The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1892-07-07
M HOLCOMB'S WILL.
|naad of Kindness and What
Came Of It.

,e fa. ,iter seventy years of money
posi,;rs .eJand the grave had closed over |
hing 3 X He had no children, for he had |
i'm a. durle life, induced, SO it was said, |
u ubas q IN nothing was certainly known, |
ativalr r. esrlv disappointment which had
ON Il. - his nature, and made him lead
,olx and vstsry and selfish life, given up to
OF an, N,uuOn alone. q .sSs g p.s51 ! = 4
ION. 3lam Holcomb was dead, and as yet
,rmer,s 4 me knew what disposition he had
to tbs Aeo his money.
George Three days after tine !uneral' Une
8Mdin the office of the lawyer, who
the custodian of the will and pri
.tning papers of the deceased. They
den-- few in numbers for the family
"hichi Il not large one. There were but
ure n n. and these three may be briefly
'sii'S &xrbed.
IS are - ammo James Holcomb nenbew
now. #ae deceased, vain, selfish, worldly
iah1 In all his thoughts centered upon
oor!y nNaf and his own family who had
: y Fg been known to give a penny for
'.sh ,. ycharitable purpose. raT -
eiony Next came Harvey Holcomb, a cousin
acre helastnamed, and about the same
. "a He was tall, thin and angular. He
agrs bnged to. the legal profession, in
's'er fch he had managed to pick up con-
en- asrable money, though his reputation
less as none of the best. He was con.
anu :, iered tricky, willing to undertake
'ne. y canse, however disreputable, for
I u &Oney. He was married and had a
'as }Anly, for whom he provided in a
.s NNdgng manner. He, too, had
ens 3Durshed sanguine hopes of finding
ao msef'mpeh better off after his uncle's
eep Faith ss37> So - = q y-l5.''f-ls' IIs
- Last came young man. presenting a
.gy hong contrast to the other two. He
- ss Of light complexion, brown hair,
= e &sgblue eyes, and an attractive face.
- fswas barely twenty-five years of age,
8FF plainly dressed, and with modest
sanner which prepossessed one in his
aFor. He was the son of old Adam
~ aohOmb's youngest sister, who had
BARRED poor minister, and her son,
Alfred Graves, was studying medicine,
Or which he had adecided prediction.
8 But he had been cramped by narrow
: means, and was even now teaching in a
! country school, hoping to obtain enough
gthis means to pay. for his college
/, course. He had applied to each of his
relatives present for a small tenn
pfary loan, to help him complete his
aades, but without effect. He had
@en curtlv rafr1Sad hv both
he'had come here to-day, as matter
WORN, without the slightest expecta-
aon OF benefting by the will of his
ae relative. He had known him but
aghty, and never received any encour'
%ementupon which he could build q
ope. Yet if he could but receive leg
%F o. even three hundred dollars, he
,aOught' it would help him materially
iaat was the amount which he haC
AMY sought to borrow of the mer
want and lawyer, now present witt
'ia at the reading of Adam Holcomb';
ast will and testament. ssvSSssS
Inc merchant and lawyer converset
"alle M waiting for Squire Briefss3f
nave you any idea, cousin, how
naca the old gentleman had accumu
a'ea! asked James Hofcon1b.
have heard it estimated at two
hundred and fifty thousand dollars!'
was the reply. ....-...........-.
ihat Is large sum. hope he ha
:. -. oeen unjust enough to squander an,
@non charitable societies.
nope not. That would be grea
spee OF injustice to his relations"
ne never dropped anything to yo1
avaas The disposition he intended i
se sM OF his property, did he?"
NOT hel He was a. close man, very,
u lhe other. 81 once tried to worn
@asehing out of him, but didn't ge
~uen satisfaction
y. What did he say?"
he said that he thought of endow
IS an asylum for fools and lunatics
a mat l could tell whether l wa
,y 70 be benefited by his so doing.
ii, no' no." laughed James, shakin
sbos apaeaons sides; "he got you there
.sva saon tsee il" said the lawyer, sourly
~, 0a aon't appreciate the joke, eh?''
s.na y was foolish piece of impert
~ A9wever. everybody snow
M