
Stephen. Did you know him?"
L shook my head. "Have you ever
heard of him; never saw him." said.
81 hardly knew him myself" Char
ley explained least not since 1
was boy. It's a rare bother, this,
coming just now. Such long Jour-
ney into the country. Say, Jack, you
have done your pictures and have
sent them in, and have nothing to do
for spell-couldn't you go down for
me?''
"What, in your name?" I exclaim-
ed.
eyes; why not? It's years since
I was among any of the set. This let
ter is from Mr.. Parchly, the solicit
tor to the will, I suppose; he doesn't
know me. You are Jack Wiburn it's
only a difference of Christian name;
and it's all in the family, you know"
To cut the matter short, [ had to
Charley was concerned.
1 took the lawyers letter, as a sort
of credential and set out, grumbling
a good deal at what considered Char
ley's ''cheek'' in thus making use of
me. If L had finished up my work be-
fore he had, it was only because I had
worked at it more constantly; and
now, instead of reading the advantage
in the shape Of a few days. rest, he
made it an excuse for sending me off
on lugubrious mission like this; and
Charley would no doubt, have good
legacy, too, out of it.
81 don't suppose it's much," he said
to me. "Perhaps hundred or two
hardly worth going down for, you
knowI"
So / had to go-with no legacy in
view at all, small or large!
However, as I have said, L set out
for the place, it was in Devonshire,
and in due course I arrived at the
the night. The funeral was fixed
for the following day, and on inquiry
1 learned that the house I had to go
to was only short distance away.
The next day, therefore, saw me
among the assembled guests. I found
out Mr.. Parchly, and silently showed
him his own letter. sAh," said he
''you are Mr.. Wiburn. Very good.
Glad to see you.'' I did not reply, SO
he concluded that was Charley Wi
burn, without my having said any
thing one way or the other.
But, when, after the funeral, the
will came to be read, I found Charley
was down for 5,O00I This made me
think it harder lines than ever that l
should have had to come down in his
place. The weather was atrociously
cold; the March winds strong and
clustering, with showers of sleet and
At the end of the reading of the will
was making my way out to get back
to the hotel, when some one said:
"Mr. Wiburn, I believer" I looked
around, and saw stiff, military look
ing old boy regarding me with a smile
through his spectacles. "Charley,"
said he, "don't you remember me?''
thought to myself, ooh, now Pm il
for it. Here's a nice mess all through
trying to serve Charley. Just my bad
luck" This feeling did not grow less
when he said: 'tMilly wants to speak
to you, and says she can hardly re-
cognize you for her old playfellow."
(''No WONDER" I thought. cit would
be strange if she did!'
She came up and shook hands; and