The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1882-10-12
OLD PoPPLEwELt's WIZ.

3 IL was n great shock 60 the feelings
of Mr. Silas Popplewell to discover that
his Father had beIueathel q legacy Of
92,0OO to his house keeper, q certain
MIS- DraycOtt. The WON II had en-
Tered the old man s service only about
a year before his death. and if there
had been anything remarkable in her
demeanor toward him, it consisted
rather of scant courtesy and want of
attention. She had never apparently
made the slightest attempt to ingTati-
ate herself with her master, who, on
his part, had always seemed to regard
his attendant with calm Indifference.
But Silas felt doubly aggaieved because
his father had scrupulously concealed
from him that he had made a Will, leav-
ing him to believe that he was bound
to inherit everything rs next to an
heir at-law.
Silas Popplewell came across the will
quite unexpectedly while going through
the old man S papers a few hours after
his Gecease. Tie document appeared
TO be perfectly legal, and had evidently
been prepared by a solicitor, whose
name was appended as. one of the wit
nesses 10 the testator signature Ex-
Cept The legacy of the housekeeper, it
left everything to SiIas Popplcwell, and
appointed him sole executor. Consid-
cring that old Joseph Popplewell was
reputcd to be wealthy man, most per-
sens in Silas' position would not have
suffered the unexpected legacy to dis
turb their equanimity. But SiIas Pop
plewell was one of those mean, grasp
ing, avaricious individuals who cannot
lear the thought of losing anything.
He considered he was both legally and
morally entitled to the whole of his
fathers property, and regarded the
legacy 10 Mrs Draycott as fraud upon
his just rights He was, the cfore,
overwhelmed with rage and d 'sappoint-
ment. and worked mself into per-
feet fever of yirtuous Indignation.
In the midst of his tribulat ons it sud-
denly occurred 10 h m thlt but for the
sheet OF paper which he held in his hand
he would lie q richer man by two thou
sand pounds sterling. This eminently
practical view OF the situation aroused
his worst passions, and he soon found
himsel twondering what would proba-
bly, happen if the will were not forth
coming. SuppOs NO, for instan G, he
were TO leave the document where he
found it and say nothing TO augbodyl
The chances We're, he thought, that the
hOuSekeepcr would believe the test5tor
had revoked il, assuming She had ever
been aware of its exiStence; while it
was gu te poss bic, considering his late
fathers habitual reticcnee concerning
his affairs, that the woman suspected
nothing If the worst happened, aud a
hue and CRY were raised, the will could
be conreTeutly found; or better still,
who could gainsay m if he were to de-
clare boldly that his father had deliber-
ately destroyed the viii i'm his prescuceP
Such insidious reflections rs these are
apt to blunt man S moral perceptions,
especially when he is laboring under a
keen sense of injustice. Silas Popple-
wcl's standard of morality was not a
high one, and he would any day sooner
have done shabby trick than lose a
s.Xpcnce. The consequence was that
after 4 tile hesitation he yielded to an
uncomfortable impulse, aud consigned
the obnoxious will to the flames.
When the paper was reduced to ash
es, SilaS suddenly awoke to the fact that
he had committed a felony and re NJ
dered himself able 10. penal servitude.
He turned deadly pale when he thought
of this q sagreeahle contingency, and
for a moment was incl ned to repent of
what he had done. But when he re-
Elected that h wicked act had not been
witnessed by any mortal eyes, while the
only evidence of his guilt tie charred
papers was rap dly q sappearing up
the chimney, he soon recovered his
spirits. Having wa ted patiently until
there was ne longer any trace left even
of the ashes of the Will, helocked up the
strong box in which he had found il and
left the room, feeling tolcrably easy in
his m nd.
Nothing occurred during the nextfew
days to arouse Silas Popplewelrs appre-
tensions, and as he was not troubled
with a conscience he beo-an to cOnrratu-
late himself upon the decisive step he
had taken The housekeeper went
about her duties as usual, and did not
seem to trouble her head rs TO whether
her master had left n viii or not, from
which Silas gathered with heartfelt sat
iSfaction that she knew nothing about
her legacy. He could not refrain, how
ever, from watching her furtively,
knowing what he did of his father in
tentions towards her She was vul-
car, illiteratc, elderly woman, singu-
larIv devoid Of personal attraction, and
apparently not possessed of much in
telligence. While striving in vain 10
account for his fathers extraordinary
prediction for her as mannestedby his
win, Silas was struck by an expression
OF determination on the wOman's face
which seemed to indicate a desperate
character. He began 10 suspect that
she had forged the will by the aid of ac-
completes, and was waiting with calm
ness the issue Of her Vaccinations. If
so. she was doomed to disappointment
thought Silas. and he chuckled at the
notion of having frustrated such an in
famous scheme.
When the day Of the funeral arrived
Silas felt strangely nervous and uncom-