The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-10-03
THE PHONETIC WILL.

lfic man no one residing IN the nelBh-
borhood Of his residence could deny
Being a chemist, however, and an ar
dent worker in that profession, the
purpose of many of his strange doings
was seldom questioned and was mere
ly ascribed to his interest in science.
Fetherngil was the possessor OF
most thoroughly equipped laboratory,
which he kept secretly guarded and In
which a great part Of his time was
spent. lie was in possession OF ample
means to crafty his most elaborate
within, and aside from the time and
money which ne spent in his labora-
tory, he reserved sufficient Of both for
the proper devotion to his home and
family, as well as to the society in
which he was a central figure. He
never allowed a member Of the fam
lily to cross the threshold Of the apart
ment which he held so sacred.
One morning Mr.. Fetherngill cast q
feeling Of depression over the family
circle at the breakfast table by open
ing a conversation on the subject Of
death.
He reasoned that every man must
die-this from scientific standpoint.
He had read of one man who did not
die, and he did not believe that.
He left the table with the remark
that he was going to prepare for death
and repaired to the laboratory leaving
his wife and three daughters in a
furry of muddled thoughts.
A telephone order brought to the
house the skillful and famous Peter
Vandenbroek, whose great works OF
sculpture had brought him fame and
recognition from the remote parts of
the country.
The sculptor was admitted to con-
ference with Fetherngill in his labora-
tory. On the following day he re-
turned with several boxes Of parapher-
MALTA and instruments of his art
For the ensuing month Fetherngill
and Vandenbroek were closeted in the
laboratory, but to what purpose Mira.
Fetherngill and her inQuisitive daugh-
ters could not even surmise, and a
thought of entering the scientists
sanctum none of them dared to en-
terrain.
At luncheon one day the sculptor,
whose presence had graced that noon
day meal for the previous month, was
absent Mr. Fetherngill said that he
had finished his work.
Mrs. Fetherngill, whose curiosity had
been restrained until now it was at the
bursting pressure, asked for the first
time what the sculptor had been doing
She received the reply that Vanden-
brock had been preparing her hus-
bands will.
Why a sculptor instead Of a lawyer
should have been employed to draw
up a will Mrs. Fetherngill could moi
imagine, and her curiosity was now
more than doubly aroused, and in
spite Of a conference held with hel
daughters she could not discover {
clew which might throw light upor
Aer husbands strange intentions.
Mrs. Fetherngill was in anything
but a pleasant mood as she sat in the
parlor reviewing her husbands recen
and strange remarks about death anC
wills. CHANGING out of the win
dow a scene confronted her which
sent her with loud scream
into a violent fit of Mysteries. He
daughters rushed to her assistance
ard were equally Mortified upon see
ing two men bearing into the hous,
a coffin from the wagon of an under
taking establishment in the city. Tn,
bell rang, and Mr. Fetherngill per
sonalIy received the men and conduct
ed them with the casl1et to his labora
, tory.
'Why did you bring that coffin int,
the house?" asked his wife, her voic
controlled almost mechanically rattle
than by her own will. "There is M
telling when / might need it" replies
her husband, calmly. But if you OBJ
ject to its being here will have it re
moved tomorrow"
True to his word, on the following
day Mr.. Fetherngill had the coffin re
moved, but in a decidedly differen
manner than that in which it ha
entered the house.
On the day before the casket wa
handled carelessly and easily by tw
men, but now it was carried CAREFUL
by four men, who staggered under it
weight. This popularity was not over
looked by Mrs. Fetherngill and he
daughters.
z Their curiosity, rather than bein
satisfied, was more deeply arouse
when they were informed by Mr. Fetl
.erngin in answer to their questions IL
garding the contents of the caske