St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1901-10-26
HIS LUCKY 'HUNCH. .

A1l0 AOOA A u O1xO11s
Ralph Holmes, express messenger
on a fast night train running from
Chicago to Peoria, had discharged his
duties in the methodical way that
comes with experience and familiar
ity with ones daily routine of work,
and sank into an easy chair with a
ride of so miles yet before him, and
nothing to occupy his attention but
his own thoughts, the rumbling Of
the wheels and an occasional note Of
warning from the engine. Thoughts
came thick and fast at such times,
and SO it was with Ralph Holmes.
The events of the four years since he
was thrown upon his own resources
passed him in review asa panorama.
On the long, tedious "runs" he had
often been absorbed in a reyerie Of
this sort, but in this instance there
were new and perplexing problems
confronting him. He had always
found much that was gratifying IN
one of these quiet invoices of his few
successes in life, and, while he felt
none the less pleasure on this occa-
sion than on others, he, found little
in reminiscence to encourage him in
certain Of his desires.
In all of these communions with
his own thoughts there was one CEN
tral figure, and that Q dear little
woman, patient and loving, her hair
made silyery and her form bent BY
the 0years Of worldly struggle. It
was Ralph Holmes mother, and well
aforementioned the night Of his grad
uation from high school when she
came tottering to the stage when the
exercises were over, threw her arms
about his neck and wept tears Of JOY.
Itwas glad event for Ralph, for he
had closed his school career with
honors, but it was of vastly more mo-
ment to the little old woman who
proudly embraced him, for the JOY
which the diploma brought both Of
them represented years Of toll and sac.
rifce on her part. Ralph was sem
sible youth and not unmindful of the
aid his mother had given him, often
at the expense of her own health and
comfort. He, too, recalled on this
night, as often before, the assuring
words he gave his mother before leav-
ing home some months after his grad
uation.
''You have given me start, NOM
mer," he had said, "that many boy
in better circumstances might be glad
to have, and I hope you'll live to see
me prove. that I deserved fair
start
Then, as the train sped on, Ralph
recalled his entrance to one Of the
great medical schools of the city and
the difficulties he encountered during
the first year because of his limited
means. Though he had been forced
to study from the books Of classmates
and wait on the table at a restaurant
for his own board, his letters to the
little mother at home were always
cheerful and full of hope, containing
as little as possible of the darker side
Of his college life. Then, during the
summer vacation, he had by stroke
Of good fortune secured the position
Of express messenger. Ralph conf
IDENTIFY expected never to experiences
happier day than when he made his
first "run,p for if he could but hold
his place it would relieve him Of the
anxiety that the expense Of his med
ical education had caused him.
To be sure, he had held the posi-
tion and it had more than paid his
own expense. It Itpleased him to note
in addition that he had been able to
send little money home to his
mother. The two trips q week the
wear round had interfered to no small
extent with his attendance at school,
but he had been az faithful as his cir
culnstances would psruit, aEd it
seemed to Ralph, as he sat there RGs-
ing, that the faculty must have known
something Of his struggle and helped
him along. Then, too, he had been
deprived Of the regular hours for