The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-07-13
THE DISAPPOINTED HEIRS.

General Sidney was in many re-
spects a singular old man; but foi
all this he was noble, true-hearted
and generous. Though only fifty
five he has survived his wife and
three children and was all alone
in the world, unless two rival neph-
ews. who were contending for the
hundred thousand the General had
to leave. when he died, might be re-
garded as the companions OF liis
pilgrimage. They certainly Were
devoted to him, and did everything
which friends could do for his com
fort-except love and esteem him.
The existence OF a hundred thous-
and dollars is sad damper upon
any feeling of disinterestedness
which. pious heirs desire to'exhibit
John Sidney and Joseph Boyles nc
doubt tried to be disinterested in
their devotion to their rich uncle,
and if he had been a poor man
they might have found it quite easy
to doso. They were cousins, and both
members of the same church. II
they tried to love each other, in
obedience to the divine command
they did not succeed very well, fol
even a superficial observer might
have seen through the shallow pro.
testations of affection which were
constantly interchanged between
them.
General Sidney was not very
close observer, and propably knew
less of the real character of hi:
nephews than any man in the circle
of acquaintance. But. superficial
as was his observation, he had sue
ceeded in finding out John Sidney.
Either the pious heir expectant
lacked in shrewdness, or fortune de
serted him, for his rich uncle sud.
denly turned against him. In vair
John tried to conciliate him--tht
General was as stubborn as a mule
and would not interpret any of hi
kindly offices as the evidence of gen
uine esteem.
When the heart OF the rich MAJ
had banished one of his nephews
the other more perfectly filed it
As John Sidney was hated, SO JOSEPH
Boyles was loved. The former per
severed in his attempts to win bacl
the lost favor, and the latter as per
sistently la5ored to defeat his inten
tions.
The old gentleman's health begar
to fail him, and as he was denieC
the privilege of going abroad, Boylel
was untiring in his efforts to MAKE
him comfortable and contented a
home. Every forenoon he went tC
the invalid's room, informing hin
of the condition of stocks and tht
market generally, and related all tht
gossip and scandal afoat on tht
street. In the evening he visit
ed him again, read the evening pa
pers, told him funny stories and
never left him until he had seer
him comfortably in bed for tht
night. Joseph Boyles was shrewd
person, and fully comprehended
the nature of his position.
1t was surmised that the Genera,
had recently made a viii, and tht
favored nephew was satisfied that
he had won the victory. His uncle
seemed to dote upon him, and GER
tainly needed 70 assurance OF the
esteem in which he was held.
The General grew worse, and
Boyles spent nearly ali his timt
with him. Protesting the deepes
solicitude for his health he urged
various remedies upon him, all o
which his uncle adopted with i'm
plicit faith in their efficiency bu
in spite Of Boyles' specifics, anc
even the prescriptions, he continued
TO fail, and finally dropped off sud
denly-so unexpectedly, in fact tina
no one knew when the breath lef
his body.
The work of Joseph Boyles was
finished. His uncle was dead and
he had every reason to suppose h
had inherited bis princely fortune
There was no longer any occasion
to dissemble, after l had put The
body in the coffin, on the evening O
his death, l was not little surpris
ed to be informed that the funera
would take place at eleven o'clocl
on the following day. Boyles sale
the heat of the weather would no
permit meto keep the corpse anothel
day, and though l differed with him
! made no objections.
Boyles was a stingy man, proven
bially so, and the arrangements fol
the funeral were very simple. Ever
the coffin was a cheap affair, anc
only tour carriages were provided
for the occasion. But General Sid
ney was dead and could find ne
fault with the simplicity of hi:
burial ceremonies. He was put ii
the family tomb, and the friend:
turned their attention to the i'm.
portant matter of the distribution O.
his property.
As many had supposed, Boyles
was the sole heir. A paltry legacy
was all the notice taken of John
Sidney, who had expected "some-
thing handsome" at least at the
decease of his uncle. When The
lawyer had left with the Wilt
was the day after the funeral-the
two cousins were left alone. 1t was
not the nature of John Sidney to
rest content with the provisions OF
the will. He had failed to detach
his rival, but he was not prepared
to be virtually disinherited.
''You may think it is just" said
he, in surly tone TO Boyles.
THAT is not for me to decide y
replied the heir modestly. Il can
only say that had no hand in
making my uncle'c will no;tbor