The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1876-07-14
GUELDEN'S LAST DRINK
AN ENGINEERS CONFESSION.

will say, from A. to Il. l had the
sweetest little wife in the world, and
baby the very image of its pa. i had
always a dollar or two to put by for a
rainy day, and the boys 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, doesn't make
a conscientious man laxative, and l
never squandered my time spinning
yarns and listening to railroad jokes in
the round-house. Ny wife,s name-Esas-
Josephine, and l called her joe"
never belonged to any of the rail-
way clubs or organizations, and never
should if it hadn't been for CRANKY.
CRANKY was nephew of our division
superintendent, and its failing with
we men of the road that we like to be
noticed by the fellows at headquarters,
if only to touch the hem of their gar
ments. CRANKY was a snowy fellow,
and often rode with me from A. to 4.
He had a good opinion of me, and as far
as know, we were good friends. Once
he said to me:
"You ought to belong to the Railway
Scientific club, Guelden."
Z" Never heard of it" said l. =
1--WE meet once fortnight" he re-
piled, 'and have a jolly good time.
We want practical, thinking men OF
your sort, and I'll propose you if you
like"
1 was fond of such things, and l 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 fort
night from Joe. l said:
Il will ask her. IT she likes it, yes"
"Ask whom" he said
"Joe," said l.
eff every man had asked his wife,
every mans wife would have said
Can't spare you, my DEAR" said
CRANKY.
But l made no answer. At home 1
told Joe. She said:
81 shall miss you, Ned. But you do
love such things, and if CRANKY belongs
to it they must be superior men"
So 1 said yes, and CRANKY proposed
me. Thursday fortnight I went with
him to the rooms. The real business of
the evening was the supper.
had always been a temperate man.
1 did not know what effect wine would
have on me. But coming to drink more
of it than had done before at the club
table, l found it put steam on. After so
many glasses 1 wanted to talk; and after
50 many more l 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 l heard
somebody say Cranky, by george
that's man worth having. thought
him dull at first" Yet l knew it was
better to keep quiet Ned Guelden, with
his ten words an hour than the wine
made wit l was.
1 was sure of it, when three months
later stumbled up stairs to find joe
waiting for me, with her baby on her
breast.
You have been deceiving me-" said
Joe. I" | suspected it but wasn't sure.
A scientific CLUB couldn't smell like
blr-room."
Which means that do.n said
And look like one" said Joe, as she
locked herself and baby in a spare bed
room.
One night 1 was dressed in my Sunday
suit, ready to go to the club, when Joe
stood before me.
Ned" she said, 81 never had fault
to lind with you before. You've been
kind, good, and leving always; but 1
/. should be sorry we ever met if YOU po
on IN this way. Don't ask what l mean
you know"
Its only club night" said l.
" 1t will grow" said she.
Then she put her arms around nv
neck.
Ned" said she, +" do you think
thing so like bolted and strapped down
demon as steam is, is fit to put into the
hands of a drunken man And some
Gay, mark my words, not only Thursday
night, but all days of the week, will be
the same. have often heard you won
der what the feeling of an engineer, who
has about the same as murdered train
full of people, must be, and you'll know
If you don't stop where you are. As
steady hand and clear head have been
your blessings all these years; don't
throw them away. Now if you don't
care for my love, don't ruin yourself"
My little joel She spoke from her
heart, and bent over and kissed her.
Don't be afraid, child I'll never
pain you again.
And 1 meant it but at twelve O'Clock
that night 1 felt had forgotten my
promise and my resolution.
couldn't go home to Joe. | made I'M
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
kind of stupor. 1t was morning. A
waiter stood ready to brush my coat.
looked at my watch l had only five
minutes to reach the depot.
Joe's words came to my mind. Was
fit to take charge of an engine? / was
not fit to answer. ought to have asked
a sober man. As it was, only caught
my hat and rushed away. 1 was just in
time.
The g San Francisco glistened in the
sun. The cars filed rapidly. 1 could
hear the people talking-bidding each
other goodbye and promising to come
again. Among them was an cid gentle
man l krev by sight-one of the share
holders; he was bidding two timid girls
adieu.
Goodbye. Kittie good bye, L,e,"
] heard him say. Don't be nervous.
The San Francisco is the safest engine