Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1896-05-18


OF the town. He lived alone with his
daughter CHS wife being dead),
housekeeper and one servant Though
everything was comfortable, there
was that indescribable air that gave
one the impression that they were
not too well off as regards this worlds
goods.
Since | was not too we'll off, either,
this would not have troubled me, but
for that legacy of $1,000 I was sup
posed to have come in for. "Was that
the secret cause of their friendliness?''
asked myself. But when I looked
at Mllly, and saw the frank glance of
her truthful. honest looking eyes, I
felt ashamed of myself; nor, when I
regarded the major, and noted the
open, manly look, the fine old soldier
gave back to me, could bring myself
to think of him as a scheming old
fortune hunter.
Such good friends did we three be-
come that fingered on in the place
for week, during which time I daily
grew more uncomfortable at the part
was playing. At last I sought out
Milly one day, alone, and confessed
the truth to her.
81 am not surprised" she said; ct
thought you were not much like the
Charley | used to know. But [ am
sorry for you, sorry to think your
cousin should have got that 5000,
/ xr,I,i
mentioned.''
"Ah!" I said with a sigh, s'that is
Charles luck-and mine. It is always
the same-always has been, and al
ways will be, suppose"
1 was thinking what dared not say
that, if that 700 had been mine,
could have asked her to be mine, too;
whereas now, with my poor prospects
well, of course it was folly even to
dream of such thing.
watched her narrowly after that,
but could see no difference in her
treatment of me.
I had written to Charley, telling
him of his good fortune, and that I
was going to stay on down here for
few days; but beyond a brief note ex-
pressing wonder at whatever attrac-
ton I could see there at that time of
the year, he had said nothing and
written no further; not a word of
| thanks, or of reference to his 600
legacy.
Another week slipped by and 1 still
| ofo 90 1,o%
was in such a state of mind that, one
day, finding myself alone with Milly,
[ blurted out my hopeless love for her
and said l should go away at once, for
felt thatI could not possibly stay
on there any longer. Milly, always
quiet and self possessed, remained
silent while, and then said, looking
down:
81 think you had better speak to
papa
what" I rapturously exclaimed,
''do you really bid me hope, Milly? Do
you really think there is possibility
of your father"-I stopped and shook
my head. ''Alas, mol" said, "Such
thing could not happen to nae. It
would be Charles luck, that not
mine.'
'Well," said Milly composedly,
"they say you never know your luck
till you try; but if you are too faint
hearted to try, why, of course''-
"I'l go off and find the Major and
have it out at once,'' burst out.
And I saw him accordingly, and
told him the whole story, humbly ap-
ologizing for daring to ask for his
daughters hand, when, as I was
bound to tell him, was not Charley,
but Jack Wiburn, and I had no $4,000
legacy, and no prospects in particular,
and no luck!"
'H'm," said the Major, chow is it
Master Charley comes in for all the
'luck' in this way?"
81 don't know, SIR" I answered
dolefully "He goes about more, and
makes himself more liked, [ think,
while I''-. I hesitated.
eWhile you stick at home and work
Is that it?'' he said.
"Well," returned, IT try my best.
You see I have nothing else to rely on
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 I made no reply; I couldn't
see it's relevancy.
CHOW look here, Mr.. Jack Wiburn,"
the Major went on, 81 knew you were