The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-04-03

always will be, L suppose"
was thinking what dared not say
that, if that e 5000 had but been
mine, could have asked her to be mine,
too; whereas, now, with my poor pros
pects-well, of course, it was folly even
to dream of such a thing.
1 watched her narrowly after that.
but could see no difference in her treat
ment of me.
had written to Charley, telling him
of his good fortune. and that was GO
ing to stay on down here for few days;
but beyond brief note expressing won
der at whatever attraction l 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 & 5000 legacy.
Another week slipped by, and still
stayed on. At the end of that time ]
was in such a state of mind that, one
day, finding myself alone with Milly, L
blurted out my hopeless love for her,
and said 1 should go away AT once, for
felt that could not possibly stay on
there any longer. Milly, always quiet
and self-possessed, remained silent
awhile, and then said, looking down:
Il think you had better speak to
papa
What" l rapturously exclaimed;
'do you really bid me hope, Milly? Do
you really think there is I. possibility
of your father" l stopped and shook
my head. "Alas, mol" L said, ''such a
thing could not happen to me. Itwould
be Charley's luck, that-not NINE"
"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'll go off and find the major and
have it out at once,' burst out.
And 1 saw him accordingly, and told
him the whole story, humbling apollo
giving for daring to ask Tor his daugh-
ter's hand, when, as | was bound to tell
him, l was not Charley, but Jack Wi
burn, and | had no 6 5000 legacy, and
no prospects in particular, and mo
luck!"
Him." said the major. chow is it
Master Charley comes in for all the
luck in this way?"
81 don't know, SIR" answered, dole
fully. "He goes about more and makes
himself more liked, think, while -
/ hesitated.
"While you stick at home and work.
Is that it?" he asked.
"Well," | returned, 81 try my best.
You see, 1 have nothing else to rely on,
or hope for-like Charley. It's his luck
and mine!"
However," said the major, 81 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. L could not
see its relevancy.
"Now, look here, Jack Wiburn," the
major went on. az knew you were not
Charley Wiburn."Q looked up in sur
prise.) "Milly told me; and have made
certain inquiries of my own, and have
something to tell you. The late Alex
ander Stephen Wiburn was very old
and intimate friend of mine, and had
long ago set his heart upon Milly's mar,
rying Charley" (here L jumped up eX-
citedlv, but he waved his hand to me, as
a sign to be quiet). But he was de-,
termined that, if it came about at all,
it should be spontaneous, and not
through any compulsion or unworthy
motive. But in that will you heard
read the other day there was something
you did not heart was mixed up in
another matter; but it comes to this:
That if Milly married his nephew he
and she were to have a certain sum
between them to begin housekeeping.
1 have consulted Mr.. Parchly upon this
matter, and he agrees with me that, as
Charley's name is not expressly men,
toned, and as he would not take the
trouble to come down himself, even to
had been so kindly disposed to him, if
Milly likes you well enough to have you,
you and she will be just as much en-
titled to the sum set aside as if Master
Charley had married her, and I am
sure I shall not object to the situation.
In the will the only condition is that
Milly shall marry his nephew and, of
course, you are as much his nephew as
Charley is. Therefore 1 leave it with
Milly; 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 |
heard the unexpected news, or the
heartiness with which l thanked the
kind-hearted major.
"I'll go off and tell Milly at once" I
said; but had not gone far when he
called me back.
"You don't ask how much you will
have to start housekeeping upon," he
said.
what matter, sir, since you think
it enough ?" answered.
HIN; but you may as well know.
You might not think it enough"
"How much is it, then p l asked.
Fifty thousand pounds" said the
major.
And this is what Charley lost and I
gained by that journey-Milly (worth
more than alD and G $4,000
And now Charley won't speak to me
or to my wife-for Milly and l are mar,
ireland he says | merely took &C
vantage of him; but say, as used to
say before. it is all his luck-and mine.
-Gentlewoman.