The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1876-06-22
arnLpKs,. L.sr DHrSR


F
runsing from A to Z. bad tbe sweet
css little wife 10 the world, aud baby
The very image Of ia rs. ! had alwsys .
dollar or two to pat up tof a rainy day
and The boys spoke Of me as an odd kind
Of a man. To be shut up with an engine
watching with al your eyes and heari
ard soul, doesnt make a conscientious
man laxative, aud | never sqaandered
my time spinning yarns aud listening te
railroad jokes In the round-house. Ny
wlie's name was Josephine, and called
her Joe.
bad never belonged 10 any Of the
railroad clubs or organizations, and new
er should II It hadn't been for CRANKY.
CRANKY was nephew Of our division
superintendent, aud lis falling with we
men Of the road that we Ike to be noticed
BY the fellows at headquarters, II only "a
touch the hem Of their garments Gran
by was snowy fellow, and often rode
with me from A to Z. lie had q good
opinion OF me, and as far as know we
were good friends. Once he said to me
You ongbt to belong to the Railway
Scientific Club, Guelden.
Never heard of 1t, saidI.
We meet once fortnight, be replied
and have jolly good time. We want
practical, thinking men Of your sort, and
III propose you If you like.
! was fond OF such things, and had
ideas that | fancied might be worth some.
thing. But the engineer doesn't have
many nights or days to himself, and the
club wonld have one evening fortnight
from Joe. said
Iwill ask her; if she likes 1t, yes.
Ask whom2 he said,
Joe, said |.
II every man had asked bis wife, ev.
cry 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 dc
love such things, and If CRANKY belongs
to il 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 temperate man. ]
did not know what effect wine would
have on me, but coming 10 drink more Of
il than ever did before 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, tho words
were so ready. Ny ideas came out, and
they were listened 10. made sharp hits
and INDUCED in repartee; told stories
and even came TO puns. | heard some,
body say, CRANKY, by George, that's {
man worth having! thought him dul
at first. Yet / knew it was better tc
keep quiet Ned Guelden, with his ter
words an honr than the wide.made wit ]
was.
1 | was sure OF ii when three months
later | stumbled up stairs to find Jo'
waiting for me, with her baby on hel
breast.
You have been deceiving me, said Joe
| suspected il, but wasn't sure. A sci
eniific club couldn't smell like bar
room.
Which means that do, said |.
And look like one, said Joe as sh,
locked herself aud baby in spare bed
room.
One night was dressed in my Sunda,
suit, ready to go TO the club, when 10,
stood before me.
Ned, said she, never had a fault f
find with you before. You've been kind
good and loving, always; but shoul,
be sorry we ever met IL you 90 on in thi
way. Don't ask what ] mean--you cal
guess.
It's only club night, said /.
It will grow, said she.
Then she put her arms around m
neck.
/ Ned, said she, do you think thing q
like a bolted and strspped-down demo-
as steam is, is fit to put into the hands Q
drunken man? Aud some day, mari
my words, not only Thursday night, bu
all days of the week, will be the same.
have often heard you wonder what the
feelings of an engineer who has abou
the same as murdered train fall of peo
pie, must be, and you'll know If yol
don't stop where you are. A stead
hand and clear head have been you
blessing all these years; throw then
away. Now If you don't care for m
love, don't ruin yourself.
4 Ny little Joel She spoke from be
heart, and bent over and kissed her.
Don't be afraid, child; III never pail
you again.
And meant IL; but a; twelve o'cloc
that night felt that had forgotten m
promise.
] couldn't 90 home TO Joe. made u
my mind te sleep on the club sofa az
leave the place for good next day. A
ready ielt my brain reel as L bad neve
done before. In an hour ] was in kin
Of stupor II was morning. A waite
stood ready to brush my coat, | locke
$, my watch; l had only five minutes t
reach the depot.
Joe's words came TO my mind. Was
81 TO take charge Of an engine? vi
not fl 10 answer. ought to have sske
some sober man. As Il Was, onl
caught my hat and rushed away. wi