The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1868-11-25
The Engineer was Drunk.
By W. 5. WALLACE.

l have been an engineer ever since the
- road was laid. | have travelled over
it every day for a good many years. For
long while | have had the same engine
| in charge-the San Francisco, and it is
as well managed-if say 1t myself-as
! the best
1t was on a southwestern road, running
from A to u. At A 10y good old mother
! lived and at Z l had the sweetest little
wife under the sun and couple of babies
also had few dollars laid up for rainy
day. | was an odd sort Of man, and some
! people thought ME unsociable, as | WASH t
a great talker; but then being shut up with
the engine, watching intently outside and
in, don't make a man talkative.
never had belonged to any society, or
mixed much with strangers any way, and
never should if il had not been for Farley
Farley was young, handsome, snowy fell
low, and one of the shareholders liked
to talk with him and admired his society.
He often rode from Il to A with ME and
back. and once he said
You ought to belong to some scientific
club; | am member; we meet once a
fortnight, and have a jolly time. I'll pro-
pose you if you like"
| was fond of such amusements, and had
ideas, fancied might be worth something.
But an engineer don't have too many days
and nights to himself, and that would take
one evening a fortnight from Joe. made
no answer; but at home | told Joe, and
she said:
III miss you Wort; but / know you
love such amusement. As Farley is a
member of the club, it must be composed
Of superior men,
No doubt of it, said l.
1T is not everybody that could become
a member, and of course you say yes"
So told Farley and he proposed me.
Thursday fortnight went to the rooms
there were some men with brains, and
some men without any but the real bust
ness Of the meeting was the supper, and
so it was every meeting. had always
been temperate man, and actually did
not know what effect liquor would have on
me. / drank more OF it at the club table
than / ever did before. found 1t put on
steam; after number of glasses wanted
TO talk; after few more | did talk 1t
seemed like some one else, the words were
so ready. My little ideas came out and
were listned to. | told stories | even
came to puns. | heard somebody say to
Farley: "By Georgel that fellow is worth
having; / thought him dull at first"
Yet thought it was better TO be quiet
Wort Smith, with his ten words an hour,
than the wine-mad wit | was. | was sure
of it three hours after, when ] stumbled
up stairs at home, to find Joe waiting for
me with the baby in her arms.
You have deceived me-" said Joe: "a
scientific club would not smell ike bar
room"
(which means I do" said /, wayer-
ing in the middle of the room ike signal
flag at station, and seeing two Joes.
"ADd look like one" said Joe, and went !
and locked herself and the baby in the |
spare bedroom.
One club night, as l was dressed to go,
Joe stood before me.
Wort" said she, Il never had a fault |
10 find with you before this. You've al
ways been kind, good and loving; but l |
should be sorry we ever met, if you go on /
in this way-don't ask me what | mean
you k7,ol0."
Joe" said !, its only on club nights"
1T will grow on YOU said she. Then
she put her arms around my neck, and con-
tinued Wort. do you think that thing
so much like bottled-up, strapped down
demon as steam, is fit to be put into the
hands of drunken man? Some day the
time will come when not only club nights,
but all the nights and days of the week
will be the same. I've often heard You
wonder what the feelings of an engineer
who has the same as murdered a train full !
of people must be; and you'll k7iog if you
don't stop where you are. a steady hand,
and clear head have been your blessings
all your years; don't throw yours away
now, Wort. If you don't care for my love,
don't ruin yourself
My little Joe spoke from her heart, and
bent over and kissed her.
don't be afraid, my child" l said, Il
will never pain you again." and meant it;
but at twelve that night, felt that i had
forgotten my promise and my resolutions.
| could not 90 home that night; | made
up my mind to sleep on the club sofa and
leave the place for good next day; already
| felt my brain reel as it never had before
In an hour was in kind of stupor.
1t was morning; waiter stood ready
to brush my coat; / saw the grin in his
dark face. Ny head seemed ready to
burst; my hands trembled as / looked at
my watch; had just five minutes to reach
the depot.
Joeis words came into my mind. Was
fit to take charge of the engine? was
not fit TO answer ought to have asked
some sober man to take my place for the
run. As it was, only caught up ny hat
and rushed away; was just in time. The
San Francisco glittered in the morning
sun; the cars were filing rapidly. From
ny post ] could hear the people talking
bidding each other goodbye, promising to
write and to soon make another visit
Among the crowd was an old gentleman |
Knew by sight-one of the shareholders Of
he road. He was bidding two timid girls |
.dieu: Goodbye, Kitty goodbye, Sue l
heard him say: don't be nervous. The
San Francisco is the safest engine on the !
inc, and Smith is the most careful engin- :
,er. | wouldn't be afraid TO trust every i
Mortal love in batch to their keeping; !
lothing could happen wrong with the two
ogether.r
I'll get through If somehow" mutter
d, sand Joe shall never have to talk to
ne again. After all, it is easy enough 2
| reeled as | spoke. / heard the signal
nd we were of. Five hours from A to
and five back. On the last should be b
lyself again, ! knew now. | saw red =