The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-08-16
PUNCTUALITY:

PUNCIUALlTY:
The trouble began as soon as we wer,
married-nay, evon before, Ihad bee,
engaged to Charley long enough t.
learn his weaknesses pretty we'll, and a
our wedding day approached I began tt
tremble. -,
"Charley," said as we parted tht
night before, ''don't be late Tomorrow
whatever you do" ). =,
:'Good heavens, Leila! What do you
take me for?" said Charley. "If ever q
man was ready for anything"
(Which you never we're since knew
y ou," I said. II believe you would
f@manage to be: late for your own funeral u
'n"That would not depend quite SO
much upon my own; violition;" said
Charley laughing. 'fMake your mind
easy, 'ittle woman; shall be in time"
l was by no means convinced of it,
but could say no more. At first had
thought OF being married in the English
style, but / did not fancy the idea OF
waiting at the chancel rails for Charley.
\ The only safe thing seemed to be to Sc
I cure him before we left the Rouse.
\ Two o'clock was the hour fixed for the
wedding, and as the time approached,
of course l was in turmoil. [ was sure
that the hair dresser was late, but Aunt
Tan convinced me that the appointed
hour had not yet arrived. He came
promptly on the stroke Of the clock,
then all was hurry and worry until my
toilet was completed. was ready, from
the spray of orange blossom which fast
ened my veil to the rosette on my slip.
per: but Charley had not come.
"It's too bad,' 1 said. "He promised
so faithfully to be here in time. Do send
somebody to look him up"
"Dear child" cried Aunt Fan, in ter.
!ro|, "Whatevcr you do, don't cry. Blush
ing cheeks are all very we'll for a bride,
out blushiDg eyes ale q decided mistake.
Where is plenty of time. 1t is only half.
past one."
but he might be here," cried. II
am ready, and why not he? It's too
Dad?"
One great tear splashed down upon
the brocaded satin of my dress. That
frightened me, I resolutely represscd
the rest, while Aunt Fan carefully dried
the spot with her lace handkerchief. It
was completely effaced, but still Charley
did not come. Then I fell into stony
despair. =
"He. won't come at all. There will be
no wedding, and shall be the laughing
stock of everybody"
my dear Leila" said Aunt Fan 1--WE
are not in England. You can be mar
ried at any time, and it is not yet"
"But just on the stroke" said.
just then the cuckoo clock shouted
out its two absurd notes. A moment af-
forwards the door bell rang, and Char.
ley walked in as calm and composed as
if had not been enduring agonies.
Charley! Charley! how could your"
.cried and then stopped, and bit my lin
to keep back the tears which rushed to
my eyes.
what is it?" said Charley, looking
utterly bewildered. Instead of looking
ashamed, when he understood the state
Of affairs, he began to laugh. "My dea,
child" he said "the clocks were strikin.
two as came up the steps. 1 said 1
would tie in time and am"
The wedding journey was not peri
Cd OF unalloyed bliss to me. Charley
never missed a train or boat, but he
was never more. than just in time. 50
that was kept in constant terror. TO
the hours for meals he paid not the
slightest attention. When I reminded
him of them, he merely inquired if
was hungry. If 1 could not say that I
was, he laughed and said: '"rhen why
hurry? What is the use of being in 4
hotel if we cannot take our timer" AS
if punctuality were not virtue in it.
self!
It was a relief to me when we came
home and settled down at last to begin
life in earnest. We had had one little
quarrel about the furnishing of our
house. I wanted clock in every room
to which Charlie decidedly objected.
Thine was made for slaves" he said.
"Why should be constantly reminded
Of my bonds? When am down town.
/ must be punctual and energetic, and
score of other things. come home for
relaxation, and 1 want to forget all an
noyances. Have a clock in the kitchen,
by all means, aud put one, if you choose
in the servants bedroom. For the rest,
we have our watches, and what possible
need have we for more?''
I yielded, but I made up my mind
then which of Charles faults, was like
ly to give me the most trouble.
Charley was always geod-natured; I
will say that of him. On the whole,
though am not sure that that was the
most agggravating part of it.. always
made point of being ready before the
time, when we were going anywhere,
have it's effect, but it was of no use.
uAVhat! going already, little woman?'
Charlie would say. Then pulling out his
watch and looking at it: ooh, we need
not start for an hour yet; plenty of
time."
Then he would throw himself into a
chair and rattle awav about anything or
nothing, while I felt myself growing
more and more nervous every minute.
had made up my mind that nothing
should induce me to quarrel with him
quarreling is at once foolish and vulgar
and never did. As the time grew on
however, I'would say: "Charley, ought
you not be getting ready2"
"Oh, there's no hurry" was the inva-
riable reply-"time enough" At last,
however, he would rouse himself, look
at his watch, yawn, stretch, and then
rise slowly from his chair.
"That bonnet is very becoming.
suppose that is why you like to weal it
40 long," he said on one such OCCASION.
Then he went out of the room laughing,
and I heard him moving about over
lead in the deliberate way which nearly
drove me frantic.
The worst of it was that he always did
manage to be just in time. If I could
only have convicted him of being just
too late for once, should have some
thing to fall TACK upon in our arguments,
but as it was, had nothing to take hold
of.
Things had gone on this way for two
or three months. did not suppose
that Charlie knew or, indeed, saw, how
l fretted about it. I tried hard to hide
my irritation, for really loved him and
did not wish to annoy, still less to alien
ate him; but suppose that my efforts
were in vain. We were talking about a
reception to which we we're going in the
evening and [ said: "Now, Charley,
dear, won't you be ready in time, just
for once? You do make me waste so
much time waiting for you."
@Charley laughed as usual, and was
g6ing to make one of his careless retorts
but he stopped suddenly.
ave have been married four months,
haven't we Lelia?' he said.
"FO,,r months tO-dav IT said nrOmDtlv