The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1882-09-07

has behaved badly 20 me, 50 am de-
termined TO disinherit him
+" If. as. you say, the matter is quite
straightforward. / shall have no obiec-
ton TO act" said Mr.. Parchment, tax
ing up his pen and drawing a sheet of
! paper toward him viii you give me
the necessary instructions for your
WHIP
i leave everything to Edward Alfred
! Husketh and I appoint him Joint exec
utor with you,' said Mr. Downing,
''And who may Mr.. Husketh be?''
/ inquired the lawyer, as he wrote down
the name.
MY man-valet, I suppose you
ought to call him. answered the old
gentleman.
:. Dear men' exclaimed DIR. Parch-
ment leaning back in his chair. '.And
you leave him everythingn'
!, Yes :, I. 1872
6 OF course, You see your duties win
4 be very simple"
but you have considered, Mr..
I DowningP A man in his position -
9 g know an thatn' Interrupted the
old gentleman, testily$ Shat is what
every one VIII say, aud that Is why /
wish a lawyer of responsibility like your
self TO act as my executor, ID order to
4 protect his interests. You viii find
Husketh very decent fellow, well ed
ucated, and so on and quite gentleman
enough to make better use Of my money
than my nephew could ~ "a
Mr. Parchment said no more. as it
was quite clear that Mr.. Downing had
deliberately made up his mind. After
all, the lawyer felt no interest in the
| disnher ted heir, and he knew instinct
| lively that his new client was not per-
son likely to be swayed by impulse, or
to take serious step without exercising
his judgment He therefore drew up
the will according to instructions, not
emitting the legacy TO himself and Mr.
downing called and executed it in due
form the following evening, insisting
upon paying the fees on the spot. The
will was cOnfded to Mr.. Parchment
care, and the new client took his de-
parture, apparently much relieved in
his mind.
But the lawyer felt very uncomfort a.
bic when he reflected upon the matter
The idea OF client bequeathing his
property to a servant, to the exclusion
Of his own relatives, was repugnaut to
Mr.. Parchments old-fashioned notions
of Justice and decorum; and his con
science smOte him for not having pro-
tested moro strongly against such a dis
position. To ease his mind, he resolved
to call upon old Mr. Downing, and
make an effort to induce him to modify
his will in favor of the nephew; but this
project was the outcome of several
weeks uneasy reelection, and in accord
ance with the legal propensity for pro-
crastination, he put Off his visit from
day to day, until he was shocked. and
startled to hear of the death of the OBJ
ject Of bis solicitude.
Mr.. Parchment was too practical to
worry himself with vain regrets, and he
therefore at once proceeded TO discharge
the duties imposed upon him by the
viii. He found the fortunate legatee q
sleek, clean-shaYen, quiet hammered,
middle aged individual, answering very
well to his late masters description of
him. Mr., Husketh expressed mild sur
prise when the important news was
communicated to him, but showed no
emotion whatever Though he treated
Mr.. Parchment with respectful defer
ence, the lawyer could see that he in
tended to manage his own affairs, and
was not likely to develop into a tracta-
bic, confding client. Perhaps it was
owing to circumstances that Mr.. Parch-
| ment conceived u strange aversion to
q his co-eXecutor-so much so, that he
{ did not feel very Loyalty disposed to
wards him.
On the other hand, he sympathized
very much with the old mans nephew,
, Arthur Downing, who came up to town
to attend his uncle's funeral. When
Mr.. Parchment Informed him of the
purport of the will, he bore his disap-
pointment so bravely, without trace
Of anger or resentment, that the old
lawyers expressions of coincidence had
! a genuine ring in them Arthur Down
ing explained that he had incurred his
uncle's displeasure by marrying against
the old mans wishes, and he was there
fore not altogether surprised at being
/ disinherited At the same time, his
uncle had written him a letter shortly
T. before his death, in which he did not
l repeat his threat of altering his will, and
Arthur Downing had come up to town
, in the full expectation that he was his
uncle's heir MIR. Parchment was much
struck by the magnanimity which the
young man displayed toward Mr.. Hus-
keith Far from attributing his rival S
good fortune to ehieanery or undue I'M
} tiuence, he said that his Uncle had al
, ways rather distrusted the man, and was
/ not the least likely to have consulted
him about the disposition of his prop
= erty. He expressed his conviction that
A1OckGbn was d AlA1tlAN ECS ptClADAG per
son. and. frankly admitted that his long
! and faithful service entitled him TO SUBJ
stantial benefits from his late master
When the young man proceeded to say
that he must now resign his commission,
and emigrate to the Colonies to begin
life -afresh, Mr.. Parchment felt that he
) would gladly forfeit his legacy if he
could find flaw in old Mr.. Downing 5
unjust WILL However, he knew very
well that the document was perfectly
valid on the face of it, and he therefore
had to content himself with wringing
} Arthur Downing's hand sympathet-
ieally as they parted with mutual ex-
pressions of q God win.
This interview, though it tended to
increase the lawyers antipathv TO Mr.
Eusketh, served to satisfy him of the
mans integrity, and he therefore took
the necessary steps for proving the will
without delay, leaving his co-eXecutor
, to dispose of the testa.Or' furniture and
household effects. As old Mr.. Downing,
though a rich man, only occupied the
. upper part of a house in Hardwood
square, his domestic affairs were easily
arranged, and the lawyer was much
impressed by the cool business-like
manner in which the late valet set to
work.
One evening, about a week after the
) funeral, Mr.. Parchment was preparing
to leave the Office at an unusually early
hour for him, when Mr.. Huskcth was an
nounced. The ex-valet appeared less
placid and Self-pOsSesSed than usual,
and asked the lawyer to let him have u
loan of 9200 for a few DAYS until the pro-
bate of the viii could be obtained
Though surprised at the request, Mr.
Parchment asked no questions, but at