The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-02-12
Always Behind Hand.

Supper was ready and waiting. Our
guests had not arrived, but there was an
other train an hour later. Should the
family wait for my friend or should I
alone, who was the parsonage especially
to be visi+ed2 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 af-
ter tea. This was habit ofhis. He was
very fxed-or as some express it, :sset"-
in his little ways. It was Budgets even
ing out, and she had begun to show a
darkened visage. Bridget was no friend
to company" and it was policy to con-
ciliate her. So the family seated them.
selves at tn table, and l sat near, wait
ing until brother John should be ready
to accompany me q second time to the
station. "What about this young lady
friend of yours, Nelly?' asked my father.
S'1s she one of the unreliable sort, little
addicted to hardness, that is?""l am
obliged to confess, papa, that at boarding
school where I longest knew Jeannett,
that she was inclined to be dilatory; but
that was years ago. It is to be hoped
that she has changed since then" III
should wish to have very little to do with
&'ehind-hand person." said my father,
shaking his head very gravely. "Oh,
papa1' demonstrated, ''you will not con-
denim a dear friend for single fault.
Jeannett is beautiful and accomplished
sensible and good-tempered. Every body
thinks she is splendid" She may have
very pleasant qualities, but tell you,
girls,'' he added with sudden emphasis,
"that want of punctuality vitiates the
whole character. No one Is good for
much who can not be depended upon. and
what dependence is to BE- placed in a
man who is not up to his engagements?
In business, such man is nowhere; and
in social life dawdling, dilatory man or
woman is simply pest. But mind, my
child, l am not characterizing your friend
we can not tell about her until we see."
The later 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 pouring
forth torrent of regrets and apologies,
l observed my father bestowing chances
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 null
titude of faults. Sister Belle, who was as
punctual as my father, was appeased and
promised to take care of the tea-things
and let Bridget go out. Ny father, good
naturally, offered 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. Holding me in her arms, she
told me all about her recent engagement
to George Allibone, showed me her en-
gagement ring and her lovers photograph.
It was noble head, finely posed, and a
most engaging face, and my ready and
cordial admiration was q new bond of
sympathy. It took until nearly midnight
to say all that girls Jagged 2O) had to saw
to each other, aud this, in addition to the
fatigues of travel, was excepted as an ex-
cuse tor Jennle's hardness at breakfast.
She really had meant to be ready; but
this was only the beginning. Through
out 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 excursions, and to our
profound modification, late at dinner ap-
pointments, even when parties were
made especially on her account. She
seemed sorry and mortified, but on each
occasion she would do the same thing
over again.
"What can she be dolng2" my mother
sometimes asked in perplexity, when my
sister and | were ready and waiting.
''Dolng her Lair, mother" we answered,
land she will do it over until it suits her.
be 1t early or late" ooh, these hair
worksT sighed my mother. "How much
hardness at church or elsewhere is due to
over fastidious hair dressing! What is
that good line Of George HerbertsG stay