OCR Text |
Show III . .g;)Gri'Ci0j7 o? ti)l&:ir ' ' r ' -1 . ' ADAM HOLCOMB'S WILL. ' 1 1 , - .,,. . I ' I them.' But theiVwas a- modest little home that was made glad by the .news of Alfred food fortune, and in his hasds the mooey has brought a blessing bless-ing with It, for It has been made a fountain foun-tain of pool deeda and charitable ' Influences. In-fluences. j . ' ' (Continued from Saturday.) "Am to that. I have no Idea. There is no question that we ought to be joint heirs." "True," returned James. "That would give us an eighth of a million apiece. That would satisfy rne." ' How about Alfred's chances?" queried que-ried the lawyer, glancing toward that part of the office where the young man was quietly seated. ' - "Oh, he'll get nothing said the merchant, mer-chant, contemptuously. "He belongs to a beggarly stock, and a beggar he'll remain to the end of his days. . Going to be a doctor, I hear." "Well, I wish hlra Joy of his profession, profes-sion, If he ever gets In It. which is somewhat doubtful. He wanted to borrow bor-row $300 of ma the other day." ' "And of me... Did , you let- him have itr v. "Not I. I've enough to do with my money without giving it away. Of course he'd- never have repaid It." "No, I suppose not., The coolness of some people is refreshing." "Well, I take It for granted old Adam was much too shrewd to lavish any of his money on such a fellow." t "Trust him for that." ' The young man was engaged In reading read-ing a volume he had taken up; and did not hear this conversation. It was Interrupted In-terrupted by the entrance of Squire Brief. Both the merchant and lawyer greeted him with deference and cordiality, cor-diality, as a man whose words. might bring them prosperity or disappointment. disappoint-ment. Alfred Graves rose in a quiet, gentlemanly manner ' and , bowed m-ith the courtesy which was habitual to him. "Gentlemen,' the squiresaid, "I hold In my hand the will of your late relative. rela-tive. I will at once proceed to read lt.M Of course his. words commanded Instant In-stant attention. , All bent, forward to listen. . . After the usual formula, came the following fol-lowing item: "I give and bequeath to my nephew, James Holcomb. the sum of 15000, to be held In trust for his children. "To my neshew. Henry Holcomb. I likewise give the sum of $5000, to be held in trust for his children, to whose sole use the income shall annually be applied." . ' . "To my only remaining nephew. Alfred Al-fred Graves. I give the sum of $2000, to be appropriated to his own use as he may see fit. "I set aside the sum of $200,000 to establish es-tablish a public library . In mr native city, one-quarter to be appropriated to the erection of a suitable building, and the remainder to constitute a fund of which the Income only shall be employed em-ployed for the purchase of books." Here the notary made a pause. The merchant and lawyer sit with looks of blank disappointment and anger which "He had ho right to jdefraud his- relatives rel-atives In this way," muttered James. "It is a miserable imposition." said Henry Holcomb, "to put us off with a niggardly $5000." "For my part, I am quite satisfied." said the young man. "I have received more 'than I expected.,v - - - "Oh, yes. It will be a great thing for a beggar like you' raid James, sarcastically. sarcas-tically. . - . i "I am not a beggar," returned the young man, proudly. . "Gentlemen," said the notary. "I have not finished reading the will. "My faithful old dog, Scipio. who is now somewhat infirm. I trust one of my nephews will be willing . to take home, and treat Indulgently for the sake of the master to whom he was attached.' at-tached.' " ' "That's cool," ejaculated James. "As for me, I don't choose to be bothered with the dog." "But." said the notary, "Since your uncle has given you a legacy, are you not willing to Incur this slight care and expense?" "I must absolutely refuse. Mrs. Holcomb Hol-comb does not like dogs, nor I. Moreover, More-over, my uncle has treated me too scurvily for me to Inconvenience myself my-self much on his account." "Then will you take him?" asked the notary, turning to the lawyer. "Not I." said be. shrugging his shoulders. shoul-ders. 'The do$ may starve for aught I care." "And you, sir?" turning to Alfred Graves. "I will assume'the charge of Scipio." said Alfred Graves. "It is a slight acknowledgment ac-knowledgment for my uncle's legacy." "Tou may find him troublesome." "That will make no difference. While he lives, he shall be comfortably cared for." "What a modfl nephew!" said the merchant, sarcastically. "Good young man!" said the lawyer, with a sneer. "Gentlemen," said the notary, "I will now read the codicil." The two older men looked at each other oth-er in surprise which changed into rage and dismay as they listened. . "To that one of my nephews who shall agree to "take charge of my dog, being yet wnacqualnted with this provision pro-vision of my will. I bequeath the residue resi-due of my property, amounting as near as I can estimate to $100,000." "Tou knew of this!" exclaimed the elder men. turning wrathful faces toward to-ward Alfred Graves. "Not a word." said the young man. "I am as much -astonished as you can be.". "No one knew of it except myself," said the notary. "I congratulate you, Mr. Graves, on your large accession of wealth." . "I receive it gratefully. I trust 1 shall make a good use of it." said the young man. "I hope now to repay nfy parents for the sacrifices they have made In my behalf." "If I had but known," paid the merchant, mer-chant, with bitter regret. "I have thrown away a fortune." ' "And I," chimed In the lawyer, ruefully. rue-fully. ' ... But there was no help for It. The deed was. done. The two disappointed men left the house, feeling anything but grateful to the uncle who they persuaded per-suaded themselves had cruelly wronged |