The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1866-11-01

(
What the Engineer Told. 5
I am an engineer. Ever since
road was laid, I've travelled over it every
day, or nearly every day, of my life.
For a good while I've had the same
engine in charge the Sans Francisco
the prettiest engine on the road, and as
well managed, If / say II. as the best.
It was q Southwestern road, running,
we will say, from A. to z. At A. my
good old mother lived; at z. / had the
sweetest little wife under the sun, and a
baby; and I always had dollar or two
put by for rainy day. was an odd
kind'of a man. Being shut up with the
engine, watching with all your eyes and
heart and soul, inside and out, don't
make man talkative.
My wife's name was Josephine, and l
called her 10. Some people called me
unsociable, and couldn't understand
saying ten words an hour. So, though
had few old friends dear ones, tool
did not have, 80 many acquaintances a.
most people, and did hot care to have
was vas tiss TX dSstsst 81 ei1css3 I j 3 ssrtE iii Is g.
cept the old house that held my mother,
up at A. 5osaT aarmf . .oe.h
I never belonged to club, or mixed
myself up with strangers in any such
way, and never should, II 1t hadn' been
for GrandyL You see Grandy was one of
the shareholders, handsome, snowy
fellow. liked to talk to him, and we
were friends. He often rode from z. to
A., and back again, and once he said;
"You ought to belong to the Scientific
Club, Guelden." 40 E.s EFlt.-sf..
"Ncver heard ofit," said I.
II am anember," said he, "We meet
once fortnight, and have jolly good
time. We want thinking men like you.
We. We have ,.,, some e among Us now. IN pro-
ideas that l fancied might be worth
something. But then an engineer don't
have nights and days to himself, and the
club would have one evening fortnight
from 10. said: HNA NEt..E %&NNA
"I'll ask her. II she likes 1t, yes"
''Ask whom?" said he.
'Jo," said /. f-r AZ ta1s5.. -1. Il
"If every man had asked his wife,
every mans wife would have said, Cant
spare you my dear, and we should
have had no club at ALL" said Grandy.
But I made no answer. At home l
told 10. She said: III. |a..
!, II shall miss you, Ned; but you love
such things, and then If Grandy belongs
to it, they must be superior men,"
mo doubt" said I. a@N"
at isen't everybody who could be
made member" safd 10. "Why of
course you must say yes"
So said yes, and Grandy proposed
r., r.. ,:<l>
him to the rooms. There was some men
The real business of the evening was the
supper, and so it was every evening.
I'dalways been temperate man. l
actually did not know what effect wine
would have upon me: but coming to
drink more of it than I ever had before
at the club table, / found it put the steam
on. After 30 many glasses I wanted to
talk; after SO many more did.
seemed like somebody else, the
words were SO ready. My little ideas
came out and were listened to, made
sharp hits; indulged in repartec; |
told stories; even came to puns.
heard somebody say to Grandy: "By
George, that's a man worth knowing
I thought Linn dull at fist" Yet l
knew it wa, better to be quiet Ned Gue.-
"
the wine-made wit l was.
was sure of 1t when, three hours
after, stumbled up stairs to find Jo.
waiting for me, with her babe on heI
breast.
"You'ye been decciving me-" said 10.
II suspected it, but l wasn't sure. A
scientific club couldn't smell like bal
room.
(which means do" said I, waving
in the middle of the room like a signal
flag at station and seeing two JOS.
"And look like one," said Jo. and
she went and locked herselfand the baby
up in the spare bedroom.
One club night as I was dressed to 60
10. stood before me.
Ned said she, II never had a faull
to find with you before. You've beer
kind, and good, and loving, always; bu
| should be sorry we ever met If you arr
| to 20 on in this way. Don't ask mt
| what mean. You Know"
''Jo.," eaid I, tits only ON club night
"It will grow, - said she. @ NV
Then she put her arms around my
neck. sar8,.
"Ned," said she, '.do you think ,
thing 60 much like bottled up ane
strapped down demon as steam is, Is n
to be put into the hands of a drunken
man? And some day, mark my words
the time will come when not only
Thursday night but all the days Of th'
week will be the same. I've often heart
YOU wonder what the feelings of an en-
9ineer who has about the same as muir
dered train full of people must be, ant
You'll know If you don't stop where yo'
are. A steady hand and clear hea:
have been your blessings oil these years
Don't throw then away, Ned. II yo'
don't care for my love, don't ruin your
self"
MY little 10. She spoke from he
heart, and bent over and kissed her.
Don't be afraid, child. I'll neve
pain you again. a
And mean 1t +; but at twelve o'clocl
that night I felt that had forgotten IN,