Morris tribune., 1882-10-12
OLD POPPLEWELL'S WILL.
How Young Mr.. Selas Poppleweli
BroushtDire Disaster Upon Him.

1t was great shock to the feelings Of
Mr.. Silas Popplewell to discover that his
father had bequeathed legacy of C., 900
to his housekeeper, certain Mrs. Dray-
colt. The woman had entered the old
mans service only about q year before
his death, and if there had been any
thing remarkable in her demeanor 90
wards him it consisted rather of scant
courtesy and want of attention. She
had never apparently made the slightest
attempt to ingratiate herself with her
master, who, on his part, had always
seemed to regard his attendant with
calm Indifference. But Silas felt doubly
aggrieved because his father had scrup-
ulously concealed from him that he had
made will, leaving him to believe that
he was bound to inherit everything as
next of kin and heir-at-law.
Silas Popplewell came across the will
quite unexpectedly while going through
the old mans papers a few hours after
his disease. The document appeared
to be perfectly legal and had evidently
been prepared by a solicitor, whose name
was appended as one of the witnesses to
the testator's signature. Except the leg
acy to the housekeeper it left everything
to Silas Popplewell and appointed him
sole executor. Considering that old
Joseph Popplewell was reputed
to be wealthy man most persons in ST.
las position would not have suffered the
unexpected legacy to disturb their eQu-
animity. But Silas Popplewell was one
of those mean, grasping, avaricious in
dividuals who cannot bear the thought of
losing ANYTHING. He considered he was
both legally and morally entitled to the
whole of his fathers property and re-
garded the legacy to Mrs. Draycott as a
fraud upon his just rights. He was,
therefore, overwhelmed with rage and
disappointment and worked himself in
to perfect fever of virtuous indigna-
ton.
In the midst of his tfibulation it sudden
" occurred to him that but for the sheet
of paper which he held in his hand he
would be a richer man by two thousand
pounds sterling. This eminentlv prac-
teal view of the situation aroused his
worst passions and he soon found himself
wondering what would probably happen
if the will were not forthcoming. Sup
posing, for instance, he were TO leave the
document where he found it and say
nothing to anybody! The chances were,
he thought, that the hOusekeeper would
believe the teStator had revoked it, as
Stunning she had ever been aware of its
existence, while it was quite possible,
considering his late fathers habitual re-
thence concerning his affairs, that the
woman suspected nothing. If the worst
happened, and a hue, and cry We're
raised, the will could be conveniently
found; or better still, who could gainsavy
him if he were to declare boldly that his
father had deliberately destroyed the
will in his presence.
Such insidious reflections as theseare,
apt to blunt a mans moral perceptions
especially when he is laboring under a
keen sense ofinj Justice. Silas PopbleWell's
standard of morality was not a high one,
and he would any day sooner have done
ashabby trick than lose slxpence. The
conse luence was that after little hest
tation he yielded to an uncomfortable
Impulse and consigned the obnoxious will
to the flames.
When the paper was reduced to ashes
Silas suddenly awoke to the fact that he
had committed a felony and rendered
himself liable to penal servitude. He
turned deadly pale when he thought of
this disagreeable contingency and wa for
a moment inclined to repent of what he
had done. But when he reflected that
his wicked act had not been witnessed by
any mortal eyes, while the only evidence
~ofhis guilt-the charred papers-was rap
idly disappearing up the chimney, he soon
recovered his spirits. Having waited
patiently until there was no longer any
trace left even of the ashes of the will, he
locked up the strong box in which he had
found it,and left the room, feeling toll
<erably easy in lis mind.
Nothing occurred during the next few
days to arouse Silas Popplewelis appre-
tensions and as he was not troubled
with a conscience he began to congratu-
had taken. The housekeeper went
about her duties as usual and did not
seem to trouble her head as to whether
the master had left will or not, from
which Silas gathered with heartfelt salts
faction that she knew nothing about her
legacy. He could not refrain, however,
from watching her furtively, knowing
what he did of his fathers intentions to-
ward her. She was vulgar, illiterate
elderly woman, singularly devoid of per-
.sonal attraction and apparently not pos
sessed of much intelligence. While
striving in vain to account for his fathers
extraordinary prediction for her rs
manifested by his will, Silas was struck
by an expression of determination on
the woman's face which seemed to indi-
cate desperate character. He began
to suspect that she had forged the will
tNrv h. Of
ing with calmnesS the issue of her ma
chinations. If so, she was doomed tt
disappointment, thought Silas, and he
'chucSled at the notion of having frustra.
ted such an infamous scheme.
When the day of the funeral arrived
iSllas felt nervous and uncomfortable.
He was very much upset by the unex.
Fpected number of mourners, the mere
fact of having to provide gloves and Grape
on such an extended scale being suffi.
cieDt to cause him serious vex alton
Old Joseph Popplewell was man ofvery
humble origin, having, in fact, com
menced life as a comnon laborer, and
Silas scarcely knew any of his fathers
relatives. Several of these turned up,
however, without being invited, and
Sllas resented their presence very much
not only because he was not anxious tc
S@''1ii hiliSnip viii tIlclu, DuL DeCduSe Iuey
would no doubt make particular inqui-
'ries about the destination of the old
mans property.
1t is to be feared that Siias suffered
his mind to wander a good deal from hi
old fathers obscquies. He may have
had soft corner in his heart for the
old mans memory, but nervousness and
apprehension rendered it inaccessible on
this occasion. The solemn words of the
burial service fell unheeded on his ear
for his mind was disturbed by the pros
pect OF having to explain to his relatives
that his father had died interstate. His
newly discovered kinsmen were pain