The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1897-02-13

" was one of those
men who, without meaning to be dish
greeable, nevertheless make themselves
dislilked wherever they go. The real
reason was that he was utterly devoid
of tact. He seldom failed to say the
wrong thing. especially when it was cs-
sential that he should say the right.
If there was chance of putting his foot
into il, into it (as sure as eggs) his foot
went. II he was obliged. in the eNer-
else Of his duties, to make an unpleas-
ant remark, he was absolutely certain TO
soy IL in the most unpleasant way
These unfortunate proclivities were al
ways displaying themselves.
There was another little point about
him which increased his unpopularity
---especially among the tradcsmen of
the place. He was NEAR" in the matter
of money. He seemed to have a con
etitutional aversion to parting with it.
Even when an account was due he IN
variably dallied in the discharging OF
the same; and though he always paid
IN In the end. he often kept shopmen
waiting longer than they cared about.
It Yves really fad of his-a mere
idiosyncrasy, and did not arise from
any conscious churlishness. But, the
shopkeepers Of Winfield regarded il
shopkeepers of Winfield regarded it
nlggart1ly nature; and though they
supplied the vicar. because it was worth
their while. they nevertheless dislikcd
him with all their commercial souls.
winfield was small place of 1.5o0
inhabitants, something between tiny
town and an overgrown village. 1t
Had quito fair number of shops
butcher. baker, ishmonger. grocer.
linendxapcr. ironmonger, wine MGR
chant and tobacconist. 1t was served
by . doctor, exc by an auctioneer. But
there was one important thing not to be
had there-namely, law. No solicitor
had ~ found it worth his while to set
tie IL % small place.
Butabout the middle of October year
or two since a solicitor did, at length,
make his appearance, and set up in
WhinfIeld. His name was Perks. He
was = shrewd, dapper, little man, of pre-
poeDe1sing exterior and insinuatirg
WAYS. who soon made to himself friends
In tn village. Although his manner
wa HAND and courteous, it was pretty
obvious that he was not quite gentle
man. But as very few persons in Whin-
1eld~>xcept the squire and the vicar
bsd ny pretensions to that distinc-
tiou, NE solicitors lack of the pure
shaut ton" was no barrier to his getting
on Perhaps. indeed, it rather helped
him: since it was to the tradesmen and
farmers that he would chiefly have to
1ook for business; and they preferred
. rnon with whom they could associate
On " 1ooting of equality.
Tho Is just what Perks did. lie COLI
G<1x@Iy went to the tradesmen's houses.
~ ned and supped with them. He
civil to their wives and daugh-
he often dropped in casually in
IL ernoon for n cup of tea, or in the
e4c1II for n pipe and glass of grog.
Thln naturally made him popular in
their circle.
M. Perks is quite the gentleman"
I'D Mrs. Grocer Hobb, land there's no
(. 1&1>X pride about him, neither"
Tue, Maria," asserted Hobb, her
s, a fat and prosperous figure,
ks is a good sort. And il have n
lawyering 10 be done III put It In
way"
the first month or two after his
in Winfield Perks was regular
liant at the parish church. II was
roper, the respectable thing to do.
Is, TO get in with the vicar-even
the vicar is unpopular-may pay
conner very well in country
the vicar did not take to Perks q {
rom the first he had shown a dis
q him. and nothing that the solicit
& ID to 'ngratiate himself in that
FER made any difference. At the