Part 13 (2/2)
”The best in the world, little sister, and you will have to keep a sharp lookout or you will lose your heart to one of them. Frank Howard will count it a lark. He has stuck to the ”business” as faithfully as if he were not heir to it, and he will come sure to-morrow night. Dear old Phil--my many years' chum--will come because I ask him. These two are all right, and we can count on them. The other one is Jim Jarvis,--the finest man in college.”
”Tell us about him, Jack.”
”Jarvis's father lives in Montana, and has a lot of gold mines and other things to keep him busy. He doesn't have time to pay much attention to his son, who is growing up after his own fas.h.i.+on. Jim's mother is dead, and he has neither brother nor sister,--nothing but money and beauty and health and strength and courage and sense and the stanchest heart that ever lifted waistcoat! He has been on the eleven three years. They want him in the boat, but he'll not have it; says it's not good work for a man. He's in the first division, well toward the front, too, and in the best society. He's taken a fancy to me, and I'm dead gone on him. He's the man for you to shun, little woman, unless you wish to be led captive.”
”There are others, Jack, so don't worry about me. But do you think you can secure this paragon?”
”Not a doubt of it! I'll wire him in the morning, and he'll be here as soon as steam can bring him; he's my best chum, you know.”
This would make our party complete. We were all happy and pleased, and the evening pa.s.sed before we knew it.
CHAPTER x.x.xIII
CHRISTMAS EVE
The next day was a busy one for all of us. Polly and Jane drove to the Gordons and secured Miss Jessie, and then Jane went to town to fetch her other friends. Jack went with her, after having telegraphed to Jim Jarvis. They all came home by mid-afternoon, just as a message came from Jarvis: ”Will be on deck at six.”
Florence Marcy and Minnie Henderson were former neighbors and schoolmates of Jane's. They were fine girls to look at and bright girls to talk with; blondes, eighteen, high-headed, full of life, and great girls for a house party. Phil and Frank were good specimens of their kinds. Frank was a little below medium height, slight, blond, vivacious to a degree, full of fun, and the most industrious talker within miles; he would ”stir things up” at a funeral. Phil Stone was tall, slender, dark, quiet, well-dressed, a good dancer, and a very agreeable fellow in the corner of the room, where his low musical voice was most effective.
Jessie Gordon came at five o'clock. We were all very fond of Jessie, and who could help it? She was tall (considerably above the average height), slender, straight as an arrow, graceful in repose and in motion. She carried herself like a queen, with a proud kind of shyness that became her well. Her head was small and well set on a slender neck, her hair dark, luxurious, wavy, and growing low over a broad forehead, her eyes soft brown, shaded by heavy brows and lashes. She had a Grecian nose, and her mouth was a shade too wide, but it was guarded by singularly perfect and sensitive lips. Her chin was p.r.o.nounced enough to give the impression of firmness; indeed, save for the soft eyes and sensitive mouth, firmness predominated. She was not a great talker, yet every one loved to listen to her. She laughed with her eyes and lips, but rarely with her voice. She enjoyed intensely, and could, therefore, suffer intensely. She was a dear girl in every way.
All was now ready for the debut of Jack's paragon. Jack had driven to the station to fetch him, and presently the sound of wheels on the gravel drive announced the arrival of the last guest. I went into the hall to meet the men.
”Daddy, I want you to know my chum, Jim Jarvis,--the finest all-round son of old Eli. Jarvis, this is my daddy,--the finest father that ever had son!”
”I'm right glad to meet you, Mr. Jarvis; your renown has preceded you.”
”I fear, Doctor, it has _exceeded_ me as well. Jack is not to be trusted on all subjects. But, indeed, I thank you for your hospitality; it was a G.o.dsend to me.”
As we entered the living room, Polly came forward and I presented Jarvis to her.
”You are more than welcome, Mr. Jarvis! Jack's 'best friend' is certain of a warm corner at our fireside.”
”Madam, I find no word of thanks, but I _do_ thank you. I have envied Jack his home letters and the evidences of mother care more than anything else,--and G.o.d knows there are enough other things to envy him for. I have no mother, and my father is too busy to pay much attention to me. I wish you would adopt me; I'll try to rival Jack in all that is dutiful.”
She did adopt him then and there, for who could refuse such a son! Brown hair, brown eyes, brown skin, a frank, rugged, clean-shaven face, features strong enough to excite criticism and good enough to bear it; broad-shouldered, deep-chested, strong in arm and limb, he carried his six feet of manhood like an Apollo in tweeds. He was introduced to the girls,--the men he knew,--but he was not so quick in his speeches to them. Our Hercules was only mildly conscious of his merits, and was evidently relieved when Jack hurried him off to his room to dress for dinner. When he was fairly out of hearing there was a chorus of comments. The girls all declaimed him handsome, and the boys said:--
”That isn't the best of it,--he's a _trump_! Wait till you know him.”
Jane was too loyal to Jack to admit that his friend was any handsomer or in any way a finer fellow than her brother.
”Who said he was?” said Frank, ”Jack Williams is out and out the finest man I know. We were sizing him up by such fellows as Phil and me.”
”Jack's the most popular man at Yale,” said Phil, ”but he's too modest to know it; Jarvis will tell you so. He thinks it's a great snap to have Jack for his chum.”
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