The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-03-06

4 DrcILlcSt cDRlu0 Ou tuC iooAs ssN~~ - 49,
managed, if say it, as the best.
It was southwestern road, running, so
we will say, from A to q. At A my good
old mother lived at z l had the sweetest
little wife under the sun, and baby; and
always had dollar or two put by for
rainy day. / was an odd kind of man.
Being shut up with the engine, watching
| with ell your eyes and heart and soul, In
side and ont, don't make man talkatiye.
Nv wife's name was Josephine, and
called her 10. Some people called me un-
sociable, and couldn't understand how q
man could feel friendly without saying ten
words an hour. So, though had few
friends-dear ones, tool did not have so
many acuuaintances as most people, and
did not care to have. The house which
held my wife and baby was the dearest
spot on earth to me, except the old house
that held my mother, up at A.
never belonged to club, or mixed my
self up with strangers in any such way, and
never should If it hadn't been for CRANKY.
| You see CRANKY was one Of the sharehold-
ers-a handsome, snowy fellow. l liked to
talk with him and we were friends. He
often rode from z to A and back again
with me, and once said:
"You ought to belong to the Scientific
Club, Guelden."
81 never heard Of it," said /.
81 am member" said he. owe meet
once q fortnight, and have jolly good
time. We want thinking men like you.
We have some among us now. I'll propose
you if you like"
was fond OF. such things, and I had
ideas that l fancied might be worth some
thing. But then an engineer don't have
nights or days to himself, and the club
would have one evening fortnight from
10, ! said:
"Tll ask her. If she likes it, yes"
"Ask whom 7" said he.
"Jo," said 1.
eff every man had asked his wife, every
mans wife would have said, Can't spare
you, my DEAR and we should have no
club at ALL" said CRANKY.
But / made no answer. At home told
10. She said:
81 shall miss you, Ned; but you do
love such things, and then if CRANKY be-
longs to it, they must be superior men,"
"No doubt" said 1.
at isn't everybody who could be made
member" said 10. "Why, of course
you must say yes"
So said yes, and Grandy proposed me.
Thursday fortnight went with him to the
rooms. The real business Of the evening
was the supper; and 80 it was every eve
ming.
I'd always been temperate man. l
actually did not know what effect wine
would have on me; but coming to drink
more of it than / ever had before at the
club table, found it put steam on. After
so many glasses, wanted to talk; after so
many more, did.
I seemed like somebody else, the words
were so ready. My little ideas came out,
and were listened to. Imade sharp hits ;
INDUCED in repartee l told stories; |
even came to puns. ! heard somebody
say to CRANKY:
"By George, that's man worth know
ing. / thought him dull at first" Yet |
knew it was better to be quiet Ned Guel-
den, with his ten words an hour, than the
wine-made wit was.
Twas sure of it when, three months at-
ter, stumbled up stairs to find 10 wait
ing for me with her baby on her breast.
"You've been deceiving me-" said 10.
+" suspected it, but wasn't sure. A SCI
entific club couldn't smell like bar
ROOM" =.
(which means do" said ], wavering
in the middle of the room like signal flag
at station, and seeing two Jos.
"And look like one," said 10; and went
andHlocked herself and baby in the spare
bedroom.
One club night, as was dressed to 60,
10 stood before.
| &C NoI ,o;d oha pouar hod 70 u1f
to find with you before. You've been kind,
and good, and loving always; but / should
be sorry we ever met If you 60 on in this
way. Don't ask me what / mean. You
know
"Jo," said I, sits only on club night"
cit will grow" said she.
Then she put her arms around my neck.
"Ned," said she, "do you think thing
down demon as steam is is fit to put into
the hands Of drunken manY And some
day, mark my words, the time will come
when not only Thursday night but all the
days Of the week will be the same. I've
often heard you wonder what the feelings
of an engineer who has about the same as
murdered train full of people must be,
and you'll know if you don't stop where
you are. A steady hand and clear head
have been your blessings all these years.
Don't throw them away. Ned, ifyou don't
care for my love, don't ruin yourself"
Ny little 10. She spoke from her heart,
and bent over and kissed her.
"Dont be afraid, child. I'll never pain
you again"
And meant It; but at IL o'clock that
night felt / had forgotten my promise and
my resolution.
couldn't get homo to 10. made up
my mind to sleep on the club sofa and leave
the place for good the next day. Already
felt my brain reel as it had never be-
fore. In an hour was in kind of stu
por. g.r -
II was morning. A waiter stood ready
to brush my coat. saw grin on his face.
Ny heart seemed ready to burst; my
hand trembled looked at my watch
had only just FIVE minutes to reach the de-
pot!
JOS words came to my mind. Was ! fit
to take charge Of ~ engine! ! was not ut
to answer. ] ought to have asked some
sober man. As It was, only caught my
hat and rushed away. Twas just in time.
The San Francisco glittered in the morn
Ing sun. The cars were filing rapidly.
From my post ! could hear the people
taiking-bidding each other goodbye, pro-
missing to write and come again. Amongst
them was an old gentleman I knew by
sight-one Of the shareholders he was
bidding two timid girls adisu.
Goodbye. Kitty-good-bye. Lue." I
neard MIN say don't be nervous. The
San francisco II the safest engine ON the