The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-06-17
ADAM HOLCOl[B'S WILL.
a Deed Of Kindness and What
Came OF II.

a Deed Of Kindness and What
Cauo OF It.
Adam Holcomb wac dead AZ last
dead after seventy years OF money
getting. and the grave had closed over
him. lie had 10 children. for he had
led a single life. induced, ~o II was said.
though nothing was certainly known,
10y an carly disappointment which had
warped his nature, and made him lead
q solitary and selfish life. given mp 10
MammOn alone.
Adam IIolconb was dead. and rs vet
no one knew what disposition he had
made of his money.
Three DAYS after the funeral, the
ncxt-of-l5iu and possible heirs were col
lcctcd I'm the Office Of the lawyer. who
was the custodian Of the win and pri-
waite paper, Of the deceased They
Were fcgv in numbers for the family
was not ii large one. There were hut
three, and these three may bc briefly
described.
First camc James Uolcomb. a nephew
OF the deceased, vain. selfish. worldly
man, all hi, thoughts ccutcrcd upon
himself and his own family who had
never been known u give penny FOR
any charitable purpose.
Next came Harvey I1lcoiub. cousin
OF the iast-namcd. and about tho same
are. lie was tall. thin and angular. lie
belonged 10 the legal profession. in
which hc had managed To pick up con-
siderable money. though his reputation
was none Of the best. lie was con
sidcrcd tricky. willing 10 undertake
any cause. however disrcputable, for
money. He was married and had a
family. for whom he provided in
grudging manner. lie. too, had
nourishcd sauguinc hopes Of finding
himself much better of after his uncle's
death
Last came a young man, presenting
strong contrast TO the other two. lie
was Of light complexion, brown hair,
clear blue eyes. and an attractive face.
He was barely twenty-five years Of age,
very plainly dressed, and with a modest
manner which prepoSScSSed one IN ms
favor. He was the son of old Adam
Holcomb's youngest sister, who had
married poor minister. and her son,
Alfred Graves. was studying medicine,
for which he had decided prediction.
But lac had been crampcd by narrow
means, and was even now teaching in
country school, hoping 10 obtain enough
by this means TO pay for his college
course. lie had applied To each OF his
two relatives present for small tenn
porary loan. to help him complete his
studies. but without effect. He had
been curtly refused 10y both.
lie had come here to-day, as a matter
of form. without the slightest expecta-
tion of benehting by the viii Of his
late relative. lie had known him but
slightly. and never received any cncour-
agemcnt upon which he could build a
hope. Yet If he could but receive leg
acy of even three hundred dollars, he
thought, it would help him materially.
That was the amount which he had
vainly sought TO borrow OF the mer-
chant and lawyer. now present with
him at the reading of Adam Holcomb's
last viii and testament.
The merchant and lawyer conversed
while waiting for Squire Brief.
Have you any idea, cousin, how
much the old gentleman had accumu-
latcG?" asked James Holco-nb.
i have heard it estimated at two
hundred and fifty thousand dollars
was the reply.
THAT l. a large sum. hope he has
not been unjust enough TO squander any
OF IL on cildTllaD4t SptlGtltN.
Il hope not. That would be great
piece OF injustice TO lis relations"
He never dropped anything TO you
about the disposition he intended to
make OF his property, did he?'
Not he, He was 4 close man, very,
said the other Il once tried to worm
something ont OF him, but didn't get
much satisfaction
What did he say?"
He said that he thought 81 endow-
ing an asylum for fools and lunatics,
and that / could tell whether / was
likely to be benefited by his so doing" q"
..Ho! ho,' laughed James, shaking
his capacious sides; ''he got you there,
eh?"
Il don't see II, said the lawyer, sourly.
'.You don't appreciate the joke, eh?''
1T was a foolish piece of imperti-
nence. However, everybody knows
what the old man was, and let il pass.
If it had been anyone else, would have
given them as good as they sent"
but you were afraid it would spoil
your chances, eh?"
As to that. have no idea. There is
no question that we ought to be joint
heirs
True" returned James That
would give one hundred and twenty
five thousand apiece. That would sat
isfy me-"
How about Alfred's chances?'
queried the lawyer, glancing sharply to
that part of the Office where the young
man was quietly seated.
'Oh, he'll get nothing" said the mer-
chant, contemptuously. HE belongs
to beggarly stock, and beggar he IL
a. Of u
to be a doctor, l hear
.sWeu. wish him JOY of his profes-
sion, if he ever gets in it, which Is some
what doubtful He wanted TO borrow
three hundred dollars of me the Other
day"