The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1878-04-04
ALWAYS BEHINDHAND.

guest had not arrived, but there was
another train an hour later. Should
the family wait for my friend, or should
alone, who was the parsonage espe.
cially to be visitedP My father paced
the floor nervously. as was his wont
when he felt disturbed. He had the
evening papers to read, and he never
opened them until after tea. This was
a habit of his. He was very fixed-or,
as some express it, " set''-in his little
ways. 1t was Bridget's evening out,
and she had begun to show darkened
visagc. Bridget was no friend to
company" and it was policy to con-
ciliate her. So the family seated them.
selves at the table, and sat near, wait
ing until Brother John should be ready
to accompany me a second time to the
station.
"What about this young lady friend
of yours, Nelly?" asked my father. is
she one of the unreliable sort-a little
addicted to hardness, that is?''
~ am obliged to confess, papa, that
at boarding-school, where l longest
knew Jeanette, she was inclined to be
dilatory: but that was years ago. 1t is
to be hoped that she has changed since
then"
Il should wish to have very little to
do with behindhand person. said my
father, shaking his head very gravely.
"Oh, papan demonstrated, "you
will not condemn dear friend for one
single fault Jeanette is beautiful and
accomplished, sensible and good-tem-
pered. Everybody thinks she is
splendid
She may have very pleasant quail
ties, but tell you, girls, y he added with
sudden emphasis, .that want of
punctuality vitiates the whole charac-
t b5f N Ne Sns is good for much who can
pendence is to be placed on man who
is not up to his engagements In bust
ness, such man is nowhere; and il;
social life dawdling, dilatory man or
woman is simply pest. But mind,
my child. am not charactelizing your
friend; we cannot tell about her till we
see.r
The latter train brought my friend.
She was profuse in her regrets; she had
been belated by mistake in the time;
her watch was slow. As she was pour
ing forth torrent of regrets and apol-
ogies, l observed my father bestowing
glances of evident admiration at the
fair speaker, while the rich color came
and went in her cheeks and her eyes
kindled with animation. Truly, beauty
covers a multitude of faults. Sister
Bell, who was as punctual as my father,
was appeased, and promised to take
care of the tea-things and let Bridget
go out. My father good-naturedly Of
fered to regulate the hating watch by
the true time.
To her chamber we went together, to
talk as girls do talk when they meet in
this way, after long separation.
Folding me in her arms, she told me all
about her recent engagement to George
Allibone; showed me her engagement
ring. and her lovers photograph. 1t
was noble head finely posed, and a
most engaging face, and my ready and
cordial admiration was new bond of
sympathy. It took until nearly mid
night to say all that we girls, aged
twenty, had to say to each other; and
this, in addition to the fatigues of travel,
was accepted as an excuse for Jenny's
hardness at breakfast. She really had
mesnt to be early.
But this was only the beginning.
Throughout the whole three weeks of
her visit, she was scarcely punctual in
a single case where time was definitely
appointed. She was late in rising, late
at meals, late at church and for excur-
SlOng. and to orr profound mortif;co