The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1883-09-01

where We were. and who knew what "
might iind al ,ha other endf While va
settling this point IN my mind the door
the end Of the room was huug open an'
! Charley sprang 10 bis feet
Come. be said. ne might . cell max
snre Of this train after all. And before
could nnd words in which 10 couch my oh
jcctions withou, giving the lie 10 all th'
fixed principles Of my life we we're in ih'
cars.
Charley was buried in his newspaper anl
was gazing from the window upon the
fast whitening meadows when the conduc
tor paused before us with demand fol
tickets. They were ready TO hand. bu
the conductor gazed upon them blankly.
Where tor be asked briefly.
Montclair. replied Charley with equa
brevity.
Wrong train. Yours left ten minutes
later from the other door. You had better
get out at Newark and take ii there. II
you miss it, there'll he another along in
forty minutes.
1t is fortunate that we have plenty Of
time, said Charley TO me. as the conduct
or loft us. Aren't you glad that I've re-
formed in regard to punctuality'
Oh, very glad, said with slight tinge
OF irony, and adding inwarily: Especially
il it leads you to take the wrong train
rather than wait for the right one.
| We got out at Newark and took the next
train that came along. Being the next we
were sure il must be the right one-but 1t
wasn't. That train landed us at Orange,
where we spent Uiet hour before anoth-
Or Newark bound train picked us mp.
You see, dear, said Charley, always go
upon your principle Of being in time. II
we keep on taking the first train that
comes along we shall get there sometime
il not in time for the wedding, then, per-
haps, in time for the funeral Of all the
family.
We certainly shall not be in time for the
wedding at this rate" said, half laugh
ing. half crying. Suppose by way OF va
riety We try the effect OF taking the last
train.
What aud abandon principle? Never
cried Charlie. However 1 think we will
inquire before we try again.
We did inquire, but with the result Of
finding that the next train which it would
be possible for us to take would not reach
Montclair until half an hour after the time
set for the wedding.
Shall we try it? asked Charley cheerful.
ly. The wedding may be delayed, You
know. The groom may lie unpunctual. or
something.
fairly broke down at that.
No, we will notl said. | don't want to
90 dragging in just at the tail end of the
ceremony. am cold and tired and wretch.
Ell, and | want to go home.
was cold and tired and wretchcd, but
II
indignant, for felt that Charley had done
it all on purpose Though had hidden
consciousness that deserved lesson Of
some kind, thought that he bad pun
ished me too severely, SO had little to
say to him, either then or when We were
sitting together in the evening. Charley
was too busy with paper and pencil to
take any notice though.
Leila, he said suddenly.
What is it? asked rather sulkily.
l am thoroughly convinced now, said
Charley, that punctuality is the king Of all
virtues; the crowning merit of humanity;
but doesn't it strike you as being rather
expensive one2
How so? ! asked, melted little, but
not much.
Well. l wont speak Of today. for that
"a fair test, know you think !
"a bluAders on purpose, but
a.,a ~, ,,o rse ths intoxication OF
diar', sun, to my head and
- ..,,u.., ,;r,,o a. 'nly made un
,a.Ioo,o ve been
common hash Of that affair ha
,unctual according to your ideas fol
month now. aud have just been making
little computation of the result be.
,an to practice the virtue on the night OF
Irs. Lees reception. believe Very
rel. We each spent solitary hour in
he dressing room which, suppose may
airly be considered wasted. TN 0 hours,
0 begin with. We went to the opera an
our too early (tbougb our seats were en-.
aged the day before) on two occasions
six hours. Tleaier, ditto, twice--four
ours. Six and four are ten, and two are {
welye. Really, my dear Leila, punctaal- !
by is noble virtue, but do you know, it
trikes me that life is too short to practice |
! in. 1t might do for Methuselah or an
but for ordinary mortals--
Don't Charley. cried. breaking down ,
have been vain, conceited,
9erbearing little idiot. l was SO proud
( my own virtue and il is nothing but
ice after all. have been beginning TO
&C ii for eysr so long. and am ready to
ay that never will waste my time by be-
1g punctual again
Don't, said Charley. laughing. This 4
,oath has done me no end Of good, for !
'ss inclined to run things much too close.
was never exactly late, but often made
precious tight shave Of it. Well help ,
arh other alter this. won't we. little won
d? You'll spur me on. and I'll rein you
., and we'll neither OF us get out Of tenn
er with the other. Is il a bargain?
His hand WAS out, and his good honest
yes were shining into mine, and before
knew it my arms were around his neck
nd was promising anything and every