The Panola weekly star. (Sardis, Miss.) 1882-18??, 1882-10-14

Inn gentleman. who an prupitiny
sllAs advanced ~ meet him rubbing
hl hands
mir Iupplowell. llclc,c." h. said.
VII . slight bow
"fos. replied silns. uneasilv.
You will dou ile kuow ms name
when ! mention H." replied the other.
~ am Mr Reeves. Ut trays Inn
Squav"
Silhs turned ye-y white and his knoes
itcmblcd or Mr. Reeves wasthc solicitor
who had witnessed he execution Of h.
fathers will,
IL beg your pardon" ho said
fnltcringly. II think there must be
slme mistake have not the pleasure
u youF acquaintance
-" ma inel your h%ousekcopof wrote
to me by your insiru tons" said the
solicitor, slightly embarrassed and
CHANGING NJ Mrs Draycott
wrote because the late Mr. Pop.
plewoll told me TO In case sou did mott
said the woman. looking towards Silas.
deiantly "llc wished the will 10 be
read ~ the funeral
"Wln what willg' exclaimed Silas,
with feigncl surprise; aud then he
added. n though bracing his nerves for
the ordeal pray be seated. gentle.
men, and take n glass Of wine and q
bscuit.h
Each person selected a chair and sub
sided into il with q good deal Of shut
fling ot fee, and coughing. but no me
accepted the preferred hospitality. The
dead silence which ensued indicated
hreathlcss interest and excitement.
My father has let no WILL assey.
Grated silas. taking up his position on
the h%earth.rug and endeayoring TO speak
calmly.
81 think you are mistaken. Mr.. Pop
p'ewell," said Mr.. Reeves. politely but
irmly Your father executed a will in
my presence which | prepared for him
about q year ago. lie certainly has left
q will-unlcss. Of course, he has de-
slroyed or Otherwise revoked IT,"
The will is locked up In the iron
box IN the study" interposcd Mrs.
Draycoit with decision
81 repeat that my father has left no
will cried Silas. angrily. ANY one
IS at liberty to search the iron box II he
likes As Mr.. Reeves suggests, my
father DESTROYED the will.m
81 don't believe it.n exclaimed the
housekeepcr, eNcitedly. ,Why. | saw
Il with my own eyes not q month ago
When did he destroy Il? Who seed
i'm do itP' inquired ayo.ce from among
the mourncrS o
"Hc destroyed Il in my presence last
let me sce-last Thursday week. |
fetched i ut his request from the ron
box aud he put Il in the fire Of his W
free WILL said silas. lying glibly.
Though affecting 10 recall the date
pfomiscnously. silas had been careful
10 prepare this story beforehand. On
the day named be had sat with his faith
&c lone for more than an hour during
the afternoon while Mrs Draycott hal
been sent out IN an GRAND. IL the do
ceased had intended 10 destroy the VIII
he would probably have got the woman
out OF the way on a similar pretence,
and the suggestion was plausible
enough. The housekccpcr gave a pal-
pable start, and was evidently i'm
pressed by the co incidence, but among
the rest of the audience there was a
general expression OF incrcdulity, with
a good deal Of head shaking and some
murmurs.
wei. gentlemen. I must say That
Mr.. P0pplewells account Is perfectly
Straightforward" inlerposed tho law
yer. who. whatever his private opinion.
might have been. probably thought il
prudent as a matter of business 10 side
with silas. ''Tes,ators frequently re-
woke their wills In the manner do
scribed. II II is any consolation 10 YOU.
gentlemen, ! may mention that a. far
n you are concerned the existence az
tho will would have made no difference
10 you"
"Win you tell Us. Mr.. LAWYER, who
will get the money. ~supposing what Mr..
siias says Is true" inquired n voice In
an aggrieved tone.
Mr.. Popplcwell win inherit every.
thing as next-of-kin and heir .at.law.n
replied the lawyer.
This information ELECTED A loud cho.
rns OF indignation. and many insulting
epitheis were leyeled At the head Of the
lneklcs. silas. who. pale and trembling.
realized that his triumph was dca "
bonght even at the price Of f2.0O6.
Suddenly the strident tones of Mr..
Draycott became audible above the nm
roaf. aud compelled attention.
The old villain has broke faith with
me. aud a sneaking scoundrel he al.
ways was, and so he died." cried she.
speaking under strong excitement
hut I'm no longer bound TO keep his
secret and ! won't say. Bill Allenr'
she exclaimed. appealing 20 one Of he
monrners. "you ought 10 know me.
though It's thirty years and more since
was supposed 10 have died. You rec.
ollect Poll Saunders that old Joe Pop.
plewcll married when he was working
at tho railway down Liverpool wayP"
why. surelyfn calculated the In
dividual referred 10. AYE. It's Pull.
sure enoughI' he added. shading his
eyes with his hand.
T" was his lawful wife. Mr.. Reeves.
and he knew H." she explained. turn.
ing 10 the astonished solicitor. .He
deserted mo years ago and married A
lady Mr.. Silas' mother. found him
out again by accident quite recently.
and promised TO keep his secret on on.
dstion thai no would provide for me by
his will But he has been false 70 me
as he was years ago. and low I won't
keep silence any longer"
This Il most serious" said The
solicitor. tn ming 10 Silas, who .tood
axhast with horror and amssement
rage"
"0hl ! have proofs. 1tool cara of
hat interpozed The ~ .l,.u.f ~.
pra,eott. drawing m oblonp sl,p a
paper from her hosom and hsndirv a
10 the lawyer. "Rsad that and lo-,i a.