Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-04-09

week, during which time grew daily
more uncomfortable at the part was
playing. AT last l sought out Milly
one day, alone, and confessed the truth
to her.
Il am not surprised" she said; Il
thought you were not much like the
Charley l used to know. But l am
sorry for you-sorry to think your
cousin should have got that $4,000,
while you were not even so much as
mentioned
"Ah!" / said, with q sigh, "that is
Charley's luck-and mine. It is al
ways the same-always has been, and
always will be, l suppose"
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 pros
pects--well, of course, it was folly even
to dream Of such thing.
l 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 SO.
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 word of thanks or of reference to
his 4 5000 legacy.
Another week slipped by, and still
stayed on. At the end Of that time j
was in such state of mind that, one
day, fint.ng myself alone with Milly, l
blurted out my hopeless love for her,
and said should go away at once, for l
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 -apturously exclaimed;
do you really bid me hope, Miny? Do
you really think there is |; possibility
of your father" stopped and shook
my head. ALIAS, mol" l said, "such q
thing could not happen to me. Itwould
be Charley's 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'll go off and find the major and
have it out at once" burst out.
And saw him accordingly, and told
him the whole story, humbling apollo
giving for daring to ask .ur HIS dausll
ter's hand, when, as was bound to tell
him, l was not Charley. but Jack WI
burn, and had no 6 500 legacy, and
no prospects in particular. and mo
luck"
HIM." said the majoy. "how is it
Master Charley comes in for all the
luck in this way?"
II don't know, SIR" answered, dole
fully. 'He goes about more and makes
himself more liked, think, while -"
l hesitated.
Is that it?'' he asked.
WELL" returned, II 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 me- jor, II have
been told you get your pictures hung.
and sell them. which is more than he
does. Is that luck, tooY
To this I made no reply. could not
| see it's relevancy.
"Now, look here, Jack Wiburn," the
| major went on. II knew you were not
Charley Wiburn."U looked up in sur
prise.) "Milly told me; and I 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 jumped up ex-
| citedly, 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 q certain sum
between them to begin housekeeping.
l 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
the funeral of his poor old uncle, who
had been SO kindly disposed to him, it
Milly likes you well enough to have you,
you and she will be just as much en-
titled to the sum set aside as il Master
Charley had married her, and I am
sure l 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 l leave it with
Milly; il 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 / thanked the
kind-hearted major.
"Tll 60 off and tell Milly at once"
said; but had not gone far when he
called me back.