The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1897-02-11

men VINO, without neanIIlS W NC uiS'
greeahle, nevertheless make themselves
disliked wherever they go. The zeal
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 a chance of putting mis- foot
into il, into it (as sure as eggs) his foot
went. If he was obliged, in the eXcr-
else of his duties, to make an unplens-
ant remark. he was absolutely certain to
say it in the most unpleasant way.
These unfortunate prociivities were a
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 con-
stitutional aversion TO parting with 1t.
Even when an account was due he in
Nariably dallied 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.
II was really fad of his--a mere
idiosyncrasy, and did not arise from
shopkeepers of Winfield regarded II
ehopkeepers of Winfield regarded it
niggardly nature; and though they
supplied the vicar, because il was worth
their while, they nevertheless dislikcd
him with all their commercial souls.
Winfield was a small place of / 800
inhabitants, something between tiny
town and an overgrown village. 1t
had quite a fair number of shops
butcher, baker. fishmonger, grocer,
linendrapcr, ironmonger, wine mcr-
chant and tobacconist. 1t was served
by doctor, eke by an auctioneer. But
there was one important thing not to be
had there-namely, law. No solicitor
had yet found it worth his while to set
tie in So small place.
Butabout the middle of Octoberu wear
or two since a solicitor did, Mt length,
make his appearance, and set up in
Winfield. His name was Perks. lie
was a 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. it was pretty
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
"haut ton" was no barrier to his getting
on. Perhaps, indeed, it rather helped
him; since il was to the tradesmen and
farmers that he would chiefly have to
look for business; and they preferreI
n man with whom they could associate
on a footing of equality.
This is just what Perks did. He CON
stantly went to the tradesmcn's houses.
He dined and supped with them. He
did the civil to their wives and daugh-
ters. He often dropped in casually IN
the afternoon for cup of tea, or in the
evening for pipe and glass of grog.
This naturally made him popular in
their circle.
'Mr. Perks is quite the gentleman"
said Mrs. Grocer Hobb, land there's M
nasty pride about him, neither"
"True. Maria" asserted Hohb. her
spouse, fat and prosperous figure,
"Perks is a good sort. And if have a
bit of lawyering 10 be done I'll put it In
Perks way"
For the first month or two after his
arrival in Winfield Perks was regular
attendant at the parish church. 1t was
the proper, the respectable thing to do.
Besides, to get in with the vicar-even
when the vicar is unpopular-may pay
a newcomer very we'll in country
parish.
But the vicar did not take to Perks al
all. From the first he had shown a dis
like TO him, and nothing that the solici-
tor did to ingratiate himself in that
quarter made any differences. At he
best of times, and to his dearest friends,
the Wears manner was scarcely agree
able. Where he felt dislike it was pos
itively forbidding. Perks put up with
several snubs from him. "pour lie bon
motif" But at length, seeing the use
lessness of such course. he abandoned
further attempts To win the wears
friendship, and openly declared himself
on the side of the reverend gentleman's
enemies.
There was scarcely a tradesman In
Winfield who was not to be numbered
in this category. From Grocer Hobb
downwards every one of them had his
grievance against the vicar. Treats
me like a dog. he does" said one.
'Never calls to see me when Pm ILL.,"