Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-03-26
punceuality. spent myself In vain wonderings
as 70 now long this state OF things was to last;
II tn q pIfp

as to how long this state OF things was to last
out or course II came to q climax finally.
MY Oldest and most intimate friend, Tina Yer
ringer. was to be married. and Charley and
hao vowed IN the most solemn manner TO attenj
the wedding. Tina lived at Montclair and ii
was there, OF course, that the ceremony was to
"Do you think that nine O'Clock Will be early
enough to leave here:" asked Charley, meekly
mime O'Clock! Ny dear Charley, she is moi
to be married until one, and Montclalr is only
an hour away"
~ know" said Charley, ''but was anxious
10 be in time. think that we had better start
at nine, to make sure"
SWALLOWED my astonishBlent as best could
and submitted. 1t was not pleasant day. ii
were not afraid OF exaggerating. should say
that 1t was decidedly unpleasant one, being
cold and gray, damp and chilly, with that chil-
Illness which goes straight through to your
bones. Already few stray snow lakes were
IlutterIDg down, giving promise OF settled
storm later IL the day.
The depot at Hoboken Is not specially exhil-
arattng place TO wait in; but Charley settled
himself Comfortably With his paper upon one
OF the straight up-and- down settees, saying,
owe need not take too early train but tt is
well 10 be On hand even II we do reach Mont
clair COO soon, we can walk about and see the
place, you know"
Walk about and see the place On such day,
said nothing but inwardly decided that we
would not take too early train. At least We
were warm and sheltered where We were, and
VINO knew what " might find at tae otner end?
While was settling this point ia my oSn mind,
the door at the end OF the room was flung open
and Charley sprang 10 his feet
"Come," he said; "we might as well make
sure OF this train. after all;' and before could
find words In which to couch my objections
without giving the lie TO al the fixed principles
OF my lie, we were IL The cars.
Charley was buried IN BIS newspaper, and !
was gazing from The wlndo" upon the fast.
before Us with demand for '.pckets" They
were ready to baud, but the Conductor gazed
upon them bIabkiy.
''WbeTe to:' he asked, briefly.
'Montclair,'; replied Charley, with equal
brevtty.
''Wrong train. Yours left ten minutes later
from the other door. You'd better get out at
Newark, and take It there. II you miss It,
thereli be another along In forty minutes"
III Is fortunate that we have plenty Of
time said Charley to me, as the conductor LETT
us. "Aren't you glad that l have reformed in
regard to punctuallty?"
sob. very glad" said, With slight tinge of
irony, and adding. inwardly, especially il II
LEADS you to take the wrong train rather than
We got out at Newark and took the next train
that came along. Being the next, we made
sure that It must De the right one;out 1t wasn't
That train landed US at Orange, where we spent
quiet hour before another Newark bound
train picked US up.
You see, dear said Cnarley,"I go upon your
on taking fhe first train that comes along, we
shan be sure to get there some time-if not In
tliae for the Wedding, then, perhaps, in time
tUS luutTdi Vi HI ttie
eve shah certainly not be in time for the
wedding at this rate" said, half laughing and
haif crying. suppose, by way OF variety, we
Try the effect Of taking the last traiu?"
cried Charley. However, 1 think we will In
qutre before We try again.
We Old inquire, but with the result Of finding
that the next train which It would be posi- Die
for US to take would not reach Moatciair until
half an hour after the time set fer the we'd
ding:
"The wedding may be delayed. you know. The
groom may De unpunctUdl, or something"
fairly broke down at that.
mo, we viii not" said. II don't want
10 go dragging In just at the tail OF the
ceremony. Pm cold and tired and Wretehed,
and want to go home"
was cold and tired and wretched. but was
more than that. was thoroughly indignant, for
l was sure that Charley had done 1t all on pur-
pose. Though / had hidden consciousness
that deserved a lesson OF some kind l thought
that he had punished NE too severely. So Lad
tile 10 say 10 him either then or when we were
sitting together in the evening. Charley was
too busy with pencil and paper TO take any No.
leila. he said, suddenly.
''What is IT," answered. rather sulkily.
~ am thoroughly convinced now" said Char
ley, THAT punc;uaiity is the king OF all virtues,
the GROWING merit OF humanity; but doesn't 1t
stffke you as rather an expensive one?'
'HoW so?" asked, melting little, but not
much.
" Wen, won't SPEAK OF tO-03y, }OT mat was
not fair test. | know you think mat / made
all those Dlunders on purpose, but didn't /
suppose The tnioEication OF such unusual virtue
fe% TO my head, and muddled my wits, for |
certainly made uncommon hash of the aft air.
| Lave been puGctual according to your ideas
for month now, and have just been making
little computation Of the result. | began to
practice the virtue on the nigh; Of Mrs. Lees
reception, ] believe: Very Wei. We ea2a
spent q solitary hour in the dressing-roon
which, / suppose. may fairly pe consi4erej
wasted. Two hours, to begin VIII. We wca,
20 the opera all hour too earl! {thnugh our aea +
were euEa9ed) GA tYT0 oCCaaOns-StY hours
Theater ditto, tWlc5-fonr hours. Six and fuui
are ten, and t.go make twelve. Really, uy deal
Lila. pnnctualtty is a Gooie virtue, but, do yo'
Know, 1t strikes lie that life is too short t.
practice Il In. Il might do for Methuse.ah o.
an archSEgel, but Tor ordinary norta's-'
Don't, Charley" ] cried, breaking down
suddenly. :" ] have been vain. Connected
overbeaF1ng little idiot. Twas so proud OF mi
enc virtue, ana It's nothing but vice. after all
have been beginning 10 see IL for ever so long
and am ready TO say that 1 will never waste
time by being punctual again."
DON'T" said Charley, laughing. This month
has done me no end 0f good for | was In
cliped to run things much too close. | never
was exactly late, but often made precious
tight shave OF it. Wen help each other afte,
this, won't we, little woman? You'll spur ms
On, and I'll rim you La. and We Will neither O
us get out OF temper with the other. Is 1t
bargain?"
His hand was out, and his good, honeat eye:
were shining into mine, and. before l kneW It
my arms were around his Eeck, and | wa.
promising any thing and everything.
SO that was the end OF the first and las
quarrel that threatened TO overshatoY OH
married life,