The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-05-07
ADAM HOLCOMB'S WILL.
A Deed of Kindness and What
Came of 1t.

Adam Hocomb was dead at last
dead after seventy years of money
getting, and the grave had closed over
him. lie had no children, for he had
led single life, induced, so it was said,
though nothing was certainly known,
by an early disappointment which had
| warped his nature, and made him lead
solitary and selfish life, given up to
MammOn alone.
Adam IIolcomb was dead, and as yet
no one knew what disposition he had
made of his money,
Three days after the funeral, the
neXt-of-llin and possible heirs were col
| lected in the office of the lawyer, who
was the custodian of the will and pri-
vate papers of the deceased. They
were few in numbers for the family
was not large one. There were but
three, and these three may be briefly
| described.
First came James Holcomb, nephew
of the deceased, a vain, selfish, worldly
man, all his thoughts centered upon
himself and his own family who had
u
any charitable purpose.
Next came Harvey IIolcomb, a cousin
of the last-named and about the same
age. He was tall, thin and angular. He
belonged to the legal profession, in
which he had managed to pick up con-
siderable money, though his reputation
was none of the best. He was con-
sidered tricky, willing to undertake
any cause, however disreputable, for
money. He was married and had a
family, for whom he provided in a
grudging manner. He, too, had
nourished sanguine hopes of finding
himself much better off after his uncle's
death.
Last came young man, presenting a
strong contrast to the other two. He
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 modest
manner which prepossessed one in his
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 he had been cramped by narrow
means, and was even now teaching in a
country school, hoping to obtain enough
by this means to pay for his college
course. He had applied to each of his
two relatives present for a small tenn
porary loan, to help him complete his
studies, but without effect He had
been curtly refused by both.
He had come here to-day, as matter
of form, without the slightest eXpecta'
tion of benefting by the will Of his
late relative. He had known him but
slightly, and never received any encour
agement upon which he could build q
hope. Yet if he could but receive a leg
acy of even three hundred dollars, he
thought, it would help him materially
That was the amount which he hac
vainly sought to borrow of the mer
chant and lawyer, now present witt
him at the reading of Adam Holcomb''
last will and testament.
The merchant and lawyer converseC
while waiting for Squire Brief.
Have you any idea, cousin, how
much the old gentleman had accumu
lated?" asked James Holcomb.
81 have heard it estimated at TIVE
hundred and fifty thousand dollars!
was the reply.
"That is a large sum. hope he ha
not been unjust enough to squander an.
of it on charitable societies."
Il hope not. That would be grea
piece of injustice to his relations"
. "He never dropped anything to Yo
about the disposition he intended t
make of his property, did he?"
, mot he! He was close man, very,
said the other. Il once tried to worr
something out of him, but didn't &c
much satisfaction"
q What did he say?"
"He said that he thought of endov
d ing an asylum for fools and lunatic
: and that l could tell whether | wa
likely to be benefi ted by his so doing.
, "Hol how laughed James, shalSin
= his capacious sides; she got you ther,
t eh?"
> 81 don't see it, said the lawyer, ,sourl,
k "You don't appreciate the joke, eh?'
i st was foolish piece of impert
nence. However, everybody know
/, what the old man was, and let 1t pas
n If it had been anyone else, would hay
= given them as good as they sent"
t "But You were afraid it would spo
n your chances, eh?"
C As TO that, have no idea. There
no question that we ought to be JON
d heirs"
d "True," returned James. "Thi
't would give one hundred and twent
n five thousand apiece. That would sa
d isfy me-
Glow about Alfred's chances
Il queried the lawyer, glancing sharply
g that part of the Office where the your
c. man was quietly seated.
u "oh, he'll get nothing" said the me
k chant, contemptuously. "He belon
+ to beggarly stock, and beggar he
remain to the end OF his days. Goil
% to be 6 doctor, hear"
~ "Well, l wish him Joy Of his profC
- - sion, if he ever gets in it, which is SON
~ what doubtful. He wanted to borrc
three hundred dollars of me the 9th
~ day"
- - "And Of me. Did you let him have ii
~ mot /. I've enough to do with i
~ money without giving IL away.
course he'd never have repaid it."