The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-06-15
ONLY JACK.
CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER 10
He was TALL and by no means ill-look-
ing, with dark-brow 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 intrusted him
with the execution of her wishes, he, OF
course. defraying all expenses. Why
should she trouble herself with the dis
cussion of details and such annoying mat
tiers? Why should she ask his opinion?
It was "oniy jack" she said.
Mother and sisters all lived in jack
house, and they lived in very good style.
That is to say, they spent great deal or
money and kept great deal OF com.
pany; and whatever Jack thought about
it 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. be was regu-
lar in his attendance at the bank, and no
one there would ever have dreamed of
applying that sighting epithet "only"
70 Mr.. Myerson. Perhaps this was one
reason why he spent so many hours be-
meath that respectable, if somewhat SOM
Der, roof; for, alter ali, 1t Is never pleasant
to be treated as person of no conse-
quence; and the most simple, unassum-
ing nature cannot feel exactly grateful
to those who consistently adopt this
tone. But whatever he felt Jack said
nothing, and SO nobody was any the
wiser.
Jacks house-the house where his
father and grandfather had lived before
him-stood some little way out OF the
town. 1t was rambling, picturesque
old building, all overgrowlng with Ivy
and towering creepers, ana Inc GROUNDS
that surrounded il were extremely beau
tiful. Ii was very pleasant house to
stay at, and SO many people knew who
had been fortunate enough to receive an
invitation 10 pass few days there; but
the guests rarely remained long, more
especially If they were ladies, and not, as
YET, we'll stricken in years; for the Myer-
son girls liked change, and usually tired
of their acQualntanceS with astonishing
rapidIty. "a week." said Constance.
the younger and cleverer sister. lis am
ply long enough to exhaust the average
persons topics OF conversation, and when
those are once exhausted, the person De-
comes q bore. 1t is then better TO part.
and to start fresh;" and on this theory
she constantly acted.
rIllp ne
tions: little Minnie Brender had already
been at least fourteen days beneath The
Myersons' hospitable root, and there was
as vet no talk of her leaving; on the con-
trary. Constance herself spoke of engage
ments week hence, taking 1t Tor granted,
apparently, that Minnie would bear her
part in them, and seeming not only con-
tented. but we'll pleased that it should be
so; and yet the girls topics OF converse
ton ere by no means particularly va
ried. What, then, was the meaning OF
il? Jack, who WAS rather an observing
young man in quiet sort OF way, would
very much have liked to know; but there
was nothing in the circumstances OF the
case-so far as he was acquainted with
them-which could throw any light upon
the mystery.
Constance had made Minnie's ac-
ouaintance while on a visit to friend;
she liked her, she said, and wished to see
more of her. But then Constance liked
SO many people; there was nothing unu-
suai in that, though there was IN the fact
that the liking had lasted so long. Min
ME was a pretty little thing with big, soft
eyes aud q nice voice; not at all like
Jacks sisters, who were tall, stately
young women, whose nature softness and
pentleness were by no means pronounced
characteristics. She seemed little shy,
too, Jack thought; but then, TO be sure,
he had scarcely said two words to her
except at the DINNER table, and there was
always such lot of people about that a
fellow had no opportunity OF really max
ing acquaintance with any one OF them.
Besides, when they usually stayed such
very short time, it was really hardly
worth while to do so; from which 1t Will
be seen that Jacks views on these mat
ters differed considerably from his sis.
ters. though it was not often that the
difference caused him anything more
than momentary feeling OF regret.
Jack had returned from the bank much
earlier than usual one afternoon, and was
bordering in quiet way over this mat
ter WI lille he smoked peaceful cigar In
the garden, when the sound of voices at
tracted his attention. lie stroiled on
down the path, and as he approached the
speakers the following words fell on his
ear:
ask me.''
Nonsense, you ridiculous child! tell
you it's only jack"
THAT'S is no reason why p she
broke off suddenly, coloring holly, as
Jack himself emerged from the shadows
of the shrubbery on to the sunlit lawn.
There, did you ever see such coinci-
dence?u Constance exclaimed. I'VE were
Just speaking of you. Minnie wanted to
ask you"-
mo, indeed! never thought of such
thingp'
"Oh, yes, you didi Don't be absurd,
dear. The fact is, Jack. her guardian is
staying at the Venners', and she wants to