The Ottawa free trader., 1872-01-20
9iscr!Ianp.
TIE ENGINEER's STORY.

Fer good while I've had the same engine in
charge-the San Francisco, the prettiest engine
on tho road and as well managed, if I say it, as
the best.
1t was southwestern road, running as we
will say, from : to =. At A my good old
mother lived; az Il I had the sweetest little
wife under the sun, and baby; and always
had dollar or two put by for rainy day. l
was an odd kind OF man. Being shut up
with a. engine, watohlng with all your eyes and
heart and soul, inside and out don't make
man talkstiye.
NV wii3's name was Josephine, and l called
her Joe some people called ne uu>ociable and
couldn't understand how man could feel
friendly without saying ten words an hour
So, thoug' | hgd lev iriends-de4r oues too
did no, have 80 N my acqusintances as most
persons and did hot cate 10 haye. The house
which held my wife and baby was the dearest
spot on earth to No, except the one that held my
mother up at \.
| never belonged 10 clu5 or mixed myself
viii strangers IL any such way, and never
should if It hadn't been for CRANKY You see
CRANKY w one Of the share holders u hand
some sAowy fellow, and VIC were friends. He
often rode itom \ TO and back with me- Once
he said:
"You ought TO belong to the Scientific Club,
Guelden."
81 never heard OF it," said l.
81 am a rneptor," said ne. I'VE meet once
fortnight, and have a jolly good time. We want
thinking men like you, and III propose you if
you like
l was fond Of such things, and had ideas
that I fiuCje3 might be worth something. But
the engineer Gou & have days and nights to him
sell and the cil" wo. I'd have one evening fort.
night from Joe, | s,id:
u will ask her II she likes 1t, yes'
- 5k whom 7" he said.
"Jue," said |.
SOL e1-1I1 :.
wife would have said Can't spare you nv dear.
and we would have no club at all" said CRANKY.
But l made no answer. At home told Joe.
She said:
~ shall miss you, Ned but you do love such
things, and If Cranky belongs to it they must be
superior men, So l SAID yes, and CRANKY pro.
posed me- Thursday fortnight went with him
TO the rooms. The real business 0e the evening !
was supper, and so it an evening
had always been q temperate man. did
not know what effect wine would have upon
me, bnt coming to drink more of it than ever |
had before at the club table, found it put steam
Oh. After SO many glasses / wanted to talk !
and after so many more, did.
seemed likt somebody else. the words were
20 ready. My ideas came out and were listened
70; made sharp hits and INDUCED in repartee,
Told stories, and came to puns heard |
homeoody say TO Granny, "By Gtorge. that's n
;aan worth having. thought HIM dull at first"
L ct Knew 1t was better to be quiet Ned Guel.
cen, with bis ten words an hour than the wine
made wit was
was sure Of i! when three months after
tumo up stairs to find ice waiting for me
WIN Lcr baby on her tTc-sg.
You have lcan dc,a.vine me,' said Joe. y
suspected it, but w.s sure. 4 scientific club
don't smell Ike Il --ru. lu."
"nich means that ] do saiG 7.
AhG look like one lid joe, and locked her.
sSti sNi p'oy up in the spare bed room
One sight S. l WIS dressed to 90, Joe stood
before nc.
''Nei" said she, II never had fault to find
with yoa before. You've besH kind and good
and loviag a.wayg but I SHOULD be sorry we
ever met il you 20 GA this way. Don't ask what
lmesn-you know"
ITS only CLUB night" said T.
1T will grow said she.
Ihen she pat her arms around my neck
Ned" said she, do you think u thing 80
much like boiled aad strapped down demon as
steam II, IS fit TO put into the hands cf drunken
man? And some day, mark my words. not ..
only Thursday night, but all the days of this
week vii! be the same. have often heard YOU =.
wonder what the feelings of IN engineer, who . .
has about the same murdered train full of | !
people, must be, and you'll know if you don't
stop. where you are. = steady hand aud clear
head have been your blessings all these years.
!1oh u 1uro" tHelh away. NED, II you don I care :
Tor my love. don't ruin yourself"
My littly Joe. She spoke from her heart. and I
bent over and kissed her.
Don't be afraid, child; I'll never pain you
again
And I meant it; but at twelve o'clock that
night l felt that had forgotten my promise
and my resolution.
couldn't get home to joe I made up INV
mind to sleep on the club sofa, and leave the
Place for good the next day. Already felt my
brain reel as il had never done before. In an
hour was in kind of stupor 1t was morn.
ing A waiter stood ready to brush NV coat.
l saw grin on his face. My heart seemed
ready to bust; my hand trembled ; looked at
my watch; had only just five minutes to reach
the depot ,
Joe's words came to my mind. Was I fit to
take charge OF an engine? I was not fit 10 an.
swer. l ought to have asked some sober man.
As 1t wes, / only caught my hat and rushed
away. was just in time.
The San Francisco gllstened in the sun. The
ears were filing rapidly From my post l could
hear the people talking-bidding each other
good'oye, promising to write and come again.
Among them was an cid gentleman knew by .
sight-onc OF the shareholders he was bidding
two um:d girls adieu.
Good'oye, htty-good.bye. Luc," I heard
him say; don't be nervous. The San Francisco
Is the safest engine the line, and GuelGeu the
noet careful engineer. / wouldn't be afraid 20
trust every mortal | love to their keepinp.
Nothing could happen wrong with the two to. !
gether.'
sac well get through it somehow, and Joe
snail never talk to me again. After all, it was
easy enough. l reeled as spoke heard tho