The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1873-06-21
GUElDEN'S LAST Drink.
An Engineers Confession.


An Engineers Confession.
| have travelled this road every day of
nv life, ever since it was laid, in charged
of the San Francisco, the prettiest and
best engine on the line. 1t WAS South
western road, running as we will say,
from A. to 4. | had the sweetest little
wife in the world, and baby, the very
image Of its pa. | had always had
dollar or two put by for rainy land the
bows spoke OF me as an odd kind of man.
| To be Shut up with an engine, watching
with all your eyes, and heart and soul,
| don't make IL conscientious man talkatlve,
and | never squandered my leisure, spin
ming yarns and listening to railway Jokes
in the Round House. My wife's name
was Josephine, and / called her joe
| never belonged to any of the railway
clubs or other organizations, and never
should, if it hadn't been tor CRANKY.
CRANKY was a nephew of our division
superintendent, aad It's failing with we
by the fellows at headquarters, if only
permitted to touch the hem of their gar
ments. CRANKY was Il snowy fellow, and
often rode with me from A. to Il. He had
a good opinion of me, and as far as |
know, we were good friends. Once he
said to me:
You ought 10 belong to the Railway
Scientific Club, Guelden."
Never heard eff it, said |.
1--WE meet once a fortnight he replied
"and have a jolly good time. We want
practical, thinking men OF your sort, and
I'll propose you, if you like"
| was fond of such things, and | had
ideas that fancieG might be worth some
thing. But the engineer don't have many
nights or DAYS to hin,soli. and the ciut
would have one evening a fortnight from
Joe, said.
81 will ask her If she likes it, yes"
"Ask whom ?" he said
"Joe,n said |.
"If every man had asked his wife
every mans wife would have said "Can'
spare you, my dear" said CRANKY.
"But | made no answer. At home
told Joe. She said
6 l shall miss you Ned but you DO love
such things, and if CRANKY belongs to i
they must be superior men,"
$50 said yes, and CRANKY proposed
me. Thursday fortnight | went with hin
to the rooms The real business of The
evening was the supper.
l had always been temperate man.
did not know whatAafect wine would have
on me but comili ID drink more of i
than had ever beiHfe'at the club table,
found it put steam on. After so many
glasses | wanted to talk, and after Sc
many more, did.
seemed like somebody else, the word:
were so ready My ideas came out and
were listened to- | made sharp hits and
ndul ged in repartee, told stories, and even
came to puns. | heard somebody say
Granby, by George, that's man worth
having. | thought him dull at first.
Yet knew it was better to be quiet Ned
Guelden, with lis ten words an hour, than
the wine made wit | was
g was sure of it when three months
after | stumbled upstairs to find Joe wait.
ing for me with her baby on her breast.
"You've been deceiving me,n said Joe
&c suspected it, but wasn't sure. A
Scientific Club couldn't smell like a bar.
room
(Which means that | do, said |.
And look like Cne," said Joe, as she
locked herself and baby in the spare bed
room
One night | was dressed in my Sunday
suit, ready to 80 to the Climb, when Joe
stood before me.
"Ned," said she, " never had fault
to find with YOU before You've been
good and kind and loving always but ]
should be sorry We ever met if rou go on
you know
"Its only Club night said |.
at will grow" said she.
"Then she put her arms around Ely
neck"
"Ned," said she, "do you think a thing
so much like bolted and strapped down
demon as steam is, is fit to put into the
hands ola drunken man? And some dav,
mark my words, not only Thursday night.
but all the days of the week will be the
same. l have often heard you wonder
what the feelings of an engineer who has
about the same as murdered a 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 bless.
ing all these years. Don't throw them
"""y- A'Su, u YOU uon Care lOT my love
don't ruin yourself
My little Joe She spoke from her
heart, and | bent over and kissed her.
Don't be afraid child I'll never pain
you again"
And | meant it but at twelve O'Clock
that night | felt that l had forgotten my
promise and my resolution
couldn't get home to Joe. | 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 done before. In an hour was in a
kind of stupor. 1t was morning A wait
er stood ready to brush my coat saw a
grin on his face. My heart seemed ready
TO burst my hand trembled L looked at
my watch; | had only just FIVE minutes
to reach the depot
"Joe's words came TO my mind. Was
| fit to take charge of an engine? was