Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-03-08
SPRINGlNG A NINE.

Nj X. AiERDOCK was solicitor of sOunt
IePute, enjoying an excellent practice: ;
tall, lean, elderly man, with good features
worn very sharp by time and hard wOrl
at his calling. His tall. bald forehead hat
the look of old parchment, or of discol
0red ivory; his sallow face was deeply
lined and very gaunt.
MIR. Merdock sat at his desk-idly fol
the Notwithstanding now at the green
enclosure to be seen from his window
now at tin box, one of large pile OF
similar tin boxes, ranged against the wall
opposite to him, now at the Times news.
paper, spread out before him. He paused
10 take noisily huge pinch of snuff, and
nneh passed large scarlet silk pocket
handkerchief across his face.
Poor Delpratt!' he said, with glance
at the tin box. The legend The DEL
TRAIT TRUST was inscribed upOn IL in
dim gold letters. "Deadr' He gazed
from the window at the waving grass and
the murky elm of the graveyard without.
=" -Four days ago!' He laid his hand upon
the newspaper. 1t contained among its
advertisements of deaths the following
brief notification -
''On the 10th of November, at the Man.
or House, LuptOn, Hants, EUsTACE WERE
DELPRATT, aged ffty-seven.''
just then one of his clerks entered and
handed him a card. He started as he read
the name it bore. After moments hest
tatiOn he said, "YOu must show him in,
Booth"
A young man entered, dressed in deep
mourning.
"Mr. Ernest Delprattg" Mr.. Mer-
dock was reading aloud the name on the
card.
"You have forgotten me, l see, Mr..
MerdOck. But it is not surprising. We
have not met for some years. | know
that am much changed in appearance.
l was a mere boy then"
Pray be seated"
"YOu are aware. of course, of the sad
occurrence that has brought me here ~
81 have only just read in the Times OF
Mr.. Delpratt's Ceath."
"YOu knew him intimately?''
81 can scarcely say so much as that. |
saw him frequently at one time. But OF
late years we seldom met. l rarely quit
London, he rarely visited 1t. Still re-
garded him as a friend. | heard from
him occasionally. He was kind enough
always to address me in the most cordial
terms. Ihave learnt of his death with ex-
treme regret"
"But you were his professional adviser:
you know more of his private fairs than
any one?'
"That may be so," said Mr.. Merdock,
coldly.
"He executed a will in your presence,
some ten years ago..
Mr.. Merdock made no reply.
81 should explain" the young man
went on, ''that as his so.e surviving rela.
tive"
"Pardon me-" Merdock interrupted,
illegally speaking, the late Mr.. Delpratt
had no relatives"
"Perhaps so-but he always regarded
and spoke of me as his cousin, or rather
as his first cousin once removed. There
fore deemed it my duty to search for his
will to ascertain If he had expressed in II
any instructions in relation to his funeral.
l hope that you see nothing Objectionable
in that?"
Mr.. Merdock merely bowed.
1.-The will found contained no instruc-
tions of the Kind referred to. Further OF
its terms l need not speak just now
especially as, the document having been
drawn by you you are already acquainted
with its contents"
1.-The only will of which known any
thing about" said Mr.. MerdOck, after a
minutes deliberation, twas executen by
the testator in my presence some ten
wears ago. The will was engrossed and In
duplicate-a course l am in the habit oi
recommending in such cases-as a matter
of prudence and precaution. One copy Il
now in my il on safe. The other, the tes'
tator took into his own keeping. That is
I presume, the document to which you
have been referring"
"No doubt"
"Let us be quite sure" said Mr.. Mer'
dock. He left the room. Presently nc
returned. 1.-The will bore date the 18th
of March. 1859"
"That is the will In question. 1t was
found in Mr.. Delpratt's desk"
"You found none Of later date! NC
will or codicil ?"
"No. though 1 made careful search;
Some rough memoranda as tothe disposal
of his property did find. but these were
unsigned-mere notes OF an informal
character. Nothing in the nature OF a
Jpdll. You know Of none|
Nj know of nOne."
There was pause.
"Mr. Dellpratt died rather suddenly,
that is to say, he had been suffering as all