Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-11
AN OLD MANS LOVE.
He Gave HIS Entire Property to his
Promised Wife.

From the San Francisco Chrunicle
Miss Mary Amelia Holden Of SIS Folsom
street has almost secured a windfalI OF
$4,000 through the act OF an old man who
fell In love with her, willed her bis prop-
erty and then died. James Bowles, one OF
the Oldest booksellers of this city. was the
man to whom love came just before death
overlook him, but then Bowles was always
peculiar.
About eight years ago he took a room at
Mrs. John Holden's lodging house. He
gave Miss Mary Holden a position as sales
woman and bookkeeper in his store Bowles
formed a great attachment for the girl
and In the middle OF May last proposed
marriage to her. Miss Holden was but
nineteen and Bowles fifty-eight Bowles'
suit was not displeasing to the young girl,
and she referred him to her parents, who
consented TO the match.
A few days after the proposal Bowles
told Miss Holden that under the circum-
stances she need not keep "a complicated
set OF books. The mere account OF sales
would be sufficient and she could help her
self to the proceeds OF the business IL
was but a very few days later that Bowles
telt the premonitory symptoms OF the trou-
bles which caused his death. He decided
to go TO Paso Robes, not knowing the
nature Of his disease. Before departing he
informed Miss Holden that he did not think
he could live long. He impaired the In
gave her his bank books and the keys OF
his store, saying: Take this; It Is yours
1 may need a little of Il before ] die but
IL L do L know that you. whom I have
known so long, will take care Of me.
want you TO run the business. DO net be
extravagant but keep the store going, and
IL VIII bring you coed income"
I. He then went to Paso Robes Sprlngs
but returned a very sick man. He con-
suited a physician, who Informed him that
ne had cancer OF the bowels and gave
him hope OF but a few weeks of life He
advised that Bowles 30 20 the German
Hospital Bowles Informed his afanced
wife Of the news and went to the hospital,
where the last days Of one of San Francis
co.'s most noted old booksellers were made
as pleasant as possible. When in the
shadow Of death Bowles reiterated tie gift
of all his worldly possessions TO Miss Hol-
den in the presence Of witnesses. on July
% he died. and the public administrator
has commenced to administer on the estate.
Miss Holden gave Up the bank books and
keys of the store. and in accordance with
legal formalities she has brought suit for
the money In bank. Thus the little romance
of Bowles' last DAYS has been brought 20
light. The suits are anicable ones &c give
the banks legal authority to turn the money
over TO Miss Holden
The German Savings and Lcan Society
Is sued for 81. i32 o. the Humboldt Savings
ana Loan Society for 81 $50 80 and the San
Francisco Savings Union for sia.G24O7.
Bowles' entire estate. which consists Of
at $4,000 1t is not known that Bowles
had any heirs. but Miss Holden claims that
all the property was given to her before
his death, so that the heirs. IL any, would
be shut out. Bovles made a request Of his
fancee that she pay n few legacies accord
figure, and virtually the whole OF The estate
Will fall 10 Miss Holden.