Untitled

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4320, 4 November 1882, Page 4

Some papers are not of much account as to appearance, but I never took one that did not pay me, in some way, more tban I paid for it. One time an old friend started a little paper away down in South-Western Georgia and sent it tome. I subscribed 'just to encourage him, and after a while it published a notice that an administrator bad an order to sell Beveral lots at public outcry, and one was in my county. So I inquired about tbe lot, and wrote to my friend to attend the sale and. run it up to fifty dollars. He did |so, and bid me the lot for thirty dollars, and I sold it in a month to a man it joined for a hundred dollars, and so I made sixty-eight dollars clear by taking that paper. My father told me that when he was a young man be saw- a notice in a paper that a school teacher was wanted away off in a distant county, and he went there and got the situation, and a little girl was sent to him, and after a while she grew up mighty sweet and pretty, and he fell in love with her and married her. Now, if lie hadn't taken that paper, what do you reckon ; would have , become of me ? Wouldn't I hare been some other fellew, or may not be at all.—Lowell Courier. The Pall Mall Budget of July 28th relatesaremarkablecoincidence mentioned by the Press Association correspondent at Plymouth:—" On Tuesday evening in the previous week a young man residing at Devon port called upon the editor of the Western Daily Mercury and asked if any telegrams had (been received giving tbe namea of Englishmen killed during that day in Alexandria. He said that during the afterneon the mother and wife of s petty officer named Revington, serving in, Alexandria, had what they regarded as a token of his death. They were sittipg in together iv their house talking and. working, when they heard, or thou/gh theyt heard, the Toice of the absorb son and husband say « Mother !" , tbree times. Nothing had been heard about Revin«ton at the newspaper office; hut on Wednesday the relatives got a telegram from the Admiralty statingtthaw> w he was shot in the streets of Alexandra on Tuesday while serving on policy <u Q ty. NeithertheCapuchins nor the Sisters of St. Vincent de Paul left Alexandria during tba bombardment. Many of the wounded were rescued by the Sisters at the risk of their lives, "and the monks fearlessly walked through the streets trying to lessen the sufferings of the fallen, or where that was hopeless, administering the consolation of religion.

The excitement of the audience at this announcement found vent in a hoarse cheer, in the midst of which poor Silas sank into a chair in a half-fainting condition. He now understood—too late, alas!—what had caused his father suddenly to make a will, and he was also keenly conscious of the fact, that having borne witness^to its alleged revocation, it was out of the question to endeavor to set it up again. He was aroused from his bitter reflections by the toufh of the housekeeper upon the shoulder. " Cheer up, my lad," she said roughly, but not unkindly, "I did not know it would be so bad for you as this, and I don't pity you less because I suspect you've brought it on yourself. Now, I won't make any rash promises, because I don't know how much money I'm going to get. But you shall have the £2000 you grudged to me, even if I don't'receive a farthing more." —Truth.

' **This extraordinary document purports to be signed by both parties," added the lawyer, handling the paper reverently, " and'l must say that upon the face of it, taken in conjunction with the certificate, it appears to be incontestible evidence." 11 Who gets the money now then ?" demanded the same person who had asked the question before. ; f f " Well, gentlemen, I am sorry to say that Mr Popplewell being, unfortunately for himself, nullius filius, or illegitimate, can inherit nothing," replied Mr Reeves. "The estate will, therefore, be divided between the lawful widow of the deceased and his next,of kin, according to the statute." i

"I Joseph Popplewell, do acknowledge that my housekeeper, Mrs Draycott, is my lawful wife, which I married under the name' of Mary Saunders in IS—, and I, .Mary Popplewell or Draycott, do hereby swear that if my husband, Joseph Popplewell, leaves me £2,000 by his- will, I will keep bis marriage secret."

over he read aloud as follows :—

" Mr PopplewelFwill inherit everything as next of kin and heir-at-law," replied the lawyer.. "This information elicited a loud chorus of indignation, and many insulting epithets were levelled at the head of ihr> luckless Silas, who, pale and trembling, realised that his triumph was dearly bought, even at the price of two thousand pounds. Suddenly the strident tones of Mrs Draycott became audible above the uproar, and compelled attention. " The old villain has b^okto- faith with me, and a sneaking scojprdrel he always was, and so he died," cnb&she, speaking tinder strong excitement. " But I'm no longer bound to keep his secret, and I wont. 1 siyi Bill Allen ! " she exclaimed, appealing to one of the mourners, " you oughfto know me, though its thirty years and more since I was supposed to have died. You recollect Poll Saunders that old Joe Popplewell married when he was working- at the railway down Liverpool way!?" r "JWby surely!" ejaculated the individual referred to. " Aye, it's Poll, sure enough !" he added, shading his I eyes with his hand. I ■' I was his lawful wife, Mr Reeves, and he knew it," she explained, turning to the astonished solicitor. He deserted me years ago and married a lady—Mr Silas's mother. I found him out again by accident quite recently, and promised to keep his secret on condition that he would provide for me by his will. But he has been false to me as he was years ago, and now I wont keep silence any longer." " This is most serious," said the solicitor, turning to Silas, who stood aghast with horror and amazement, "if this — this lady can prove her marriage." " Oh! I have proofs. I took care of that,"; interposed the soi-disant Mrs Draycottj drawing an oblong slip of paper ; from her.,..bosom and handing- it to the lawyer. " Head that and look at what I made him sign on the back." '■ " It is a marriage certificate," said Mr Eeeves, glancing at it; and turning it

' ■,'' Well, gentlemen, I must say that Mr '■ Popplewelli» account is perfectly straightforward," interposed the lawyer, who, . whatever his private, opinions might have been,' probably: thought it prudent, as a sutler of business to, side with Silas. ," Testators frequently revoke their wills in the manner described. If it is any '.. consolation to you,; gentlemen, 1 may mention that is faias you are concerned, the exiiiteriee of the will would have made no difference to yon." ~ "Will yon tell us, Mr Lawyer, who will «et the money,, supposing what Mr \ $ilaa s»ys is true/ inquired a voice in an aggrieved tone, ■ ■ -■ • '

Ad old miser owning a farm found it impossible to do his work without assistance, : and accordingly offered any man food for. performing the requisite labor. A halfstarved pauper, hearing of the terms, accepted them. Before going into the fields in the morning the farmer invited his man to breakfast; after finishing the morning meal the old skinflint thought it would be saving time if they should place the dinner upon the breakfast. This was readily agreed to by the unsatisfied stranger, and the dinner was soon dispatched.— "Suppose now," said the frugal farmer, " we take supper; it will save time and trouble, you know."—"Just as you like," said the eager eater, and at it they went.—" Now we will go to work," said the satisfied and delighted employer!—" Thankyou," said the gratified laborer, " I never work after sapper^'. A ' lawyer is about the only maa that - ever made anything by opposing a woman's _ will.

,tok«in:"r?T!ic hoWeke^ppr' went about Her dutiesi.as usual, and did not seem to trouble her head as to whether her mas'er bad left a will or not, from which Silas Sthered with heartfelt satisfaction that c knew nothing about her legacy. He ; could not refrain, however, from watching her furtively, knowing what he did of his father's intentions towards her. She was a vulgar, illiterate, elderly woman, singularly devoid of personal attraction, and apparently not possessed of much intelli--8 While striving in vain to account father's extraordinary predilection as manifested by his will; Silas uck by an expression of detertni- ' o%,the woman-a face which lew&ied ' Ld*t a ifc^t&rfk&&tf&Re began to suspect that she had forged the will by the aid of accomplices, and was waiting with calmness the issue of her machinations. If so, she was doomed to disappointment, thought Silas, and he eUsVktai~ a| the notion of havibg fruss tMJd'j^chain infamous scSeme.i .; 'day of the funeral arrived, Silas felt strangely nervous and uncomfortable. He was very much upset by the unexpected number of mourners, the ' mere fact of having to provide gloves and crape on such an extended scale being sufficient to cause him serious vexation. Old Joseph Popplewell was a man of very humble origin, having, in fact, commenced life as a common laborer, and Silas scarcely knew any of his father's relatives. Several of these turned up, however, without being; in»ited t 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 man's property: - It is^o be leered that Silas suffered his Band t<&wandsr a.goo&deil from his old father's^bWqoie|.\lT4miy have had/a ■oft corntr ia.l^ hettt'ibr Jthe old man's memory, nsrvpil§nesß and apprehend ■ion rendered itr inaccessible on this occasion. .The solemn words of the burial service fell unheedfed on his ear, for bis mind was disturbed by the prospect of . having to explain to his relatives* that., his " father had died intestate. His newlydiscovered kin'wnW r were a painfully vulgar and coarse minded set, and several fragments of conversation referring to his father's supposed testamentary intentions had reached him., The idea that the old iMMhmdklvfk^st-jwilbsvemed ■ ws v general" as the extravagant notion that each individual mourner^had beeji named in it. Though he warf guiltlesli?as far as they were all concerned, « Silas i Popplewell, being agitated and unnerved, shrank from the task of answering their inquiries ; while he. was .seised, with ; sudden terror lest tile housekeeper should take the opportu- . riitytto give utterance to unpleasant suspicion. .. i ■: When the mourners returned to the house Mrs Draycott was standing by the fireplace in -'the sitting room conversing with, a prini. professional looking gentle^ man, who, on perceiving Silas, advanced < to meet him, rubbing his hands. •- "MrPopplewell, I believe," he said, with a alight bow* . " Yes," replied Silas uneasily. "You will doubtless know my name when I mention it/ replied the other; •• I am Mi Reeves, of Grays' Inn Square." -Silas turned very white, and his knees treniblfedrfcr'Mr ( Reeveß was the solicitor #ho' had, witnessed the execution of his fitter's Witt.

" J—l .bteg^onr pardon," he said falteringlyj' 'T think there must be some mistake, I have not the pleasure of your "acquaintance^"; ; ■ ■, "I imagined your housekeeper wrote to me by your-instructions," said the solicitor, ilijpltly embarrassed, and glancing at Mrs Driyeott. "I wrote,,because the late Mr Popple- - well told'«»!» osse you did not," said the woman", looking towards Silas defiantly. "He wished the will to be read at the funeral."

" What! what will P " exclaimed Silas,

with feigned surprise; and then he added, as though'bhicfiig his nerves for tbe ideal, - " Pray be seated, gentlemen, and take a ' glass of wine'and a biscuiV." -' v£s«hiperson selected a chair and subsided into it with a good deal of shuffling of feet and coughing, but no one accepted the "proffered hospitality. The dead silence which-ensued indicated breathless

interest and excitement. , *:My fattier has left no will," asseverated Bilais; takinfe up his position on the'hearthrug", and endeavoring to speak ' calmly.' '" ' '' " " I think you are mistaken, Mr Popplewell," said Mr Reeves, politely, but firmlyf^'Your father executed a will in my presence which I. prepared for him about a year. ago. He certainly has left a will—unless, of course, he has destroyed or otherwise revoked it."

" The will ii looked up in the iron box in the study,"-interposed Mrs Draycott with'decision.

" I repeat that my father has left no will/ cried Silas angrily. " Anyone is at liberty to search the iron box if he likes. As Mr; Beeves suggests, my father destroyed tlie will." " I don't believe it," exclaimed the housekeeper excitedly. " Why I saw it with xqj own ©yea, not a month ago." "When did he destroy it P Who seed 'infdo it? " inquired a voice from among the mourners. b ■ . , . - . J' He destroyed it in my presence lastlet me see—last Thursday week. I fetched it at his request from the iron box and heput it in the fire of his own free will," s said^ilaajnlying glibly. Tnougn^an^G&ngV' to' recall the date promueuoiisly, Silas bad been careful to prepare this story beforehand. On the day named he had sat with his father alone for more than an hour during the afternodtf while Mrs Draycott had been out on an errand. If the deceased had

. intended to destroy the will he would probably have jgot.the woman out of the way on a similar pretence, and the suggestion was, plausible enough. The housekeeper-gate a palpable start, and was,; evidently impressed by the coincidence, but among the rest of Ibe audience there was a general expression of in- . credulity, with a good deal of headshaking and some murmurs.