The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-10-14
OLD POPPLEWELL'S WILL.

OLD POPPLEWELES WILL.
1t was great shock to the feelings
OF Mr. Silas Popplewell to discover that
his father had bequeathed legacy of
$4,000 TO his house-keeper, a certain
Mrs. Draycott The woman had en-
tered the old mans service only about
q 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 ingrati-
ate 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 scrupulously concealed
from him that he had made willie leav-
ing him to believe that he was bound
to inherit everything as next to an
heir at-law.
Silas Popplewell came across the will
quite Unexpectedly while going throuo h
the old mans papers few hours after
his decease. The document appeared
to be perfectly legal, and had evidently
been prepared by a solicitor. whose
name was appended as one of the wit
nesses to the testator's signature Ex-
cept the legacy of the hOusekeeper, it
LETT everything to Silas Popplewell, and
appointed him sole executor. Consd-
ering that old Joseph Popplewell was
reputed to be wealthy man, most per-
sons in Silas' position would not have
suffered the unexpected legacy to dis
turb their equanimity But Silas Pop
plewell was one of those mean, grasp
ing, avaricious individuals who cannot
bear the thought OF losing anything
He considered he was both legally and
b morally entitled to the whole of his
fathers property, and regarded the
legacy to Mrs. Draycott as fraud upon
his Just rights. He was. therefore,
overwhelmed with rage and disappoint-
ment. and worked himself into per-
feet fever of virtuous Indignation.
In the midst of his tribulatons it sud-
denly occurred to him that but for the
sheet of paper which he held in his hand
he would lie richer man by two thou
sand pounds sterling. This eminentlv
practical view of the situation aroused
his worst passions, and he soon found
himself wondering what would proba-
bly, happen if the will were not forth
coming. Suppos ng, for instance, he
found it and say nothing to ANYBODY!
The chances were, he thought, that the
housekeeper would believe the testator
had revoked it, assuming she had ever
been aware of its existence; while it
was quite, possible, considering his late
fathers habitual reticance concerning
his affairs, that the woman suspected
nothing. If the worst happened, and q
hue and cry were raised, the will could
be conven emily found; or better still,
who could gainsay him if he were to de-
clare boldly that his father had deliber-
ately destroyed the will in his presence?
Such insidious reflections as these are
apt to blunt mans moral perceptions,
especially when he is laboling under a
keen sense of injustice. Silas Popple-
wells standard of morality was not a
high one, and he would any day sooner
have done shabby trick than lose a
siXpence. The consequence was that
after little hesitation he yielded to an
uncomfortable impulse, and 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 felony and re n
idered himself liable to penal servitude.
he turned deadly pale when he thought
OF this disagreeable contingency, and
for moment was inclined to repent of
what he had done. But when he re-
Elected that his wicked act had not been
witnessed by any mortal eyes, while the
only evidence of his guilt-the charred
papers--was rapidly 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 tolerably easy in
his mind. -
Nothing occurred during the nextfew
days to arouse Silas Popplewell' appre-
tensions, and as he was not troubled
with a conscience he began to congratu-
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 as to whether
her master had left will or not. from