Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-06-07

Ailh nNNA hN'NN ihdht a hNllNiAfllAAWhN Ilill
talkative, aud | never sQuandered my time
spinning yaus and listening TO railroad
Jokes in the round-house. Ny wife's name
was Josephine, and ! called her Joe"
| never had belonged 10 any Of the rail
way clubs or organizations. and never should
If il hadn't been for CRANKY. CRANKY was
nephew of our division superintendent,
and It's failing with us men of the road
that we like to be noticed by the fellows at
headquarters, If only to touch the hem Of
their garments. CRANKY was a snowy fel-
low and often rode with me from \ TO L.
He had a good opinion of me, aud, as far as
| know, we were good friends. Once he
said to me:
"You ought to belong to the Railway Sci
entiiic Club, Guelden.'
Never heard Of it" said /.
awe meet once fortnight" he replied,
" and have jolly good time. We want prac-
tical, thinking men Of your sort, and I'll pro-
pose you if you like"
was fond Of such things, and had ideas
that | fancied might be worth something.
But the engineer doesn't have many nights
or days to himself, and the club would have
one evening fortnight from Joe. said
II will ask her. If she likes it, yes"
If every man had asked his wife, every
mans wife would have said Can't spare
you, my dear" said CRANKY.
But | 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 | said yes, and CRANKY proposed me.
Thursday fortnight | went with him to the
rooms. The real business of the evening
was the supper.
| had always been a temperate man.
did not know what effect wine would have
on me. But coming to drink more Of it
than | had ever done before at the club
table, | found it put steam on. After so
many glasses ! wanted to talk and after so
many more did.
seemed like somebody else, the words
were so ready, My ideas came out, and they
were listened TO. ! made sharp hits, and
INDUCED in repartee, told stories, and even
came TO puns. / heard somebody say
CRANKY. by George that's man worth
having. | Thought him dull at first" Yet
| knew it was better to keep quiet Ned
Guelden, with his ten words an hour, than
the wine-made wit | was.
| was sure of it, when three months later
| stumbled up stairs to find Joe waiting for
me, with her baby on her breast
lou have been deceiving me. said Joe.
81 suspected it, but wasn't sure. scientific
club couldn't smell like a bar-roon.'
(which means that do" said l.
And look ike one" said Joe, as she
locked herself aud baby in spare bedroom.
One night ! was dressed in my Sunday
suit, ready to 60 10 the club, when Joe stood
before me.
Ned" said She " | never had fault to
find with you before. You've been kind
good, aud loving always but should be
sorry we ever met if you 60 on in this way.
Don't ask what mean-you know"
It's only club night, said !.
at will grow" said she
Then she put her arms around my neck
Ned" said She, "do you think thing so
like boted aud strapped down demon as
steam is, is fit 10 be put in the hands of a
drunken man And some day, mark my
word, not only Thursday night, but all days
Of the week. will be the same. have often
! heard you wonder what the feeling of an en-
| gineer who has about the same as murdered
train full Of people, must be, and you'll
know il you don't stop where you are. A
steady hand and clear head have been your
blessing all these years don't throw them
away. Now, if you don't care for my love,
! don I rum yourself.
My little Joe She spoke from her heart,
and bent over and kissed her.
"Don't be afraid, child, III never pain
| you again.
And meant it; but at twelve o'clock that
night felt that had forgotten my promise
and my resolution.
| | couldn't 90 home TO Joe made up my
mind to sleep on the club sofa, and leave the
/ ,.ia g., ,.l ha 4 A1ra.Irs \ falf
my brain reel as it had never done before.
IN an hour was in a kind of stupor. 1t
was morning. waiter stood ready 10 brush
my coat looked at my watch | had only
! five minutes TO reach the depot.
Joes words came to my mind. Was | fit
to take charge OF an engine was not fit
to answer. | ought TO have asked some
sober man. As it was | only caught my hat
and rushed away. | was Just in time.
The San Francisco glistened in the
sun. The cars filed rapidly. could hear
the people talking-bidding each other good
bye and promising to come again Among
them was an old gentleman | knew by sight
-one of the shareholders he was bidding
two timid girls adieu.
Goodbye, kittie; goodbye, Lue,"
heard him say. Don't be nervous. The
San Francisco is the safest engine ON the
llne' and uuslueh the most careful engineer
| would not be alrMd 10 trust every mortal
to their keeping Noilnhg eouId happen
wrong Wl.h M we =, Two "Selnel
said' wen get through ~ somehow
and Joe shall never talk 70 me AGAIN AlteI
all 1t was easy enough, reeied as spoke
| heard the signal. We are Off
Five hours from H. to ID. five homs back
again. 81" hnt'er' ana never guessed
what 1t was nntll we ,hnad had passed the tram al
the wrong pace iWo MINUTES ana we
should have had a collision somebody toid
me, and laughed heard the shareholder
say respectfully
of course Mr' "neidehi you know wha'
you are about
Then was alone, wondering. whether
should go faster or slower, did something
and the cars rushed on at fearful rate
The same man VINO had spoken TO me be
fore was standing near me heard the
question
" How many miles an hour are We max
ing| didn't know,