The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1890-09-20
A CLOSE RACE.

Just within The door of their little cot
tage stood Thomas Romer and his wife
Jennie. Thomas had in his face that
look of determination which sometimes
pleased his wife, for when she saw it she
was proud of his strength and sure that
he would accomplish whatever he might
try to do. Sometimes it frightened her,
too, for she was not sure that he would
stop for any obstacle, however great.
She liked him to be strong; she was a
little afraid of the use he might make of
his strength.
Romer was an engineer on the II. & C.
r. r. He had begun as a boy in the
shops of the company, and had risen very
rapidly until now. as an engineer, he had
been given one of the most important
''runs' in the passenger service. For
some time, however, he had seemed to
be the victim of ill luck; nothing went
well with him; he shut his lips closely
together and was determined not to lose
his grip.
"What is it, Tom?" Jennie asked
him. docs the debt on the house worry
you?"
IL ID uc duSWeTCu. T.
shall meet that easily enough; and MIR.
Steele, anyway, won't trouble US"
But, Tom" she said. there is some
thing. l can see it. You ought to tell
me-"
- am afraid you can see too much, y
he replied as he leaned over and kissed
Ter.
perhaps you haven't been long
enough married to know all the duties of
a husband, but l know YOU should not
try to deceive "a woman who loves you
Anyway, you cannot do it."
$50 much the worse for you then, lit
tie woman"
Come" she said. Gown up. Has
Mr.. Steele said anything about that acct
dent!"
Not since the investigation; but,
you see. have no lecway now. I can't
afford to meet with any more trouble"
MIR. Steele was the president of the
railroad company He had early taken
an interest in the bright young boy who
had attracted his attention. He had
spoken so MANI good words for him to
his superiors, that the rules of the COM
pany had once or twice been stretched a
little to make Romcr's advance as fast as
1t lad been. Later, when Tom ROmer
married, Mr.. Steele had advanced him
money enough to build their little house,
and he had induced Mrs. Steele to take a
warm interest in the welfare of the young
couple. To her they were indebted for
many little comforts, conveyed IN way
not to wound their pride or to create too
great sense of obligation.
Il tell you, my dear. that we shall be
proud to have helped them along That
young man will come to something" he
would say to her; and she would reply:
81 am sure of it; and if he does it will
be as much his wife's doing as his
For long time Tom Romer had de-
served Mr.. Steele's good will. He per-
formed the duties of every place to
which he was advanced zealously and
skillfully. Recently, however, there had
been many complaints against him.
There had been many irritating little ac-
cidents of small consequence. His train
was almost always late and it appeared
from the reports of the conductor that
Tom was always to blame "Tom Ro-
mer's luck" had become a by-word
among the men and many were the sym
pathetic inquiries made of him in regard
to it. But his superiors could not afford
to consider luck as an element in the
running of trains, and he had been fire.
quently cautioned. Mr.. Steele wondered
if he had been a little too quick anG