Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-12-17
AN AWAKENING.

"Will you come down to our place
next Mondar, Charlie, for a couple of
day shootng?"
Monday Yes Delighted, old
chap.
Then the friends proceeded to settle
details. They would meet at the sta
ton and 20 by the $50 train. which
would land them in comfortable time
for dinner
Now. if Charles West had a weak
ness, it was that he was prone to be
little obi yous about time. and was in
the habit OF running his engagements
rather fine. The Monday afternoon. TO
beguile the time between luncheon and
the train, he called on pretty woman
OF his acquaintance, and she was so
amusing that he stopped until the last
moment and then jumped nto a han
som, telling his jehu to drive like the
devil. Unfortunately. his own watch
had stopped Che forgot to wind it up
the previous nighO. and how could he
know that his hostess clock was
quarter of an hour slowe
When he arrived on the platform he
was met by his servant, who. with
countenance inexpensive of emotion.
pleasurable or otherwise, informed
him that the train had departed. bear
ing &C. lain Leslie With IT, The Cap
tain mad lett word that he hoped Mr..
West would 20 by the next train. which
WAS not until $50. and reached b
at"l0:lJ. He would drive the doccart
over 10 meet hint was six miles from
the station.
Charlie swore exhaustivelv He was
not ill-tempered. but surely. if a man
might be justified (Which by no
means admit in INDUCING in bad lam
guagc. here was case n point. To
lind Yourself i'm the east end Of London.
with two hours and fifty minutes on
hand; TO have forc9onc a pleasant din
ner and evening; to have put your host
70 great Inconvenience and probably to
have given bad impression to his fam
NY before your arrival-all these things
are extremely vcXng.
But, having a tolerably happy dspo-
sitlon, Charlie, after his first outburst
OF wrath and disgust, took it very well.
he got into another hanson. returned
to his club at the West End. read the
papers dned lightly and took excellent
care to be in time for the $50
1t wa. slow train il stopped at
nearly every station, and arrived at
last. thirty-fiye minutes late. His
friend, who had time TO recover his
flrst feeling of resentment ut Charles
confoundcd inconsiderateuess. met him
cordially The dog-cart was capacious.
and they managed TO cram in the SER
want and luggage and went of at
spanking pace TO the court The .
moon shone brightly. the roads were
excellent
'Jove! uttered Charlie. drawing a
long breath. How good everything
smells, and what blessing il is TO get
out Of Londoa."
They drove through long avenue of
trees and came TO a biz. old-faShioned
red house with n great mere shining
like mirror in front OF it,
I'll expect. said George Leslie, THAT
we shall find everybody gone to bed
all my people me tremendously
early"
And so il proved. The friends re-
freshed themselves in the dining-room
tete-a-tete. then returned TO the smok-
ing-room. and the hour of had given
tongue from the stable clock before
they thought of turning in. Leslie
showed Charlie his room. spacious and
tapestry-hung. and the young gentle
man. having drawn back the curtains
which the housemad, after the manner
of her kind. had Theoretically closed.
and thrown one window wide open re-
tired TO bed, TO sleep the sleep of the
just. He awokc en- SUrSdW bv hearing
his name, Charlie. Charley do wake
up IL was Il pretty feminine voice,
and Charlie was not i'm the habit of be-
ing called in this fashion.
He started and looked up What he
saw was slim young lady, with n very
pretty figure. in blue cotton gown
and the back of a charming head with
golden plaiis. The fair one was look
ing out of the window and apostrophiz-
ing him ut the same time.
ut is such Il glorious morning: aren't j
you ashamed of yourself. YOU great !
idle creature. TO be lying there missing ,
all this lovely sunshineP Do get up and 4