The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1883-01-17
A MISPLACED KINDNESS.

I'm tho death OF Colonel Laklng no
one was more surprised at his not hay
ing loft q will than Mr.. Alfred Laking,
his nephew and heir. at-law. That gen
tlcman had the best reasons for know
Ing that his uncle was not well disposed
toward HMM fact. tho Colonel had
refused to have anything to do with him
for some years past. Tho truth was
that Alfred Laking was once guilty Of
an net OF meanness, which his unclo
never forgave, and, therefore, the fort
innate heir had not expected TO benefit
by his uncle's death. But even out.
sidcrs, who knew nothing Of the carso
Of enlargement between the Colonel
and his nephew, were amazed Mt the old
gentleman dying intestatc. He had 80
frequently expressed his determination
OF preventing his nephew from succeed
ing TO his property, and had made so
many wills ut different times with that
object, that his intcsiacy caused Lni.
versal nstonlshmcnt, 1t was generally
supposed that his somewhat sudden
death had frustrated his tcstamentary
intentions, or else that, ut tho last mo-
mont, he had realized tho force Of the
old adage that blood Is thicker than
water, and had been content to permit
his nephew 10 inherit by tho ordinary
course Of law.
But while Mr.. Alfred Laking received
the congratulations Of his friends with
equanimity, and apparently acquicsccd
In tho general opinion that he was n
very lucky individual. he did not by any
means feel secure OF his inheritance.
His natural cunning. and his mean, sus-
picious nature suggested the idea that
his uncle had not failed TO take due pre-
cautions TO guard against tho conlin-
gcncy which had happened. lie did not
believe for nm instant that the old mans
feelings had softcned toward him in his
last moments, any sentiment approach
ing magnanimity being beyond the mar
row limits OF his moral perceptions. In
his hoart OF hearts no felt convinced
that there was will In existence, and
that no owed his Inheritance to the nc
cidcntal circumstance Of tho document
having been mislaid or overlooked.
But though this forcboding possessed
10 n moral ceria;ntv In tool no o IDI'
verify his suspicious. On tho contrary
no carefully refrained from doing any
thing OF tho kind. Ho did. indeed,
stealthily and in secret scrutnizc his
uncle's papers, destroying all those
which contained suspicious memoran-
da. But no omitted to take the obvi.
Gus course OF advertising in tho newspa.
Pers, or applying 10 tho various legal
gentlemen whose services to his knowl-
edge-hls uncle had from time to time
employed no thought it possible
prooaDlc' IN fact-that ono OF these
might DO IN possession OF will; but he
v IT. s. never \, summon up courage to ask,
. msp' .ne lacu o. inc OLD mans death
,nv N" c NO p1S ~ No. NOV even announs
omnloyed q s,r 80 ,no s ",n,ny papers nc
,h af L. , s.anso soIv'.or 70 perform
nU INV, work cohhected WIN thc al
nn 'Is'ra.,on Oh .nG estate, ana IN short
ehueaVored 10 avoid publicity In every
WY uu
a, ny' Wv t,,0 n.s'icw months OF MS uhcle's
uoa.,, no whs Pcrpe'ualy haunted by
would ho ,hr aS ms o, o,'Uor h, Precat,on
Ind nassoJ ho he% a - '% hroniIa , yono
au p's' nv ho pos"h W prG"'no more
" ' on""'o' "o'o' III 'houS"''
that, Il q will existed it would have
turned up by this time, or olse IL would
probably rot away in It's hiding place;
40 Sy Ills pnsillanimous Imagination be-.
came loss anraIlipo until ono d,r h;o
anxiety was rcviyed nv n vcrv ominoms
Incident. '''
A shahb,lv drossod middle orod MAN
called upon him, and said he had nm i'm. |
r rsva ~ vo'nalunicatlon 10 make. He