The Penn's Grove record., 1888-03-03
AN AWAKENING.

swim you come down to our place
next Monday. Charley, for a couple Of
days. shooting"
"Monday2 Yes. Delighted, old
chap"
Then the friends proceeded to settle
details. They would meet at the sta
tion and go by the $50 train, which
would land them in comfortable time
for dinner.
Now, If Charley West had q weak
ness, 1t was that he WAS prone to be a
little obliv1ous about time, and "a In
the habit Of running his engagements
rather fine. On the Monday afternoon,
to beguile the time between luncheon
and the train, he called on q pretty
woman Of his acquaintance, and she
was SO amusing that he stopped until
the last moment. and then jumped into
a hanson, telling his Jehu to drive
like the devil. Unfortunately his own
watch had stopped Che forgot to wind
1t up the previous night, and how
could he know that his hostess clock
was a quarter of an hour slowl
when he arrived on the platform he
was met by his servant, who, with II
co%untenance inexpensive OF emotion,
pleasurable or otherwise, informed him
that the train had departed, bearing
Capt. Leslie with 1t. The captain had
left word that he hoped Mr., Wes'
would 60 by the next train, which was
not until $50 and reach D. at 10. 10.
He would drive the dog-cart over to
meet hint was six miles from the
station,
But, having a ~tolerably happy dispo-
sition, Charley, 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. dined lightly, and
took excellent care to be In time for
the $50.
1t was q slow train; it stopped at
nearly every station, and arrived at last
thirty.fve minutes late. Ills friend,
who had had time to recover from his
first feeling of resentment at Charley's
daily. The dog-cart was ~capacious,
and they managed to cram In the serv-
ant and luggage, and went of at a
spanking pace to the court. The moon
shone brightly; the roads were excel
lent.
"Jover uttered Charley, drawing a
long breath. SLOW good everything
smells, and what a blessing 1t is to get
out OF Londonin
They drove through a long avenue of
trees, and came to a big, old-fashloned
red house with q great mere shining
like q mirror in front Of 1t.
II expect, said George Leslie, ''that
we shall find everybody gone to bed;
all my people are Tremendously early"
And 81 1t proved. The friends re-
freshed themselves In the dining.room
tete.a-tete, then returned to the smok-
lng-room, and the hour Of ! had given
tongue from the stable clock before
they thought of turning In. Leslie
showed Charley his room, spacious and
tapestry hung, and the young gentle
man, having drawn back the curtains
which the housemaid, after the manner
Of her kind, had Theoretically closed,
and thrown one window wide open,
retired to bed, to sleep the sleep OF the
just.
He awoke en- 'sursant by hearing his
name, .Charleyl Charleyl do wake upl''
It was q pretty feminine voice; and
Charley was not In the habit Of being
called in this fashion.
He started and looked up. What he
saw was q slim young lady with a very
pretty figure. in a blue cotton gown,
and the back of a charming head with
golden plaits. The fair one was looking
out of a window and apostrophizing
him at the same time.
"It is such a glorious morning, aren't
you ashamed of yourself, you great
idle creature, to be lying there missing
all this lovely sunshlnep Do get up.
and come out with me before break
fast"
Charley Is not shy, but q very decided
feeling of embarrassment creeps over
him. He has known some rapid young
ladies in his time, but never one who
would have come into his room to call
him before she had even been intro.
duced to him. But how on earth was
he to intimate to her that she was in
error about his idtntltyp She had
called him, Charley, tool Leslie s
name was George, and he had nc
brothers. In any case, it was rather a
strong order for q girl to come into a
mans room who vas not her brother.
Charley buried his head under the
clothes, and awaited the denouement.
1t was not long In coming.
"Charley," said the fair n again,
and this time her voice indicated that
her face was turned In his direction;
"if you don't wake up this instant
will throw a wet sponge at you'll You
are a lazy pigl"
Then he heard her proceed to the
washing-staDd, and dip a sponge in
water, and partly wiring it. Next
moment, with unusually good aim fol
q girl, IL bounced OIL his head, which
was protected by the bed clothes.
Charley smothered q laugh; 1t was
becoming too ridiculous.
Every well, them" said the voice,
approaching; az shall come and drag
the clothes OF you."
Now he must act with promptitude.
He raised himself a little, and put the
clothes just far enough back for his as.
sailant to see his laughing blue eyes.
The damsel stopped midway in her
career, an expression Of stony horror
flashed into her face; her cheeks dyed
with crimson, and, uttering an agonized
little gr0an, she turned and fed.
Charley laughed all the time he wa:
getting up. He could not help won.
dering how she would meet him al
breakfast. By Joye. what q pretty