Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-10-05

~ ALL" no'noii iue uiVeh, 1nn," Etc.
eoPvaieHr. $780, ~ nosERr soNntR's SONS.


cumbent upon me to suggest that yol
should make a will, Mr.. Delaney. l
you do not, there will be more wrang
ling and litigation after your dealt
than before it. and this. l have NJ
doubt. you wish to avoid
eyes. yes
"'Shall l listen to your wishes, then
| Have you decided to what friend OI
friends you would like to leave this
money!
"I have decided, said the sick man
L wish it all to go to one person.
"'No matter how large the sum may
be"
"'No matter how large the sum is
the larger the better, l say. All. this
is Il delight after years of vain desire
and want
"The lawyer drew up a small table
placed upon 1t writing materials, and
began to fill in the draft of will
! which he had brought with him. While
he was doing this ] talked with the
DOCTOR and lent such assistance as was
necessary to make the dying man com
Portable and keep up his strength.
When it came time for him to name the
person to whom he wished to leave
his money withdrew as far from him
as possible, but the room was too
small for me to escape hearing the
eager whisper that left Mr.. Delancy's 5
lips, even If the words had not been the
familiar ones:
Hamilton Degraw.'
You wish-'thc lawyer Stammercd,
as much taken back as was myself.
"'To leave all my property, real and
personal, to this gentleman, whose
name you say is Hamilton Degraw'
But now cried, with an embar-
rassment easily to be understood; 4
am stranger to you; as much of 4
stranger as either of these gentlemen.
pray you to reconsider this matter.
l do not need your wealth. Besides
"'Dont waste the precious moments,
he entreated, with burst of his omin-
Gus cough. You are stranger, but
you have face like my brother
Frank. He was the most loyal soul
alive, and so | believe are you. And
that is what | want; loyalty and truth
in my heir. They will both he needed.
1 forewarn you. Write down the
name he now commanded the lawyer
and be sure you make the will legal or
I will rise from my grave to reproach
you
There was no use in trying further
discussion. He was in full possession
of his faculties. as even the doctor was
ready to swear. but he was growing
very weak, and opposition robbed him
of even the slight remains Of strength
which were still left him. Mr.. Cutting,
who was pale as the paper on which
he wrote, put down my name, as re-
qucstcd, and then, asking the doctor
to call in his man from the buggy be,
fore the door he put the pen in the
dying mans fingers and watched him
breathlessly as we all did no more
than the rest-whilc he scrawled those
few lines which in one moment raised
me from gentleman OF respectable
means into a man of fortune.
"The sigh OF relief which followed
the completion of his signature came
from his breast, not mine. was in q
daze and realized little of the impor
tance OF the moment | did not even
fully comprehend the looks of pardon,
able astonishment and good-naturpd
sympathy that passed between the two
professionals present, or notice when
or how the witnesses affixed their
names to this most hurried and re.
markablc Of wills. | was only con.
scious of great oppression, as il a
burden under which | felt unable to
stagger had just fallen upon my shoul.
ders, and was greatly relieved when
the sick man called me Ivy name and
said:
"'Now I am going to tell you what
l wish YOU to do with this money If
these gentlemen will only leave lis
alone
'The lawyer, who had just stepped
forward to offer ne his hand in con.
graduation, stopped and looked as If
he did not know whether to continue
this ceremony or not. Eut when he
observed my relieved countenance he
grew quite cheerful, and w..mly
wringing my hand whispered:
ut Is matter of three million.
DeSraw; so be careful what you prom.
!se.'
Il stared; could not take in the
figures at first. but when | did | felt
actually chilled as if a dash Of cold
water had been thrown upon me.
Three million. | hardly dared to look
the reckless giver of this fortune in
the eye. Three million! And two
hours before | had neither heard his
name nor he mine. What mystery"
thought /: L hope he will tell re what
he wants me to do with all this