Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-03-20

| always to address me in the most cordial
terms I have learnt of his death with
extreme regret"
"But you were his professional adviser;
you know more of his private affairs than
any One?"
That may be So" said Mr.. Merdock,
coldly.
HE executed will, in your presence,
some ten years ago."
Mr.. Merdock made no reply.
81 should EXPLAIN" the young man
went on, that as his sole surviving re-
lative''-
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
rs his first cousin once removed. there
fore deemed il my duty to search for his
will to ascertain if he had expressed in it
anv instructions in relation to his funeral
hope that you see nothing Objectionable
in that?"
Mr.. Merdock merely bowed. He avod-
ed any statement Of opinion on the sub
iect
"The will l found contained no in
structions of the kind referred to.
Further of its terms I need not speak Just
now; especially as the document having
been drawn by you, you are already &C
quainted with its contents
"The only will of which I know any
thing" said Mr.. Merdock, after minutes
deliberation, twas executed by the tes-
tatOr in my presence some ten years ago.
The will was engrossed in duplicated
course [ am in the habit Of recommend
ing IN such cases-as matter of pru-
dencc and precaution. One copy is now
in my iron safe. The other the testator
presume, the document to which you have
been referring ?''
"No doubt"
LET US be quite sure" said Mr.. Mer-
dock, still with his air of deliberation. He
left the room. Presently he returned.
The will bore date the 18th Of March,
1859"
s'That is the will in question. It was
found in Mr.. Delpratt's desk"
you found none Of later date? No
will or codicil?"
ono, though | made careful search
Some rough memoranda as to t 'e dis
posal of his property did find, but these
were unsigned-mere notes of an infor
nal character. Nothing in the nature of
a will. You know of none?"
81 know Of none"
There was pause Mr.. Merdock took
pinch of snuff.
"Mr Delpratt died rather suddenly
that is to say, he had been suffering, as
all his household we'll knew, from disease
of the heart OF long standing. Still none
looked for his illness terminating fatally
at so early date. His medical attendant
visited him frequently of late. He was
not present however, when the sad event
occurred. He is fully satisfied, however,
as to the cause Of death. He attributes it
to aneurismal hypertrophy of the heart.
| aln not doctor enough to understand
precisely his meaning"
The young man dabbed his white face
with his handkerchief. He was much
moved, and his voice trembled as he con-
tinued:
81 need hardly say that my cousins
death has been heavy blow to me. AS
you know, Mr.. Merdock, in times past
there were many differences between US
due to my folly, to my misconduct, l am
now prepared fully to admit. But we
had been reconciled. We were on init
mate and affectionate terms. / regarded
him as my benefactor, and was deeply
grateful for all he had done for me- Most
unfortunately was absent from the house
at the time of his death.
Mr.. Merdock was silent, but he now
seemed, from under his beetling eyebrows,
to view his visitor with new curiosity.
His attention was attracted, perhaps, by
the rest}essness that marked the young
mans manner. He moved uneasily IN
his chair, shifting his position constantly,
and twisting his handkerchief into
string by the unconscious cOntOrti0ns Of
bis hands.
81 had left the house early in the morn
ing, to attend the meet at some few miles
distance from Lupton. It was late when
| returned. My cousin had then been
dead some hours. Coming up to London,
to transact some business that could not
Mr.. Merdock. In the first place, I have
to request that you will attend the funer-
al, which is fixed for the eth, at noon;
and in the next place to beg that you will
act on my behalf, as my legal adviser. in
the new position that devolves upon me
under the terms Of MIR. Delpratt' will"
II shall attend the funeral, of course"
said the lawyer. Il have sincere respect
for the memory Of my late friend. l shall
attend, if you please, in my character as
professional adviser, during many years,
of the deceased"
ga carriage shall meet the early train
from town at Andover-the nearest sta
ton 70 Lupton Manor"
amy business arrangements ia regard
to your own future position it may be
well, perhaps, to defer until after the
funeral"
"As you think best. Good morning,
Mr.. Merdock. l will only add hope
that you will dismiss any prejudice you
may have formed against me in relation
to my life in the past. do assure you
that am different man. am not now
as you once knew me. Good morning."
They shook hands and parted. Mr..
Merdock resumed his desk, after careful
ly rubbing his fingers with his silk hand
kerchief. They had been left so cold and
clammy.by his visitors grasp.
Apparently Mr.. Merdoek was not in
dustriously inclined that day, or he was
preoccupied; his attention was absorbed
by the news Of the death OF his friend and
client, Eustace We're Delpratt. He found
difficulty in devoting himself to other
matters. He sat idly in his chair, glanc-
ing now at the tin box, now at the first
column of the Times newspaper, now at
the graveyard outside his window. And
at intervals he studied the card of Mr.
Ernest Delpratt.
Later in the day the lawyers room was
abruptly entered by Mr.. Pixley, the Sec
rotary of the Albatross Insurance Com
pany, of which Institution Mr.. Merdock
had been for many years the solicitor.
81 was passing, Merdock, SO thought