The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-07
MS CALL ON JACKSON.
Long Deferred, 1t Became . Grsnt Worry,
but Turned Out All Right.

q
but Turned Out All Right.
when l was leaving the West 70 locate in New
York." said tho nervous man. my favori,e uncle
came 70 the station TO 600 me on. As tho train
began 70 move we shook hands and he said for
at least the seventeenth time: Now be suTo 10
look up Jackson as soon as you reach New York
He'll uso you we'll
Il fully intended TO look up Jackson as soon
after my arrival as possible. even though didn't
anticipate much enjoyment from the call I
had met him already and found him bore; but
he was friend Of the family and for that reason
] would have " endure him. / had no intention
Of doing moro in any case than calling on him
from umo 70 time and giving him such bits Of
family news as might have.
But when arrived in the city the necessity
for giving Immediate and close attention 10 bust
ness made me defer the call on Jackson for
few days That was the beginning Of tho trouble.
My work brought me In TO contact with number
Of people who were very bospltable and whose
society I enjoyed. D. tho call on Jackson WAS
deferred again In order that l might cultivate
my new acquaintance But still remembered
II one Ia sure 10 remember d!sagteeabie duty.
II would occur 10 mo at the most inopportuns
times that was not acting fairly by my uncle
and tho folks at homo in not making this call.
but some excuse would always offer iteelL
had Il number OF important letters 70 write In
the evening, q play that was anxious 10
was TO DO taken OF tho boards in q few days
l would have 70 20 10 the theatre; OF a new play
that the whole town was talking about was being
performed and would have 10 seo II II wished
10 keep up an intelligent part in the converse
tion when was invited out But l always said
70 myself I will call on jackson next week
Il even went 50 far AZ 10 write his name and
the date OF my proposed coll In my memorandum
book so that l would be sure not TO forge,
II. and then tried 70 dismiss him from my mind
I'LL the appointed time arrived But he would
not down. Al least two OF three other engage
men,s would be thrust upon me for tho nigh,
had appointed one OF which would be sure to
be more important than that troublesome call
and II had TO DO put OF again. And It did no,
mAttsr what did during the evening. l invariably
had my enjoyment spoiled by tho haunting con.
sciousness that instead Of being at the theatre.
dinner party or dance should have been looking
up jackson.
After several weeks had passed In this way
matters took turn for the worse | began 10
realize that had neglected tho friend Of the fam.
lily outrageously. and when | did call | would
have 10 have good excuse ready for not having
looked him up sooner Now. though can some.
times make UP excuses 10 satisfy myself with
my cohuuot udt my cuucdlel conscience Will
accept submissively am not a good hand at
excuses that are TO be submitted 10 others, and
spent much time trying TO think Of a plausible
one to present TO jackson. But the more tried
TO salve my conscience and construct a good ex-
cuse the more worried became Nothing but
tho hardest kind Of work at the Office could make
ME forget that long neglected call. II haunted
my leisure and interrupted my business till
learned TO hate Jackson. Instead OF being merely
a man who had once bored me and TO whom |
owed a duty call because he was a friend OF tho
family. he became In my Imagination a double.
dyed william who had an invitation to come in
to lunch or to drop in and spend the evening hang
Ing over my head al all times When reading
tho papers / saw the nnms Jackson ~ frequently
1t seemed TO me that New Yorl: should have been
called Jacksonville confess ! sometimes read
tho lists Of accidents and almost allowed myself
10 be 20 uncharitablc as to hope I might find an
account some morning OF how he was knocked
down by cable car or something OF that sort
so that might be rid Of him. Even tho number
Of his street reminded me Of that call and OF the
tiresome. haunting, pursuing, wicked wretch
70 whom II was due
TT would be tedious TO enumerato all the shifts
made 70 SQUARE matters with my conscience
OF IN tell how often l lodged down side streets
or quaked with terror when saw any one on tho
street who looked like him. / was constantly
ioatifk no tuceb me ana recognize me, ask
how all the folks were, how long since had come
East and then reproach me for not having looked
him up during the two months | had spent
In the city In fact, had become a complete
Jacksonomaniac and would willingly have traded
of the haunting thought Of him for the hereditary
But matters were finally brought TO q crisis by
the following letter from my uncle
DEAR TOM: am going 10 run in 10 New
York next week and want You 10 arrange your
Affairs so that we can have a good time You
must know the town pretty well by this time
for am sure that Jackson has put you through
your PAGES by this and made gay dog OF you,
D. you needn't try 10 put up any sanctimonlous
bluff TO me. young mani know the tendencies
of your nature and l know jackson. You fel.
lows needn't Try 10 stuff me with any other warn
This is going TO be q week of with me and you
Two had better be ready 10 show the best places
10 lay on the red paint I'm a wolf and this is
my time to howl. Burn this-after you have
shown II 10 Jackson.
Your loving uncle.
"HARRY Booos'
His time 10 howl oh? lie was wrong Il
Was my time IN howl and knew II. And how
did laugh over his letter. Il cast a very Inter