The Mineral argus., 1883-08-23
Tbines had zone on this way for two

NV lrfltauOns IOr 1 really lONeu DIN anu
did not wish to annoy, still less to alien
ate him; but l suppose that my efforts
were in vain. We were talking about a
reception to which we were going in the
evening and I said: Now, Charley,
dear, won't you be ready in tune, Just
for once?. You do a me waste so
much time waiting for you"
Charley laughed as usual, and was
going 10 make one Of his careless retorts
but be stopped suddenly.
"We have been married four months,
haven't we Lelia?" he said.
"Four months to-day, II said promptly
''It wal the Sth of August and this is the
aAnd in ali that time you have not
been able TO cure me of my dreadful
fault? Poor little grill Your hair will
be grey in a year at this rate. I'm 60
ing to try the effect of turning W. a
new leaf, and see how we both like
IT,"
I did not know exactly what he meant
then. but / began to understand when
he went into bis dressing room the mo-
ment I suggested II. He came out fully
equipped, even 70 mis- gloves, before l
bad half finished dressing.
"No hurry, Leila" he said looking in
as be passed. 81 only wanted TO let
you know that l am ready whenever
you are"
or course / had 70 hurry after that,
but as / always hurried anyhow, il did
not make much difference. Charley
said nothing except, "the carriage is at
the door," when i came down. OF
course after all the fuss l had made, j
could not saw that II was too early TO go,
though / knew very well that it was and
was qusking iuwardly all the way.
Don't YOU think it would be pleasant
TO drive round Washington sQuare?" ]
said in desperation.
Washington squareP" exclaimed
Charlie. Are you mad, Lelia2 Why
not by Philadelphia at once? Washing
ton square is miles out of our way"
As if that was not just my objectl !
could not explain myself, however, so l
kept still, and we drove TO our destin-
alton by the shortest route. OF course
the house was dark when we reached il,
the hostess entirely unprepared to re-
ceive us, and the waiter who let us in
equally surprised and e~ontemptuous at
our untimeiy arrival. OF course we had
the pleasure depending q solitary hour,
/ in the ladies' and Charley in the gen.
tleman's dressing room before we dared
descend. Even then We were among
the earliest guests.'
81 begin to feel the reward of virtue
already" sighed Charley, as we de-
scendSd the stairs. How nice it is
10 De earlyl The carriage is or
dered for one, and I'll be sure to be
ready"
He vas-and I was not. / had met an
old friend, and we we're in the middle
Of a most interesting conversation. She
was only at New York en- PEASANT, and i
should not see her again. 1t was very
provoking to be obliged to break of in
the middle Of our talk, but how could l
tell Charley that / was not ready when
be stood waiting with an air of conscious
virtue? II was beyond my power, and
absurd as it was, l had to say good bye to
Anna and GO.
I had not supposed at fret that Char
ley's reformation was permanent, but as
the days went on, / was forced to con.
fess that il looked very much hke as il
it were. Promptly as the clock struck
six in the evening, he entered the house;
promptly as 1t struck nine in the norm
ing he left il. No entreaties could de-
tain him an instant beyond his time.
"No, Leila, my dear" was his inva.
riable reply, 81 have already wasted too
much Of life by unpunctuality. You
have convinced me OF my error. Why
strive now to undo the good which you
have done2"
or course such sentiments ought to
have delighted my heart, and they did,
in a measure. Only in a measure, how
ever, ! must confess. tor l began to
think that we should be known every
where as the early birds" II was new
er necessary TO urge Charley to get ready
for anything. We we're always the first
in church; we we're waiting at the door
/ of The operas and theatres long before
they were open; at parties or receptions
il was our invariable GUS
tom 70 spend from half
an hour to an hour in the dressing room
in order 70 descend with the earliest
guests. And Charley was continually
expatiating on the sweet reward of Vir-
tue and thanking me for teaching him
the beauty Of punctuality. Ispent myself
in vain wonderiDgs as to how long this
state OF things was to last; but Of course
it anne to n climax finally.
My Oldest and most intimate friend,
Tina Nerringer, was to be married and
Charley and ! had vowed in b most
solemn manner 10 attend the wedding
Tina lived at Mountclsir and 1t was
there, Of course, that the ceremony was
to take place.
"Do you think that nine o'clock will
be early enough to leave here2' asked
Charley meekly.
mime o'clock! My dear Charley, she
is rot 10 be married until one, RnC
Mountclair is only an hour away"
81 know" said Charley, "but l was
anxious to be in time. j think that ",
bad better start al nine 10 make sure
swallowed my astoRishment as best
could. and submitted. 1t was not
pleasant day. If we're not afraid o