Old Popplewell's Will.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4320, 4 November 1882, Page 1

Old Popplewell's Will.

It was a great shock to the feelings of Mr Silas Popplewcll to discover that his' father had bequeathed a legacy of £2000 to his housekeeper, a certain Mrs Draycott. The woman had entered the did* man's service only about a year before his death, and if there had been anything remarkable in her demeanour, toward! him, it consisted rather of scant courtesy \ and want of attention. She bad nerer apparently made the slightest attempt to ingratiate herself with her master, who, on his part, had always seemed to regard his attendant with calm indifference. But Silas fel,t doubly aggrieved because bis father had scrupulously concealed from him that he had made a will, leaving him to believe that he was beund to inherit everything as next of., kin and heir-at-law. Silas Popplewcll came across the will quite unexpectedly while going through the old man's papers a few hours after hit decease. The document appeared to be perfectly legal, and had evidently been prepared by a solicitor, whose name was appended as one of the witnesses to the testator's signature. Except the legacy . to the housekeeper, it left everything, to Silas Popplewell, and appointed him sole executor. Considering that old Joseph, Popplewell was reputed to be a wealthy man, most persons in Silas' position would not have suffered the unexpected legacy to disturb their equanimity. But Silas Popplewell was one of those mean, - grasping avaricious individuals who cannot bear the thought of losing anything 7.' He considered he was both • legally and morally entitled to the whole of his father's property, and regarded the legacy to Mrs Drayeott as a fraud upon his just rights. He was, therefore, overwhelmed with rage and disappointment, and worked himself into a perfect fever of virtuous indignation. - • ■ , In the midst of his tribulation^ it suddenly occurred to him that but for.the sheet of paper which he held in bis hand he would be a richer man by two thousand pounds sterling. This eminently practi* cal view of the situation aroused bis worst passions, and he soon found himself won* dcring what would probably happen if the will were not forthcoming. Supposing, for instance, he were to leave the document where he found it nnd say nothing to anybody! Th* chances werp, he riiought, 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 father's habitual reticence concerning his affairs, tbat the - 'woman suspected nothing. If the worst happened, and a hue and cry were raised, the will could be conveniently found; or better still, who could gainsay him if ho were to declare boldly that bis father had deliberately destroyed the will in his presence. Such insidious reflections as these are apt to blunt a man's moral perceptions, < especially when he is laboring under a keen sense of injustice. Silas Popplewell's standard of morality was not a high one, and he would any day sooner have done a shabby trick than lose a sixpence. The consequence was that after a little - hesitation he yielded to an uncontrolable impulse, and consigned the obnoxious will to the flames. i When the paper was reduced to ashes. Silas suddenly awoke to the fact that he had committed a felony and rendered himself liable to penal servitude. He ' turned deadly pale when he thought of this disagreeable contingency, and for a moment fas inclined to repent of what be had done. But when he reflected 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 stroug box in which he had found it and left the room, feeling tolerably easy in his mind. v ; Nothing occurred during the next few": days to arouse fcilaß Popplewell's appre* hensions, and as he was not troubled with j.,, a conscience, he began to congratulate himself upon the decisive step^be had Continued in Fourth Page