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

S\D at nll. We had no
Nv end of relations, and
favorito with all, even some he had
never seen, for they would die and
leave him legacies. He was constant.
ly getting some little "windfall" of
this kind, till at length Charley
Wiburn's luck" became general
catchword among us-a syponyme for
all that was lucky and fortunate.
One morning at breakfast-w we're
artists, and shared the same rooms
and studiq-he received black edged
letter, which, upon opening and read.
ing, he cast down with u discontented
look.
Another funeral to 20 to-" he
grun bled, "and hero are my pictures
unfinished, and next week is sending.
in.day I"
"Who is it now?" l asked. can.
other legacy, suppose, eh?"
Very likely" he returned, indif.
ferently--he vOs so used to these
things he scarcely took any notice of
them. "It's Uncle Alexander Stephen.
Did you know him2"
l shook my head. "Have heard OF
him never saw him." l said.
al hardly knew him myself" Char
ley explaiued-"at least, not since /
was boy. It's a rare bother. this,
coming just now. Such long Jour
Eey into the country. 1 say, Jack,
you have done your pictures aud sent
them in. and have nothi"o 10 do for a
sne'l--"ccl.a2i't 20. - .. fc: me-"
What, in your name?" j ex-
claimed.
eyes; why not? It's years since /
was among any of the set. This letter
is from Mr.. Parchly, the solicitor to
the will, / suppose; he doesn't know
me. You are Jack Wiburn--it's only
difference of Christian names; and
its all in the family, you know"
To cut the matter short, | had to
consent. as l generally did where
Charley was concerned.
took the lawyers letter, as sort
Of credential, and set out, grumblinc
good deal at what | considered Char.
ley's "cheek" IN thus making use of
me. If | had finished up my work
before no had, it was only because ]
had worked at it more constantly and
now, instead Of reaping the advantage
IN the shape of few days rest, he
made it an excuse for sending me off
on lugubrious mission like this; and
Charley would, no doubt, have a good
leSlcy, too, out of it.
81 don't suppose it's much" he said
to me. perhaps hundred or two
hardly worth going down for, you
know!"
So l had to go-with no legacy in
view at all, small or large.
However, as | have said, I set out
for the place-it was in Devonshire-
and in due course arrived Mt the little
town, and put up at q hotel for the
night. The funeral was fixed fer the
following day, and on inquiry
learned that the house l had to go to
was only n short distance away.
The next day, therefore, saw me
among the assembled guests. found
out Mr.. Parchly, aud silently showed
him his own letter. "Ah," said he,
''you are Mr.. Wiburn. Very good.
Glad to see you" did not reply, so
he concluded that l was Charley Wi
burn, without my having said any
thing one way or the other.
But, when, after the funeral, the
will came to be read, found Charley
was down for $4,000! This 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 making my way out to get back
to the hotel, when some one said
"Mr. Wiburn, believer" l looked
around, and saw a stiff, miIitary-loo
ing old boy regarding me WI IA smile
through his spectacles. Charley"
said he, don't you remember me?"
l thought to myself, "Oh, now I'm in
for it. Here's nice mess all through
trying to serve Charley. Just my bad
luck" This feeling did not grow less
when he said: "AIilly wants to speak
to you. She has been looking at you,
and says she can hardly recognize you
for her old playfellow." C"No won
der" 1 thought. 1T would J.
strange if she dIdpO
She came up and shook han DIS anu
the moment looked at her 1 simply
fell helplessly over head and ears in.