The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-12-27
ONLY JACK.
CHAPTER I.

He was tall and by no means ill-look-
irg. with dark brown hair and eyes and
straight, well-cut features; pleasant,
manly fellow enough. whom everybody
liked and nobody considered.
For he was "only Jack" In those
words you read the whole history of his
position; so far. at least, as his domestic
life was concerned.
Some people seem born to be sighted
and put upon; Jack was one of them.
His sisters made use of him when it
served their purpose. and then forgot
his very existence until the next time
they wanted him: his mother never
dreamed of consulting him until she had
made up her own mind. when she in
trusted him with the execution of her
wishes. he, of course, defraying all eX-
penses. Why should she trouble her
self with the discussion Of details and
such annoying matters? Why should
she ask his opinion? 1t was only
Jack" she said.
Mother and sisters all lived in Jacks
house, and they lived in very good style.
That is TO say they spent great deal
of money and kept a great deal of COM
pany, and whatever Jack thought about
f. he never said a word. Why, indeed,
should he when nobody asked his Opin-
ion?
Jack had been the nominal head Of
the family for some years and the actual
head of Myerson's bank. He was very
regular in his attendance at the bank.
and no one there would ever have
dreamed of applying that sighting cpl
tibet only" 10 Mr.. Nyerson. Perhaps
this was one reason why he spent SO
many hours beneath that respectable, II
somewhat somber, roof; for, after all,
it is never pleasant 10 be treated as
person of no consequence; and the most
simple unassuming nature cannot feel
exactly grateful TO those who consist
entity adopt this tone. But whatever he
felt, Jack said nothing. and SO nobody
was any the wiser.
Jacks house-the house where his faith
er and grandfather had lived before him
stood some little way out of the town.
II was rambling, picturesque old build
ing all oVergrown with ivy and flower
ing creepers. and the grounds that sur
rounded IL We're extremely beautiful II
was a very pleasant house TO stay at,
and so many people knew who had been
fortunate enough TO receive an invita-
tiOn to pass a few days there; but the
guests rarely remained long, more es-
pecially if they We're ladies. and not as
yet well stricken in years; for the Myer-
son girls liked change, and usually tired
of their acquaintance with astonishing
4 rapidity. "A week. said Constance, the
younger and cleverer sister. is amply
long enough TO exhaust the average per
sons topics of conversation, and when
those are once exhausted the person. be-
comes a bore. 1t is then better TO part.
and to start fresh and on this theory
she consistently acted
But every rule must have its excep-
tions; little Minnie Brender had already
been at least fourteen days beneath the
Myersons' hospitable roof. and there was
as yet NJ talk of her leaving; on the con-
trary. Constance herself spoke of en-
gagements Il week hence, taking it for
granted, apparently, that Minnie would
bear her part in them, and seeming not
only cOntented. but we'll pleased that il
should be so; and yet the girls topics of
conversation were by no means Darticu-
larly varied. What. then. was the mean
Ing OF it? Jack, who was rather an OBJ
serving young man in a quiet sort Of
way, would very much have liked To
Know; but there was nothing in the cir
cumstances of the case-so far as he
was acquainted with them-which could
throw any light upon the mystery
constance had made Minnie's acquaint-
ance while on visit TO d friend: she
liked her. she said, and wished to see
more of her. But then Constance liked
so many people; there was nothing un-
usual In that, though there was i'm the
fact that the liking had lasted so long
Minnie was a pretty little thing, with
big, soft eyes and a nice voice; not at all
Ike Jacks sisters, who were tall state
y young women. in whose nature soft
ness and gentleness were by no means
, pronounced characteristics She seemed
q little shy, too, Jack thought but then
10 be sure, he had scarcely said two
words to her except at the dinner table
and there was always such a lot of peO-
pie about that a fellow had no 0ppor-
tunlty OF really making acquaintance
with any one of them Beside when
they usually stayed such a very short
time it was really hardly worth while to
do so; from which it will be seen that
Jacks views on these matters differed
considerably from his sisters, though it
was not often that the difference caused
him anything more than a momentary
feeling of regret
Jack had returned from the bank
much earlier than usual one afternoon
and was bordering in a quiet way over
this matter while he smoked a peaceful
cigar in the garden. when the sound of
voices attracted his attention. He
strOlled Oh down the path; and as he ap-
preached the speakers the following
words fell on his ear:
mo, Connie; l cannot do it. Don't
ask me-"
Nonsense. you ridiculous child! tell
you, it's only Jackr
THAT is no reason why Il she
broke off suddenly. coloring holly. as
of the shrubbery on TO the sunlit lawn.
There. did you ever see such a coin
cidence2" Constance exclaimed. We
were just speaking of you. Minnie
wanted to ask you
No, indeed! 1 never thought of such
& thing"
"Oh, yes. you did, Don't be absurd
dear. The fact is, Jack. her guardian
is staying at the Verners's. and she
wants to go and see him; but we have
TO drive in the opposite direction, so
we thought"
Please. Connie. don't say any more;
you mean it kindly, but
will you walk over there with her?"
Delighted. of course, if"
Its all settled then. l must go and
dress; goOd-by. and a pleasant walk to
you"
And Constance swept across the lawn /
without giving them time to raise OBJ
jections. That was COnstance's way; /
she always settled things out of hand
and often without paying much atten-
ton to other peoples wishes i'm the
matter.
Jack began to laugh; COnstance's little
ways often amused him immensely /
though she was far from suspecting If
then, seeing that Minnie really looked
embarrassed and annoyed. he stopped
abruptly.
Il hope you don't mind Cons nom
sense" he said. 1T isn't worth bother