The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-03-14

n i II W. duti S. He
~ without cheer
ful expression
N his face, and, although he was not
1T all brilliant, his conversation was
80 thoroughly in keeping with his
l,ountenance that almost any one was
glad to exchange a few words with
aim. Some young men, when they
aeard Percival's praises sounded by
7oung women, insisted that they could
oe quite as agreeable and light-hearted
,s the popular youth had they moth
.ng to do but enjoy life and spend the
money that busy father had saved
:or an only son. Probably they were
mistaken, for Percival was not the only
young man in New York who had
plenty of money and no business oc-
:upation, yet some of the others looked
iquite as dull and unhappy as the poor
nst people they met on the street.
Nothing, though, in this imperfect
world seems quite as it should be, SO
there was drawback to the entire en-
j;oyment of any one who sought Per.
ciyal Wareley's society, and who we're
willing to help him spend his money.
It was the young mans closest friend,
Mr.. Henry Drock. This person was
at least fifteen years the senior OF
young Wareley, who was only twenty
four, and he took all the pleasures OF
!he rich SO calmly that people won
dered if he enjoyed them at all.
Yet Percival seemed fonder of him
han of any other man and took him
wherever he went, introducing him
into society and proposing him at clubs
as if there was no doubt that others
would enjoy Mr.. Drock's society quite
rs much as Percival himself. People
will stand great deal from young
men who are rich as well as agreeable,
20 Drock was endured politely, some
niddle-aged people remarking that
here was 100 times as much to him as
% Pe1cival himself, for the fellow
,eemed entirely sensible, and could
talk fairly well upon the affairs of the
LAY, where's Percivsrs interest in any
thing which did not produce amuse.
nent in large quantities were limited.
Meanwhile, that Drock reciprocated
lis young friends regard could not be
doubted for an instant. No matter
how uninteresting anything might
seem to the older man, his eye never
rosted upon Percival without display
ing an active and honest fondness.
Some people were mean enough to
suggest that Drock's regard was that
of well-kept dog, and for the same
reason; but Percival had insisted al
one time, when conversation CHANGED
to be about his friend, that Drock was
one of the hardest men in the world
TO do favor to, for his tastes were
'ew and his means ample.
Young women of the class that Gays
anything that comes to mind had ex'
pended much curiosity and some ques'
tions upon the couple, but all they
learned was that Drock had known hit
young friend from early boyhood, ano
always liked him; he had first met
him in the town where Percival's
father had found wife, and where the
family spent month or two of every
year. He said be never had met 6
better-natured, more open-hearted
young man, and, such qualities being
scarce, he liked and respected then
accordingly. It did him (Drock) lot
of good to see young person enjoy
life 80 heartily and persistently, in
stead of turning against it on being
satiated with pleasure, and he though
it did men good, anyway, to be some
times in the society of men younger
han themselves.
brock evidently meant all he said
but his fondness for Percivsl did no
meet tho approval of some men ant
women who wanted Percival to become
fond of them. Young and impression
able men who are rich in their Owl
right and scarce in any society, Sc
there were handsome women some
years older and a hundred times
smarter than Perciyal Wareley whe
would gladly have married the youne
nan for his money.
Likewise there were scores of men,
youn,; and old, who would have give1
their very souls to coax the youth anc
his money into business with them
even if their highest ideal Of business
was to get ahead of the bookmakers a
the race tracks, or to try some "sys
tenn" on the proprietors OF other gam
bling establishments. But Drock VA
always in the way; he never talked
business himself and seemed to have
GO business training.
To sec Perci7al without Drock ws
pext to impossible, for the two nel
kept bachelors hall together, and nd
amount of contriving suf1ced to get
Drock out of the way while Perci7a
should be 'slet into" some grand
noney-making scheme con the ground
: 5oor."
Ladies Jared rather better, for Pa-
.ival's bosom friend was not an ewes
iropper, yet the women who were
longest headed had 70 faith in ever
resuming thei- Establishments jus
where they had dropped them at tn
end Of chat, for they felt sure tha
iPerci1A unbescn,ed himself to hi
Eirisnd snd tAst Qxoat' & COUNSEL woalt