Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-03-26
PUNCTUALITY.
Hsrrer's Bs8sr.l

| The trouble began as soon as we were mar
| ried-nay, even before l had been engaged t.
| Charley long enough TO learn his weaknesse
pretty well. and as our wedding day ap
| preached, began TO tremble.
Charley" said. az we parted the night be
fore, "dont be late Tomorrow, whatever yot
GOOD heavens. Lellal what do you take m,
for?n said Charley. "If ever man was ready
which You never were since knew you
SAID. 81 believe you would manage to be latt
for your own funeral"
f"That would not depend quite so much unor
my own Yolition," said Charley. laughing
MAJ your mind easy, little woman; Il shat
was by no means convinced OF II. In, could
say no more. At first had thought OF being
married ia the English style, but / did mol
fancy the Idea OF waiting at the chancel rails
ior Charley: The only safe thing seemed to be
10 secure him before we left the house.
TWO O'Clock was tie hour fixed for the wed
oing, and as The time approached, Of course /
was In turmoil. l was sure that the hair
dresser was late, but Aunt Fan convinced me
that the appointed nour had not yet arrived
He came promptly On the stroke OF the clock,
and then all was hurry and worry until my
toilette Wa9 completed. | Was ready. from the
spray Or orange Blossom which fastened my
vel, to the rosette on my slipper; but Charley
had not come.
fully to De In time. DO send somebody to look
him up"
Dear childi" cried Aunt Fan, In terror,
whatever you DO, don't cry. Blushing cheeks
are ali very wen FOR q bride, but blushiDg eyes
ere decided mistake. There is plenty Of time
IL IS only halfpasc one."
g But he might be here" I cried. 81 am
ready. and why isn't lie? It's TOO bad"
One great tear spiaehed down upon the bro
caded satin OF my sress. That frightened me,
and resolutely repTessed the rest, while Aunt
Fap carefully dried the spot With her lace
handkerchief IL was completely efaced. but
stu Charley did not come. Then l fell into a
stony despair.
he wont come ct all," said. There Will
Ito no Wedding, and shall be the laughing
"My dear Leila,H said Aunt Fan, eve are not
In England. You can be married at any Time
and IL is not two yet
But just on the stroke,n said.
Just then the cuckoo clock shouted out It's
Two ABSURD notes. moment afterWarj the
door bell rang, and Charley walked IN as calm
and composed rs Il had not been enduring
ag0nies.
"Charley. Charley. how could yoHs" cried,
and then stopped, and BIT my ltp to keep back
the tears which rushed to my eyes.
What Is IT." said Charley, looking utterly
bewildered.
Instead OF looking ashamed, when he under
stood the state OF AFFAIRS he began TO laugh
My dear cDild.'' he SAID. 1.-THE clocks were
striking two as came up the steps. l said |
would be IN time, and am
The wedding Journey was not q period OF
train or boat, nus he was never more than
just In time. so that / was kept In constant
terror. TO the hours for meals he paid not the
slightest attention. When | reminded him OF
them, he merely inquired whether was hun
CRY. IL could not say that was, he laughed
ana said, Then why hurry? what Is the use OF
being In hotel IL we cannot take our own
timer" AS If punctuailty were not a virtue In
ITSELF
Il was relief TO me when we came home.
and settled down at last to begin life IN earn.
est We had had one little quarrel about the
n of T mr. or
In every room, TO whloh Charley decidedly OBJ
iected.
should | be constantly reminded OF my bonds?
When am down town, must be punctual and
energetic, and a score OF other things. l come
home for Relation, and want to forget all an
noyances Have clock In tine Kitchen by all
means, and put one If you choose, IN the ser
wants bedroom. For the rest, we have our
watches, and what possible need have ne for
more?''
/ yielded. Out made up my mind then which
OF Charley's faults was likely 10 give me the
most trouble.
Charley was always good-natured; will say
that for him. On the whole, though, l am not
sure that .hat was not the most ag gravating
part OF It. always made point Of being ready
before the time when we were going any where,
hoping that my silent example woald nave its
ready, little Womau?' Charley would say. Then
pulling out his watch, and looking at It. sOa,
we need not start for an hour yet; plenty OF
time"
Then he would throw himself into Chair,
and rattle away ABOUT anything or nothing,
while l felt myself growing more and more
nervous every mtnlte. had made up my mind
that nothing should induce me TO quarrel With
him-quarreling is al once foolish and vulgar
and never Id. AS the tine drew on. however,
l would say, Charley. ought yol hot TO be
gel ting readi?'
On, there's no hurry" was the invariaoie re-
ply-"time euOGgh' At last, however, he
would rouse himself. look at his watch, yaTn,
stretch, and then rise slowly from his caaif.
THAT bonnet Is very becoming. suppose
that Is why yO1 Ike TO wear Is 50 long" be said
on one Sucl occasion. Then ne Went out CT the
room laughing. aati heard him moving about
overhead IL toe deliberate way winch ae1riy
drove me frantic
Tine w0rot OF IT was that he always did naaa-
age to be Just IN time II could only haYe
convicted him OF being just too late for once |
Should have lad something TO fail back upoa In
our arguments, out as 1t was, had nothing TO
take ho,d OF.
thee months. | did lot suppose that Charley
cared, or, Indeed, saw, how l fretted about IL.
trieG hard ID hiGe my irritation, for | really
loved him. aud did not Wish TO annoy, still less
10 ALLEVIATE niI. but | suppose that my efforts
were In vain. We were talking about a recep-
ton 10 which We were going III the evening,
and | said:
Now, Charley dear, won't you be ready 10
time, Just Tor once? You do make me waste so
much time waiting for you
Charley laughed as usual, and was going to
MAKE one OF his careless retorts, but he stopped
suddenly.
1--WE have been married four months, haven't
We, Leila p he said.
-Four months Today said, promptly. at
was the Sth or August, and this Is the sta OF
December
"And in all that time you have not been able
TO cure me OF my dreadful fault? Poor little
girl Your hair VIII be gray Ia year, at this
rate. In going TO try the effect or turnag
over new leaf, and see how we both Ike IT,"
CID not know exactly what he meant then,
put began 10 understand when he went into
MS dreS5Dg-r0oIn the moment ] suggested II.
he came QUO ruliy equipped, even to MS gloves
before had half fms ned dressing
No hurry, Leila" he said, looking In as he
passed. 81 only wanted 20 let you kno n tnat
am ready whenever you are"
OF course had 10 hurry after that, but as
always hurried anyhow, IL did not make very
much difference. Charley said nothing excapt,
''The carriage is at the door," when | cams
down. OF course, after all the fuss | had maze
/ could not sag that &c Was too early to 90
though kneH very We'll that 1t was and was
quaking inWardiy all the way.
e" Don't YOU JatGk &c would be pleasant &c
drive around o. Washington Square?' said, il
desperation.
washington Square," exclaimed Charley
'Are you mad. Leila? Why not by Philadal
phta az once? Washington Square is miles ou
OF our way"
AS IL that was no, Just nv object. | could
not explain myself, however SO | Kept sClil, ana
we drove to our destination oy the shortest
route. OF course the mouse was dark when we
reached II, the hostess entirely unprepared &c
receive Us, and the walter Who let US IN equally
surprised and contemptuouS at our unrimel3
arilFdi. VI course Ne had the pleasure OIL