Read Online THE IMPERIAL ENGINEER by Judith B. Glad - Free Book Online

almost a year, and even read a book or two simply for pleasure.
    * * * *
    Everything was in place. The waterwheel was operating smoothly, generating
power to keep the batteries charged. The switchboard was wired in, with its big wet cells
charged and ready for the first calls. Tuesday he'd deliver the last of the batteries to
subscribers, then he'd test the entire system one last time. Tony sat back in his chair,
wondering what he'd forgotten.
    He had twelve businesses hooked up, and five to go. The crews were setting poles
and stringing wire to Bullion and Bellevue. As soon as those two towns were connected,
he'd start them on the line to Ketchum. Jack Denman, the daytime operator, was trained,
although Tony still had reservation about putting someone so young in such a responsible
position. Two substitute operators were also ready to go, one the printer's devil at the Wood River Times where the switchboard was set up, the other a fellow who
claimed to have worked at the telephone exchange in Atlanta. Tony was skeptical, but he'd
seemed to know what he was doing, so they'd hired him to work on Sundays. Eagleton
wanted a second night operator too, but Tony had convinced him to wait until business
warranted paying another man. The one they had now would probably sleep soundly most
nights.
    There wasn't any more he could do tonight. Maybe everything he'd forgotten
would come to him in his sleep. He'd had those dreams before, the ones where everything
he hadn't done haunted him.
    Besides, there was a dance at the Hailey Theatre tonight, and he had asked Miss
Minnie Hathaway to go with him.
    * * * *
    Imajean's baby had gotten past the red, squashed stage, for which Lulu was
grateful. She had long ago decided that most mothers were afflicted with maternal
blindness. There could be no other reason for them to think newborn infants were
beautiful. Young Terrence was fair of skin, with the dark blue eyes typical of children only
two weeks old. His shock of dark hair stuck out in tufts, giving him the appearance of a
particularly mischievous imp. With a clear conscience, Lulu assured his proud parents he
was a beautiful child.
    After dinner Miss Petersham accompanied Mr. Teller and the other guests on a
walk to settle their digestion, while Lulu and Imajean visited. They caught up on the latest
developments in the battle for women's suffrage and Lulu told all about her planned return
to Portland. "I hope you'll have a chance to meet Mrs. Duniway someday. Perhaps you can
accompany me on one of my visits to Portland next spring."
    Imajean regarded her fingernails for a moment before she said, "As for that, there's
something I have to tell you." Again a hesitation. "I've given much thought to this, Lulu,
and I want you to know I've made the decision after much soul searching."
    Avoiding Lulu's eyes, she went on. "I've decided I can't be active in the movement
for a few years. Not until Terrence--and the sister we hope to give him in a year or
two--are older. It wouldn't be fair to them, to have a mother who puts herself in dangerous
situations--or could be arrested. And I couldn't be effective staying here at home. So I'll
step back and let others carry the banner for a while." Her hands clenched into fists and she
stared down at them. "I...I hope you'll try to understand."
    "Of course I do." Lulu squeezed one of Imajean's hands. "One makes choices, and
not everyone should make the ones I have."
    "Have you never wanted to marry, to have children?" Imajean looked down at
Terrence, sleeping peacefully, and drew a finger across his cheek. His little mouth pursed
and made suckling motions. "I never realized how wonderful it could be, to hold my own
child, to feel him nuzzle against my breast. It's...there are just no words to describe the
feeling."
    "I've thought of it," Lulu admitted. "Sometimes I wonder if I'm really suited for a
single life. I get lonely..." As she had more often recently. As she knew she would for
many nights to come,