The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-10-13

days to arouse Si!as Popplcwclls ap
| prchcnsions and as he was not troubled
with conscience he began to congrat
ulatc himself upon the decisive step h,
about her duties as usual and did no
seem to trouble her head as 10 whether
her master had left a will or not, from
which Silas gathered with heartfelt
satisfaction that she knew nothing
about her legacy. lie could not refrain
however; from watching her furtively
knowing what he did of his fathers in
tcniions toward her. She was vulgar
iIlicrate, elderly woman, singularly
devoid of personal attarction and appar
emily not possessed of much INTEL.
Scncc. While striving in vain TO nc
count Tor his fathers extraordinary pre-
objection for her as manifested by his
! will, Silas was struck by an expression
| of determination on the woman's fac,
which seemed TO indie ate desperate
character. lie began to suspect that stt
had forged the will by the aid Of accom-
pliccs and was waiting with calmness
the issue of her Vaccinations. If so
she was doomed TO disappointment
thought SiIas, and he chucklcd at the
notionsof having frustrated such an in.
famous scheme.
When the day of the funeral arrived
Silas felt strangely nervous and I'M
comfortable. lie was very much upset
by the unexpected number of mourners,
the mere fact of having TO provide
gloves and Grape OH such an extended
scale being sufficient to cause him scri-
Gus vcxation. Old Joseph Ppnnlo wnll
was man OF very humble origin, hav-
ing in fact, commenced life as com.
mon laborer, and Silas scarcely knew
any of his fathers relatives. Several
of them turned up, however, without
being invited, and Silas resented their
presence very much, not only because
he was not anxious to claim kinship
with them, but because they would no
doubt make particular inquiries about
the destination of the old mans pro-
pcrty.
1t is to lie feared that Silas suffered
his mind to wander a good deal from
his fathers obscquics. lie may have
had soft corner in his heart for the
old mans memory, but nervousness
and apprehension rendered il inacccssi-
bic on this occasion. The solemn
words of the burial service fell unhccd-
ed on his ear, for his mind was disturb
cd by the prospect of having to explain
TO his relative that his father had died
intcstate. His newly discovered hiIE-
mcn were painfully vulgar and coarse
minded set, and several fragments of
conversation referring to his fathers
supposed icslamentary intentions had
reached him. The idea that the
Old man had left will seemed as gen.
cral as the eXtraya agant notion that each
individual lad been named in it,
Though he was gultlcss as far as they
were concerned, ,Silas Popplewcll, being
agiiated and unncrved, shrank from the
task of answering their inquiries, while
he was seized with sudden terror lest
the housckecpcr should take the oppor-
tuniiy to give uttcraucc to unpleasant
suspicion.
When the mourncrs returned to the
house Mrs. Draycott was standing by
the fireplace in the siitinO roo",
vcrsing W ith prinl, professional look
Silas, advanced to meet him, rubbing
his hands.
"Mr. Popplcwcll, believe" he said
with slight bow.
eyes," replied Silas uncasily.
"You will doubtless know nay name
when mention it," replied the other;
81 am Mr.. Reeves, of Grays' Inn
Square"
Silas turned very white and his knees
tremblcd, for Mr.. Reeves was the
solicitor who had witnessed the exccu-
ton of his fathers will.
ell beg your PARDON" he said
falteringly; 81 think there must be
some mistake, have not the pleasure
of your acquaintance"
81 imagined your housekceper wrote
to me by your Instructions" said the
solicitor, slightly embarrassed and
glancing al Mrs. Draycott.
al wrote because the late Mr.. Popple-
we'll told me in case yon did not" said
the woman, boxing toward Silas de-
liantly. "Ile wished the will TO be read
at the funeral"
"Will! what willW exclaimed Silas,
with feigned surprise, and then he
added, as though bracing his nerves for
the ordeal, "Pray be seated, gentlemen.
and take glass of wine and a biscuit"
Each person selected a chair and sub
sided into il with good deal of shun-
ling of feet and coughing, but no one
accepted the protlered hospitality. The
dead silence which ensued indicated
breathless interest aud excitement.
"My father has left no will" asseryat'
ed Silas, taking mp his position on the
hearth rug aud endeavoring to speak
calmly.
81 think you are mistaken, Mr.. Pop
plewell," }" said Mr.. Reeves, politely bul
firmly. "Your father executed a vii
in my presence which prepared abou
year ago. lie certainly left will
unless of course, he has destroyed ol
otherwise revoked it,"
"Thc will is locked up in the iroi
/. >, ...o..0oaI A.v