The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-04-22
not too well of as regards this worlds

goods.
Since | was not too well off, either
this would not have troubled me, bu
for that legacy of 5000 was suppos
ed to have come in for. "Was that tn,
secret cause of this sudden friendli
ness?" / asked myself But when
looked at Millie, and saw the frank
glance of her truthful, honest looking
eyes, / felt ashamed of myself; nor
when | 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 a scheming
old fortune hunter.
Such good friends did we three be.
come that / fingered on in the place
for week, during which time / daily
grew more uncomfortable at the part l
was playing. At last / sought out
Millie one day, alone, and confessed
the truth to her.
81 am not surprised" she said; 81
thought you were not much like the
Charley l used to know. But | am
sorry for you-sorry to think your
cousin should have got that e5,0OC
while you were not even so much "a
mentioned
"Ah ~ said, with sigh, "that is
Charley's luck-and mine. 1t is always
the same-always has been, and always
will be, l suppose"
] was thinking what dared not say
that, if that e5,Oo0 had but been
mine, could have asked her to be
mine, too; whereas now, with my
poor prospects-well, of course, it was
folly ever to dream of such a thing.
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
going to stay on down here for few
days but beyond brief note express
ing wonder at whatever attraction
could see there at that time of the year,
he had said nothing and written no
further; not word of thanks, or of
reference to his 5000 legacy.
Another week slipped by, aud still
stayed on. At the end of that time /
was in such state of mind that, one
day, finding myself alone with Millie,
blurted out my hopeless love for her,
and said should go away at once, for
| felt that could not possibly stay on
there any longer. Milly, always quiet
and self-possessed, remained silent a
while, and then said, looking down :
81 think you had better speak to
papa"
"What p / rapturously exclaimed,
''do you really bid me hope, Milly?
''Do you really think there is possi-
bility of your father''-I stopped and
shook my head. "Alas, no r' | said,
''such thing could not happen to me.
1t would 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 il out at once" l burst out.
And saw him accordingly, and told
him the whole story, humbly apologize
ing for daring to ask for his daughters
hand, when, as / was bound TO tell
him, was not Charley, but Jack Wi
burn, and had no 5000 legacy, and
no prospects in particular, and ''no
luck ~
Him." said the Major, chow is it
Master Charley comes in for all the
''luck in this way?"
az don't know, sir" / answered
dolefully. "He goes about more, and
makes himself more liked, | think,
while r'-I hesitated.
"While you stick at home and work.
Is that to" he said.
"Well," l returned, al try my best.
You see, have nothing else to rely on
or hope for-like Charley. It's his
luck-and mine -
However" said the Major" al
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 / couldn't
see its relevancy.
"Now, look here, Mr.. Jack Wiburn,"
the Major went on, 81 knew you were
not Charely Wiburn" l looked up i'm
surprise). "Milly told me and have
made certain inquiries of my own, and
l have something to tell you. The late
Alexander Stephen Wiburn was very
cid and intimate friend of mine, and
had long ago set his heart upon Milly's
marrying Charley" Here Jumped
up excitedly, but he waved his hand to
be quiet. "But he was determined
that if it came about at all, it should he
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
hear-it was mixed up i'm another mat
ter /; but it comes to this, that if Milly
married "his nephew" he and she
were TO have certain sum between
them TO commence housekeeping with.
/ have consulted Mr.. Parchly upon
this matter, as "Charley's name is not
expressly mentioned, and as he would
not take the trouble to come down him.
self, even to the funeral of his poor old
uncle, who had been so kindly disposed
to him, if Milly likes you well enough
to have you, you and she will be just
as much entitled to the sum set aside
as if Master Charley had married her;
and am sure shall not object to the
substitution. In the will the only con-
dition is that Milly shall marry "his
nephew and of course you are as
much his nephew rs Charley is
Therefore, 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 this unexpected news, or the
heartiness with. which | thanked the
kind-hearted Major.
"I'll go off and tell Milly at once, 4"
| said but ! had not gone far when he
called me back.