Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-04-09
CHARLEY WIBURN's LUCK.

Charley Wiburn and I are cousins.
but, somehow, / scarcely seem 70 be-
long 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 constantly get
ting some little "windfal" OF this
bind. till at length Charley Wiburn's
luck" became general catchword
among us--a synonym for all that was
lucky and fortunate.
One morning at breakfast--wc were
artists and shared the same rooms and
studio-he received black-edged let
ter, which, upon opening and reading.
he cast down with discontinued look"
another funeral to go to-" he grum-
bled, land here are my pictures unfin.
ished and next week is sending-;u day!'
"Who is it now?' 1 asked. another
legacy, l suppose, eh?"
Every likely" he returned, indiffer-
cntly-he was so used to these things
he scarcely took any notice of them now.
Its Uncle Alexander Stephen. Did you
know him?"
l shook my head. "Have heard of
him; never saw him." said.
II hardly knew him myself" Charley
explained-''at least, not since / was
boy. It's a rare bother, this, coming
just now. Such long journey into the
country. 1 say, Jack, you have done
your pictures and sent them in and have
nothing to do for a spell-couldE't you
go down for me?"
what, in your name ?" l exclaimed.
YES, why not? It's years since l
was among any of the set. This letter
is from Mr.. Parchly, the solicitor to
the will, l suppose; he doesn't know me.
You are Jack Wiburn-it's only differ.
cnce of Christian name, and it's all
in the family, you know"
To cut the matter short, had to
consent-as l generally did where
Charley was concerned.
l took the lawyers letter, az sort
of credential, and set out, gru1nbling y
good deal at what l considered Charley's
''cheek" in thus making use of me. If
! had finished up my work before he
had it was only because had worked
at it more constantly, and now, instead
of reaping the advantage in the shape
of a few days rest, he made it an ex-
cuse for sending me off on lug brious
mission like this; and Charley would,
no doubt, have u good legacy, too, out
Of it.
Il don't suppose it's much," he said
tn h,,n <0ayo
hardly worth going down for. you
know"
So 1 had to go-with no legacy in
view Mt all, small or large:
However, as have said, set out for
the place-it was Devonshire--:.nd in
due course / arrived at the little town,
and put up at hotel for the night.
The funeral was fixed for the following
day. and on inquiry learned that the
house had to go to was only a short
| distance away.
The next day, therefore, saw me
| among the assembled guests. found
out Mr.. Parchly and silently showed
him his own letter. "Ah," said he,
lyon are Mr.. Wiburn. Very good.
Glad to see you.'' ! did not reply, so
he concluded that l was Charley Wi
burn, without having said anything
one way or the other.
But, when, after the funeral, the will
came to be read, found Charley was
| down for $1,000. That made me think
| it harder lines than ever that 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, and /
felt cold and miserable. At the end
Of the reading of the will l was max
| ing my way out to get back to the hotel,
when some one said: "Mr. Wilburn,
believer" l looked around and saw
Il stiff, military-looking old boy re-
garding me with smile through his
spectacles. Charley" said he, don't
you remember me?" I thought to my
self: "Oh, now I'm in 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 !:
"Milly wants to speak to you. She
has been looking at you, and says she
can hardly recognize you for her old
playfellow." ("No wonder" thought
ut would be strange if she did,
She came up and shook hands, and
the moment looked at her simply fell
helpless over head and ears in love
then and there. She seemed to be the
loveliest, most adorable creature
had ever seen. A sudden resolve came
| into my mind. Rather than run the
risk of losing the chance now had OF
| speaking to her would say nothing
about my not being Charley" let the
consequences be what they might.
Don't you remember your little
playmate, Milly?" said she, with a
blush and an enhancing look of her
beautiful eyes. well, it's not so sur
prising, for l should never have known
you, either, if Mr.. Parchly had not
pointed you out to me-"
| Before exactly realized what was
doing was whisked of to Mai. Rain.
fields house-as l found the name OF
Milly's father to be-to dine, calling al
the hotel for my evening "togs" on the
way.