The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1871-10-04
THE ENGINEER'S STORY,

Franc.sco---tho nretticst engine on
the road, and as we'll managed, if
say it, rs the bost.
1t was n Southwestern road, so
we will sny, from A to Il. At A,
my good old mother lived; at u, |
had the sweetest little wifo under
the sun, and baby; and 1 always
had Il dollar or two put by for Il
rainy day. was an odd kind Of
q man. Being shut up with the
ongine, watching with all your
eyes and heart and soul, inside and
out, don't make a man taIkativc.
My wife's name was Josephine,
and [ called her Jo. Some people
called mo unsociablc, and couldn't
understand how Il man could feel
friendly without saying ten words
an hour. So, though | had IL fow
trlends--dcar ones, tool cid not
have SO many acquaintanccs as
most pooplo, and did not caro- to
havo. Tho house which held my
wito and baby was tho dearest spot
on earth to me, except tho old
house that held my mother, up at
A.
never belonged TO q club, Or
mixed myself up with strangers
in any such way, and mover should
if it hadn't been for CRANKY. You
SEQ CRANKY was one Of the share
holders, Il handsome, snowy follow.
l liked to talk with him, and
wo wcro friends. lie often rode
from Il to a. and back again, with
mo, and once he said:
"You ought to belong to the
Scientific Club. Gueldcn."
IL never heard Of it," said +.
"I am member" said he. "Wc
mect once q fortnight, and have a
jolly good time. We want think
ing men like you. We have some
among us now. III propose you,
you like"
| was fond Of such things, and
had ideas that I fancicd might be
worth something. But then an
engineer don't bavc nights or days
to himself, and the club would have
one evening fortnight from 10.
| said =:
2"'ll ask her. If sho likes it,
yes."
"AsE whom ?" said he.
"Jo," said I.
= "Ir 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 CRANKY.
But l mado no answer. At
home, | told 10. She said:
"I shall miss you, Ned ; but you
do love such things, and then, if
CRANKY belongs, they must be su-
pcrior mcn.'
emo doubt" said I.
at isn't everybody who could
be made member" said Jo.-
"Why, Of course, you mus, say
yes"
So said yes, and CRANKY pro-
posed mo. Thursday fortnight, l
went with him to tho rooms. The
roal business Of tho evening was
tho supper, and 30 it was every
evening.
I'd always been temperate
man. L actually did not know
what effect wine would have on
mo; but coming to drink more Of
it than l ever had before at the
club table, | found it but steam on,
After SO many glasses, I wanted
to talk; aftor so many more, |
did.
seemed like somebody else,
tho words wcro so ready. My
iitLlo ideas camo out, and wore lis
toned to. [ mado sharp hits; I
indulged in roparteo l told sto-
ries; | oven came to puns. /
heard somebody say to CRANKY:
"By George, that's n man worth
knowing. J. thought him dull at
first"
Yot l knew it was better to be
quiet Ned Gueldcn, with his ton
words an hour, than tho wine
made wit [ was.
I was sure Of it when, three
months aftor, [ stumbled up stairs
to find 10 waiting for me with hor
baby on her broast.
"You've beon dccoiving NO."
said 10. I'll suspected it, but /
wasn't suro. A sciontltic club
couldn't smell like n bar.room."
(Which means L do," said ],
wavering in tho middle Of tho
room like a signal flag at q station,
and socing two Jocs.
"And look like one" said 10,
and went and locked herself and
baby in tho spare bedroom.
One club night, rs | was drcssod
to 20, 10 stood before mo.
"Nod," said she, "I novor had
fault to find with you boforo.~-~
You've boon kind, and good, and
loving, always; but I should be
sorry we cvor mot, if you go on in
this way. Don't ask mo what /
moan. You know"
"Jo," said I, "it's only On club
night"
ItJ+ ,,,;IJ <.,o,, - co;1 ohio