The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-05-04

in the most solemn manner to at
tend the wedding. Tina lived a
Montclair, and it was there, o
course, the wedding was to tax,
place.
"Do you think that nine O'Clock
| will be early enough to leave here p
asked Charlie, meekly.
Nine o'clock, my dear Charlie
she is not to be married until one
and Montclair is an hour away"
Il know" said Charlie, ''but
was anxious to be on time. | think
we had better start at nine to make
sure"
| swallowed my astonishment as
best | could, and submitted. 1t
was not a pleasant day. If | were
not afraid of exaggerating, / should
say that it was decidedly an un-
pleasant one, being cold and gray,
damp and chilly, with that chilli
ness that goes straight through to
the bones. Already a few snow
flakes were lluttering down, giving
promise of settled storm later in
the day.
The depot at Hoboken is not a
specially exhileratiEg place to wait
in; but Charlie settled himself COM
fortably with his paper ON one of
the straight-up and down settees.
saying: I'VE need not take too ear
| ly a train, but it is well to be on
hand, even if we reach Montclair
too soon, we can walk about and
see the place, YOU know"
Walk about and see the place on
such a day! | said nothing but in
wardly decided that we would not
take too early a train. At least we
were warm and sheltered where we
were, and who knew what we might
find at the other end? While
was settling this point in my own
mind, the door at the end of the
room was flung open and Charlie
sprang to 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 with
out giving the lie to all the fixed
principles ofmy life, we were in the
cars.
Charles was buried in his news
paper and was gazing from the
window upon the fast whitening
meadows, when the conductor paus-
ed before us with a demand for
Tickets = They were ready to
hand, but the conductor gazed upon
them blankly.
Where to? he asked briefly.
'Montclair, replied Charlie, with
equal brevity.
Wrong train. Your train left ten
minutes later from the other door.
You'd better get off at Newark, and
take it there. If you miss it there
will be another along in forty min
utes.1
1t is fortunate that we have plen-
ty OF time," said Charlie to me, as
the conductor left as. Aren't you
glad that | have reformed in regard
TO punctuality 2"
"Oh. very glad!" / said, with
slight tiuge of irony, and adding, in.
wardly, especially if it leads you
to take the wrong train rather than
wait for the right one"
We got at off Newark and took the
next train that came along. Being
the next, we made sure that it was
the right one, but it wasn't. They
landed us at Orange, where we spent
a quiet hour before another New
ark bound train picked US up.
you see, dear" said Charlie, Il
go upon your principle of always
being in time. Ii we keep on tax
ing the first train that comes along, |
we shall be sure to get there some |
not in time for the we'd
ding, then perhaps in time for the
funeral of all the family"
we shall certainly not be in time
for the wedding at this rate" | said |
half laughing and halfcrying. Sup
pose. by way of variety, We try the
effect OF taking the last train ?"
What! and abandon principle!
Neverw cried Charlie. However,
l think we viii inquire before we try |
again"
We did inquire, but with the re-
suit OF finding that the next train
which it would be possible for us to
take would not reach Montclair un-
I'll half an hour after the time set for
the wedding.
'ShaIl we try it?" asked Charlie,
The wedding may be
delayed, you know. The groom
may be unpunctual or something"
| fairly broke down at that.
No we will not" | said. Il don't |
want to go dragging in just at the
tail of the ceremony. I'm cold and
tired and wretched, and want to
go home"
was cold and tired and wretch
ed, but | was more than that.
was thoroughly indignant, for | was
sure that Charlie had done it all on
purpose. Though | had hidden
consciousness that | deserved a les
son OF some kind | thought that he
had punished me too severely. So
l had little to say to him then or
v hen we were sitting together in the
evening Charlie was too busy with
pencil and paper to take any notice,
though.
Leila" lie said suddenly.
What is it?" | answered sulk-
iiy.
Il am thoroughly convinced now,"
said Charlie, that punctuality is the
king Of all virtues, the crowning
merit Of humanity, but doesn't it
strike you as rather an expensive
one?"
How so," 1 asked, melting lit
tie but not much.
"Well, | won't speak of to-day,
for that was not a fair test. | know
that YOU think that | made all these
blunders on purpose, but | didn't.
| suppose the intoxication of such
unusual virtue flew to my head and
muddled my wits, for | certainly
made uncommon hash Of the affair.