Young Javornik
Written January, 2000
by Kat Lai
Looking back, it was not his looks that struck me first and foremost, although it was a well known fact that there was not a lady who had crossed his path with an unscathed heart. His comely features and well cut figure were well known among the feminine hearts of the class, and his deferring, courteous manner was more than any lady could withstand. For my part, however, while I must say, for the sake of honesty, that his face holds a certain memory for me, it was his surname that has stayed with me all these years. It was a singular name in my experience, and rolled off the tongue like a piece of fine poetry, ringing in the ear like music. It had such an effect on me, that indeed, I cannot recall for any money in England or Canada the name by which his familiars addressed him, and so, to my memory, he will always be called Young Javornik.He was the eldest of five offspring of a well-known doctor. As regal and tenacious in bearing as his father, and as graceful and gentle as his beautiful mother. Soulful, poet’s eyes gazed out of his dark complexion like the sea, and golden hair crowned his long, handsome features. He had slender artist’s hands, which looked deceptively meek, but the strength of their grip was not one to be matched by any man. He was known by all the ladies in his aquaintance as the most courteous, and gentle of men, but among his peers, on the field, and in his classes, there never was a more stern, fierce, competitive, nor unwavering young man. Try as they might, no man could ever beat him at his game, nor would anyone dare to cross or decieve his friends or his purpose, for there was not a more strict code of conduct as there was in his presence.
Despite his tenacity and ferocity of spirit, or perhaps one could say even because of them, Young Javornik was well-liked in his community, for he was respected and honoured by all who knew him. All the young men from the university who knew him hailed him when they met, and many was the time when they invited him to join in sport or gaiety with them. The reverse could be said as well, for whenever Young Javornik had an opportunity, he invited everyone he knew (and this was a rather baffling number) to join him in his festivities.
The most puzzling part about the young man’s character was the fact that despite his eligibility, charm, and fairness of face, Young Javornik went through his existence (for the period in which any of us knew him at least) unfettered by romance or feminine affection. That is not to say that there was none available to him; many was the girl who tried and failed to gain his favour. For him, despite his gentlemanly manners and courteous graces towards the females of the species, there was no interest, no girl who had the power to manipulate his heartstrings. This was often the topic of many a conversation held when his back was turned. More often than not, friends and acquaintances speculated on Young Javornik’s dark, mysterious history, or on days when this became a bore, any particular feminine subject that might be of interest to him.
One subject who was more persistent than most was Miss Rosemary Montgomery. I will admit that I competed with her a short time for Young Javornik’s affections, but since both of us failed utterly to produce more than genial sentiments in him, I bowed graciously out of the contest. In fact, I soon found that Young Javornik’s friendship was more invaluable than any other sentiment I could ever arouse in him, and settled into a very platonic, though somewhat sporadic friendship with him. Miss Rosemary, on the other hand, refused to admit defeat. She spent as much time with him as his schedule would allow and constantly bid for his attention in conversation. Her dress and appearance were always as flattering to her figure and face as she could arrange, and her nut brown hair was always arranged in the latest styles that became her. All of this was to no avail. Young Javornik bestowed upon her no more favours than any other girl in his acquaintance, and this she found eventually to be very insulting indeed.
No one could understand the distachment with which he regarded the female gender. Young Javornik was not one to divulge involuntary information. And since no one ever had the courage to ask him directly, this oddity in his character always remained a mystery.
The period of which I put pen to paper to relate was several years after the last of our classmates had left the hallowed halls of learning, diplomas of various degrees clutched in their hands, tears of regret and joy staining their cheeks. I had passed the gates of my almer mater for the last time decorated with a Bachelors in Arts -- a girl’s only choice of decoration in those days -- and had settled down to a comfortable life of teaching and tending to my father in his elder years. Of the fates and fortunes of my other friends and classmates, I had little cognizance for I lived a life of semi-seclusion and work. I was therefore surprised and delighted to encounter, on one of my rare free days in the city, Miss Rosemary Montgomery admiring a hat, ribboned and laced within an inch of its life, in the windows of a well-known millinery shop.
She saw me and hailed me with a friendly wave as I approached. Then, holding her hands out to me, she cried, "My dear girl! What have you been doing these many years? I haven’t seen nor heard from you since our last day of exams!"
"Dear Miss Rosemary, you must forgive me. I have been quite occupied since then, and have had little time for correspondence with anyone. My little school in Bristowe is flourishing and my pupils are bright. Father, I’m afraid, is poorly, and I spend every moment I can with him."
Her very eyes darkened to express her sympathy. She remarked that at least my career was promising and prospects were good. Upon my inquiries as to her propects, she brightened, and taking me by the arm, propelled me through the streets of the city even as she propelled me through her life story. She had, she related, returned to her father’s house in Durham where she performed her required duty of attending all the obligatory parties and festivities held by the upper class. Other days, she alternated between tutoring her young sister in preparation for her admittance to one of England’s finest finishing schools and enjoying the city sights and sounds.
"Tis a dull life, Miss Brianna, but it has its own rewards. In fact, the greatest reward of my life came to me Thursday last. Imagine, if you will, a bright diamond studded jubilee for some humdrum friends of my mother. Their fiftieth wedding anniversary no less! I was standing there in the hall offering my most insincere heartfelt congratulations to our gracious host and hostess when who should I see exiting from the ballroom that instant but our young Mister Javornik!"
"Young Javornik? Our old friend and valedictorian?"
"As cold and distant, yet as warm and friendly as in days of yore, Miss Brianna. He greeted me heartily when he saw me, and graciously offered me a dance. These past years, he has been for his law degree, and now practices with Heninger & Barstowe in the city. A finer figure of a lawyer has never darkened the streets of Durham in my opinion."
"Well, that certainly is pleasant news, Miss Rosemary, though not at all surprising in nature. Young Mr. Javornik was always an ambitious and studious young man."
"And still, Miss Brianna, there is no sign of romantic attachment in his experience. I do wonder at such a man. So fine a figure must have some preference in our sex, and he has so much from which he could choose."
"His work consumes his passions, I’m sure, as did his studies and sports in days of yore."
"But surely, after his goals have been achieved, he would wish for diversion and company to light his remaining years," she protested.
"That is no doubt true, My dear Miss Rosemary," I replied, wrapped in memory of bygones years, "but he has such an abundance of friends who serve that purpose so completely, that there is no need for more complicated attachments than those he already possesses."
"I suppose you are right, Miss Brianna," sighed Miss Rosemary, "Still, it does seem mysterious that he should find no joy in romance as others do."
With which statement, she parted from me with many fervent pleas and promises to write more often. I walked through the park in the center of town back towards the street where I was to meet my ride back home, musing about Young Javornik, his bright future and his mysterious indifference to romance. Memories flooded back to me of those enjoyable years in college and of his acquaintance. He had been an excellent friend, and a great gentleman. Knowing him had been a pleasure. Owing to the number of friends and acquaintances he maintained during his years in school, we had no opportunity to be intimate friends, and eventually drifted onto different roads in life. It was no surprise that we lost contact with each other, as both of us led such consuming lives in different places. Still, he was a great fascination to me, and I vowed from thence forth to learn of his fortunes and misfortunes when at all possible.
To Be Continued when and if I figure out what happens next.
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