The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-03-12


ley" let the consequence be what
they might.
Don't you remember your little
playmate, Milly?" said she. with
blush and an enhancing look of her
beautiful eyes. "Well, it's not so
surprising, for should never have
known you, either, il Mr.. Parchly had
not pointed you out to u.s."
Before / exactly realized what / was
doing. i was whisked of TO Major
Rainfield's house--as / found the
name of Milly's father to be-to dine,
calling at the hotel for my evening
''togs" on the way.
l found the Majors house neat,
quiet looking little place, on the out
skirts Of the town. He lived alone
with his daughter This wife being dead),
q housekeeper and. one servant.
Though everything was comfortable,
there was that indescribable air that
gave one the impression that they
we're not too we'll of as regards this
worlds goods.
Since was not too well of, either,
this would not have troubled me. but
for that legacy of $4,000 I was sup.
posed to have come In for. "Was that
the secret cause of this sudden friend.
Iiness?" ] asked myself But when
| looked at Milly, and saw the frank
glance of her truthful. honest looking
eyes, l felt ashamed of myself; nor,
when i regarded the Major, and noted
the open, manly look the fine old sol.
dier gave back to me, could / bring
myself to think of him as q scheming
old fortune hunter.
Such good friends did We three be-
come that l fingered on in the place
for week, during which time l daily
grew more uncomfortable Mt the part
l was playing. At last / sought out
Milly one day, alone, and confessed
the truth to her.
al am not surprised" she said; al
thought YOU were not much like the
Charley used to know. But / am
sorry for Tou-sorry to think your
cousin should have got that $4,000,
while you we're not even 80 much men
toned"
"Ahl" I said. with n sigh, "that is
Charley's luck-and mine. 1t is always
the samo-always has been, and always
will be, | suppose"
j was thinking what | dared not say
that. if that $4,000 had but 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.
l had writer to Charley. telling him
of his good fortune, and that was
going TO stay on down here for a few
days but beyond brief nole express
ing wonder at whatever attraction l
could see there ut that time of the year,
he had said nothing and written no
further. not . wctG. ct tLenks or of
reference to his $4,000 legacy.
Another week slipped by. and I still
stayed on. AT the end of that time
was in such state of mind that, one
day, finding myself alone with Mill,
l blurted ont my hopeless love for her,
and said should go away at once, for
1 felt that | could not possibly stay on
there any longer. Milly, always quiet
aud self-possesscd, remained silent Il
while, and then sail, looking down !:
al think you had better speak to
papa"
"Whatw l rapturously exclaimed,
edo you really bid me hope, Mllly2
"Do you really think there is II posssi-
bility of your father"-I stopped aud
shook my head. "Alas, no - | said,
"such a thing could not happen to
me. 1t would be Charley's luck. that
not mine"
"Well," said Milly. conposedly,
"they say you never know your luck
till You try; but ii you are too faint
hearted to try, why, of course"
'I'll go oil and find the Major, and
have it out at once" burst out
And l saw him accordingly, and told
him the whole story, humbly apologize
ing for daring to ask for his daugh-
tors hand, when, as | was bound to
tell him, was not Charley, but Jack
Wiburn, and had no $4,000 legacy,
and no prospects in particular, and
"no luck !"
"H'm," said tho Major, chow is it
Master Charley comes in for all the
"luck in this way?"
al don't know, sir" l answered
dolefully. "He goes about more, and
makes himself more liked, | think,
while l'-I hesitated.
while you stick at home and work.
Is that it?" he said.
"Well," l returned, 81 try my best.
You see have nothing else to rely
on-or hope for-liko Charley. It's
his luck-and minel"
However" said the Major" ~
have been told you get your pictures
hung, and sell them, which is more
than he does. Is that luck, too?"
To this l made No reply; conldn't
see its relevancy.
"Now, look here, MIR. Jack Wiburn,"
the Major went on, 81 knew you were
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