Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-06-29


AMI \ DN lily secrets of u
IN I'M .ETl private and thor
IN N oughly confidential
M IN (! character.
~ I remember one
~ ssssSS case that, changing
the names, it will be
no particular breach OF confidence to
mention, and tell it the more frankly
because it is q little against myself,
and must own that I did not act
quite upon what is called the square.
In faot, played part-a negative
kind Of part-for I did nothing else
but hold my tongue. If 1 had spokeLf
it would have been fifty thousand
pounds or so out of truly honest
mans pocket and into a rogue's; SO,
somehow, I lei my feelings get the
better of my professional conscience,
and said not word.
Twas old John Hendricks's solicitor,
and looked after his property, for L
had known him when he was strug-
Cling man and I was young lawyer
with none too much practice. Then
I lost sight OF him for twenty years, at
the end of which time I was still
plodding along respectfully, just hold
ing my own and nothing more, when,
going into one OF the city taverns for
my regular daily chop, which l ate at
the same table for so many years that
had become one of tie institutions
of the place, found myself opposite
to yellow-looking, thin, gray-haired
man, who kept on looking nm f''o'7' -.
plate to stare at me ~ 'a!a'y !
thought.
1 did not resent his 's@',
but at last it became g re as.-at
that [ determined to l,Ho .nn. 'fooH,
and I gazed firmly into ys
''Why, it is" he exc s."e Aie'
old boy, don't you knt
''That's Jack Hend
exclaimed, nearly up--...-e ANY p.ave,
and the next moment we were sitting
there, hand clasped in hand, and with
the tears in our eyes, looking very
foolish and weak, I dare say, to the
other occupants of the room; but that
did not trouble US, for we had too
much to say to each ether.
John Hendricks told me that he had
been in the north Of India, close to
Nepaul, for over twenty years. He
had gone out as factor to an indigo
grower, and had become grower
himself.
'sAnd now," he said, 81 have come
to look after my dead sisters sons and
to die
"Well, oldfellow, I said, ''the first
parts right enough. but as to the dy-
Ing, I think it's as we'll to leave that
alone. 1t will be oil settled for you.
The only thing with respect to that
speaking as professional man, is tc
make your will, if You have anything
to leave, and then make the most Of
your span.
"Have you made yours, Dick?" he
said sharply.
sI? No." I said laughing. "I',,
nothing to leave, jack" and then We
went into mutual condolences: aud
after had told him of my own hard
working life, he gave me to under
stand that he had made very large
fortune in indigo, and spent very little
on himself.
'sNline's been too hard-working q
life, Dick, /" he said, ''for me to be
much of spender; but it will be
fine thing for Jenny's two boys Tiff
I like them," he added sharply. And
then, with a quiet, subdued look,
''Poor Jenny! should have liked to
see her again.
John Hendricks was fifteen years
my senior, but we became ONE more
the closest o. friends, for hetseemed
to resume his old protective way over
me, but trusting me most fully in
every point.
1t was all done in quiet, unosten-
tatious way, but from the day of John
Hendricks's return the world began
to smile on me. 1 had great deal of
professional business to do for him,
and as he had most extensive connec-
tions among old indigo planters, I
found them coming to me, right and
left, by his recommendation; so that
very soon, in place of finding it hard
work to keep one clerk, 1 had very
hard work for four, and big balance
at my bank.
But I am getting on too fast.
Before long 1 met the two nephews
at their uncle's quiet little house at
Chelsea, and as we sat at dinner I
could not help thinking how kindly
fortune was behaving to the young
men to place them in the way of such
expectations; and before left it was
plain enough to me which was the un-
cle's favorite.
This was Philip, frank-faced
young fellow of two OF three-and-
twenty, very gentlemanly in his ways,
and decidedly good-looking, while he
was full of anecdote, and, without
seeming to be toadying. full Of atten-
ton to the old man, to the old man.
to whose dogmatic speeches he list
ened with the greatest Difference.
For old John had grown terribly
dogmatic. He had had the management
of hundreds OF, poor ryots for so many
years that he felt quite king in his
way, and would bully and snub every
one when his liver was little worse
thar usual-everyone, that is, except
me, for whenever he was out of tenn
per he never would speak to me, but
nod and shake his head, and smoke