Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1897-02-12

was one OF tnO6o
men who, without meaning to be disf-
greeable, nevertheless make themselves
disliked wherever they go. The real
reason was that he was utterly devoid
OF tact. He seldom failed to say tho
wrong thing, especially when it was cs-
sential that he should say the right.
If there wasa chance of putting his foot
into it, into it las sure as eggs) his foot
went. If he was obliged, in the exer-
else Of his duties, to make an unpleua-
ant remark, he was absolutely certain to
say it 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 tradesmen Of
the place. He was "near" in the matter
OF money. He seemed to have a con-
stitutional aversion to parting with it.
Even when an account was due he in
yariably thallied in the discharging of
the same; and though he always paid
up in the end, he often kept shopmen
waiting longer than they cared about.
1t was really fad of his--a mere
idiosyncrasy, and did not arise from
any conscious churlishness. But the
shopkeepers OF Winfield regarded II
shopkeepers of Winfield regarded it
niggardly nature; and though they
supplied the vicar, because 1t was worth
their while, they nevertheless dislikcd
him with oil their commercial souls.
Winfield was small place OF 1900
inhabitants, something between tiny
town and an overgrown village. 1t
had quite a fair number Of shops
butcher, baker, fishmonger, grocer,
linendraper, ironmonger, wine mcr-
chant and tobacconist. 1t was served
by a doctor, exc by an auctioneer. But
there was one important thing not to be
had there-namely, law. No solicitor
had yet found 1t worth his while to set
tie in so small place.
Butabout the middle of October q year
or two since solicitor did, at length,
make his appearance, and set up In
Winfield. His name was Perks. He
was shrewd, dapper, little man, OF pre-
possessing exterior and insinuating
WAYS. who soon made to himself friends
in the village. Although his manner
was bland and courteous, 1t was pretty
obvious that he was not quite gentle
man. But as very few persons in Whin-
field--except the squire and the vicar
had any pretensions to that distinc-
ton. the solicitors lack OF the pure
"hatt 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
look for business; and they preferred
n man with whom they could associate
on footing Of equality.
This is just what Perks did. He con-
stantly went to the tradesmen's houses.
He dined and supped with them. He
ala the civil to their wives and daugh-
tiers. He often dropped in casually in
tbe afternoon for cup Of tea, or in the
evening for pipe and a glass of grog'
This naturally made him popular in
their circle. :.
"Mr. Perks is quite the gentleman
said Mrs Grocer Hobb, land there's nj
nasty pride about him, neither
"True, Maria" asserted Hobb, her
snouse a fat and prosperous figure,
"Perks is a good sort. And II l have q
bit Of lawyering 10 be done III put 1t In
Perks way"
For the first month or two after his
arrival In Winfield Perks was regular
attendant at the parish church. twas
the proper, the respectable thing to do
BESIDES, to get in with the vicar-even
when the vicar is unpopular--may pay
newcomer very well in country
parish. ! p.,.,.a !,
all. From the hrss M had shown dis
like to him, and nothing that Ne soncs'
tor did to ingratiate himself in that
quarter made any difference Az the