The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-04-22
MY UNCLE'S LEGACY

Charley Wiburn and are cousins
but, somehow, scarcely seemed to be
long to the family at all. We had N,
end of relations, and he was genera
favorite with all, even some he had not
seen, for they would die and leave him
legacies. He was constantly getting
some little "windfall'' of this kind till
at length ''Charley Wiburn's luck''
became general catchword among Us
"a synonym for all that was lucky and
fortunate.
One morning at hreakfast-we were
artists, and shared the same rooms and
studio-he received black edged let
ter, which, upon opening and reading,
he cast down with a discontented look.
another funeral to go to-" he
grumhled, land here are my pictures
unfinished, and next week Is sending
in-day."
"Who is it now ?'' / asked. "Anoth-
er legacy, suppose, eh?"
Every likely" he returned, indif-
ferently-he was so used 10 these things
he scarcely took any notice of them.
ats Uncle Alexander Stephen. Did
you know him?''
l shook my head. "Have heard of
him never saw him. / said.
81 hardly knew him myself" Char
ley explained-''a least, not since l
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 sent them
in, and have nothing to do for a spell
couldn't you go down for me?"
"What, in your name?" | exclaim-
ed.
"Yes; why not? It's years since /
was among any of the set. This letter
is from Mr.. Parchly, the solicitor to
the will, suppose he doesn't know
me. You are Jack Wiburn-it's only
a difference of Christian names and
it's all in the family, you know"
To cut the matter short, | had to
consent, as / generally did where Char
lev was concerned.
took the lawyers letter, as sort of
credential, and set out, grumbling a
good deal at what | considered Char
ley's ''cheek" i'm thus making use of
me. If had finished up my work be-
fore he had, it was only because | had
worked at it more constantly; and
now, instead of reaping the advantage
in the shape of few days rest, he
made il 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
know ~
So | had to go-with no legacy in
view at all, small or large.
The next day, therefore, saw me
among the assembled guests. / found
out Mr.. Parchly, and silently showed
him his own letter "Ah,u 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, found Charley
was down for 5000, 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
snow aud | felt cold and miserable.
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, / believer" / looked
around, and saw a stiff, military-look-
ing old boy regarding me with smile
through his spectacles. Charley"
said he, don't you remember mew l
thought to myself, "Oh, now I'm in
for it. Here's nice mess-all through
trying to serve Charley Just my bad
luck.n This feeling did not grow less
when he said: ''Mill wants to speak
to you. She has been looking at you,
and says she can hardly recognize you
for her old playfellow." (''No won
der" l thought. ''It would be strange
if she did, r')
She came up and shook hands and
the moment looked at her l simply
fell helplessiy over head and ears in
love then and there. She seemed to
me the loveliest, most adorable Great
ure had ever seen. A sudden resolve
came into my mind. Rather than run
the risk of losing the chance l now had
of speaking TO her, would say moth
ing about my not being Charley"
let the consequences be what they
might
Don't you remember your little
playmate, Milly?u said she, with
blush and an enhancing look of her
BEAUTIFUL eyes. "Well, it's not so sur
prising, for should never have known
you either, if Mr.. Parchiy had not
pointed you out to US"
Before l exactly realized what was
doing, was whisked otto Major Rain
n n <
Milly's father to he-to dine, calling at
the hotel for my evening ''togs" on the
way.
I found the Majors house neat,
quiet looking little place on the out
skirts of the town. He lived alone
with his daughter his wife being dead)
housekeeper and one servant.
Though everything was comfortable,