CHAPTER IV
READING THE WILL
Apparently the deceased had but few relatives. But six persons were ina small room appropriated to the mourners when our hero and his newacquaintance entered. One of these, and far the most imposing inappearance, was a stout lady, who quite filled up the only armchair inthe room. In a plain chair close by was a meek little man, three inchesshorter, and probably not more than half her weight. A boy and girl, thechildren of the ill-matched pair, the former resembling the father, thelatter the mother, were ranged alongside. Permit me to introduce Mr. andMrs. Josiah Pinkerton, of Castleton, an adjoining town. Master Albertand Miss Nancy Pinkerton.
Mrs. Pinkerton is a milliner, and her husband is her clerk and errandboy. She has considerable business capacity, and makes enough to supportthe family comfortably, besides adding something annually to the fund inthe savings bank. The relationship to the deceased is on the side ofthe husband, who is a cousin. This relationship has given rise to greatexpectations on the part of Mrs. Pinkerton, who fully expects to inherithalf the estate of Mr. Carter.
“If we get it, Josiah,” she has promised magnificently, “I’ll buy you anew suit of clothes.”
“But, Maria,” expostulated the meek husband, “it will be left to me, notto you.”
“Why so?” demanded she, frowning.
“Because he is my cousin, not yours.”
“You indeed!” retorted the wife, angrily; “and what do you know aboutthe use of money? Who supports the family, I should like to know?”
“I help,” answered Josiah, meekly.
“And precious little you help,” returned his wife, sarcastically. “Sofar as you are concerned, we should all be in the poor house long beforethis. No, Josiah, the money must come into my hands. I’ll give you agood allowance, and hire an errand boy so that you needn’t have to carryround bundles. You ought to be contented with that.”
As no legacy had yet been received, Mr. Pinkerton thought it best not tocontinue the discussion. Indeed, he was rather afraid of his imperiouswife, who held the reins of authority, and whom he did not dare todispute.
The two other relations were, first, a brown-faced and brown-handedfarmer, Alonzo Granger, and an old lady, of seventy or thereabouts--MissNancy Carter, a sister of the deceased. For years she had lived on asmall pension from her brother, increased somewhat by knitting stockingsfor the neighbors. She, indeed, was the only real mourner. The rest werespeculating about how far they were likely to be benefited by the deathof the deceased, of whom they had seen but little in life. Even Herbert,though impressed by the presence of death, could hardly be expected tofeel deep grief for a man who had neglected his mother in his life.
Of the funeral rites it is unnecessary to speak. We are interested inwhat came afterwards.
The relations were quietly notified to meet at five o’clock in theoffice of Mr. Spencer, the lawyer, to whom had been intrusted the willof the late Mr. Carter. Those who have even a slight knowledge of humannature will not need to be told that the attendance of all was punctual.There was an anxious, expectant look on the faces of all--not evenexcepting the old lady. She knew that if her brother had made noprovision for her, she must go to the alms-house, and against this herhonest pride revolted. She was willing to live on anything, howeverlittle, if she might live independently, as she had hitherto done. Tofeel herself dependent on public charity would indeed have been a hardtrial for the poor old lady. Of all, probably Mrs. Pinkerton was themost confident. She had come to feel that her family was entitled to alarge share of the estate, and she had gone so far as to decide just howshe would invest it, and what new arrangements she would make, for shehad no idea of consulting her husband on the subject.
The lawyer was a gentlemanly-looking man, whose face inspired confidencein his integrity--a remark which, unhappily, cannot be made of all inhis profession. He took his seat at a table, and produced the will,which he considerately commenced reading at once. After the usualintroduction, the will proceeded thus:
“To my sister Nancy I give the use of my house, rent free, as long asshe shall live. I leave her also an income of two hundred dollars ayear, which, as her wants are small, will be sufficient to maintain herin comfort.”
The old lady breathed a sigh of relief. Her fears were removed. Shecould continue to live as she had been accustomed to do, and need notbe beholden to private or public charity. Mrs. Pinkerton was not so wellpleased. She felt almost as if she had been deprived of what belongedto her by right. She frowned at Miss Nancy, but the old ladywas unconscious of the displeasure excited in the bosom of herimposing-looking relative.
The lawyer proceeded: “To my cousin, Alonzo Granger, I leave onehundred dollars; not because he needs it, for I understand that he iswell-to-do, but as a mark of remembrance.”
The farmer scowled slightly, and opened and closed his brown hands indissatisfaction. He was well-to-do; but when was a man ever satisfiedwith that? He had counted upon a few thousands, with which he proposedto buy an adjoining farm. Mrs. Pinkerton, however, was pleased. Therewas so much the more for her.
“To Cornelius Dixon”--here Herbert’s morning acquaintance began to feelexcited--“I bequeath one hundred dollars, to buy a looking-glass and anew suit of clothes.”
The young man’s face lengthened very perceptibly as he heard the smallamount of his legacy, and he glared savagely at Mrs. Pinkerton, whoshowed a mirthful face at his discomfiture.
Her turn came next.
“To Josiah Pinkerton, his wife and children, I leave one hundreddollars apiece; also my best black pantaloons, which he or his wife mayappropriate, as may be arranged between them.”
All except the Pinkertons laughed at this sly hit, and even the lawyersmiled; but the stout lady flushed with rage and disappointment, andejaculated: “Abominable!” The eyes of all were now directed to Herbert,who was the only one remaining. Could it be possible that the balanceof the property was left to him? The fear of this made him the focus ofunfriendly eyes, and he became restive and anxious.
“To my namesake, Herbert Carter, I leave a black trunk which I keep inmy room, with all that it contains. To his mother I direct that the sumof one hundred dollars be paid.”
This was not much, but it was more than Herbert had expected. He knewhow welcome even one hundred dollars would be to his mother, and helooked satisfied--the only one of the party, except the old lady, whoshowed any pleasure at the contents of the will.
The relatives looked bewildered. All had been mentioned in turn, and yetbut a small part--a very small part--of the estate had been disposed of.Mrs. Pinkerton bluntly expressed the general curiosity.
“Who’s to have the rest, Mr. Spencer?” she demanded.
“I’m coming to that,” answered the lawyer, quietly.
“All the rest and residue of my property, of whatever kind, I leave tothe town of Randolph, to establish a high school, directing that notmore than twenty thousand dollars be expended upon the building, whichshall be of brick. I desire that the school shall be known as the CarterSchool, to the end that my name may be remembered in connection withwhat I hope will prove a public blessing.” “That is all,” said thelawyer, and he laid down the will upon the table.