The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-05-30
A REDEMPTION.

The cars Jared and clacked and
clanked as they drew out of the Admission
depot; then the hiss of escaping steam
changed to a softer rhythmic putting, as
the engine settled down, and the train
ratified steadily over the level stretch of
track. On all sides the encircnng Ala
bama ore mountains, shimmering in the
heat haze, seemed to shut out the rest
Of the universe. In the immediate fore
ground, unvarying fields Of green, brown
and yellow flashed by in bold relief.
In one of the cars sat two men, whom
the heat or some other factor had ren-
dered singularly uncommunicative.
Though obviously travelling together,
they had exchanged barely dozen words
in the two hours since their departure
from Admission. The smaller man; with
the blonde beard. seemed endeavoring
to pierce some mystery that lay beyond
the landscape, and gazed fxedly out Of
the window; his companion, large,
dark man, IN the seat opposite, seemed
bored and shifted his gaze languidly and
aimlessly.
A little, restless old man in the seat
behind-the only other passenger in the
car-had been observing them curiously
and shyly for some time. He was per-
haps 70 years old, with white hair, mild
blue eyes and a mobile mouth. Several
times he had been on the point Of ad-
dressing his fellow travellers, but on each
occasion some subtle impulse had re-
strained him. Finally he bent over the
back Of the seat.
"Can either Of you gentlemen tell me
how long it will be before we get to
Calera:
The smaller stared steadily for per
haps ten seconds, then, his curiosity
seemingly appeased. turned back to his
scrutiny OF the fields. The other, how
ever, was not so lacking in courtesy.
In about an hour" he responded.
''Oh, thanks The old gentleman did
not seem satisfied, but gazed around
vaguely. and then again addressed HIM
self doubtfully to the pair.
DO you mind if ask you question
or two about some things l want to
know very badly:" he said, CHANGING
appealingly from one to the other. Once
again only the larger man answered, or,
indeed, evinced any recognition of his
questioner's existence.
e",:Why,, yes" he answered cordially.
best I know how for you. What do you
want to know?''
"Well," began the elder man hesitat-
ingly, Il had boy come down to Mont
gOmery about hfteen years ago. A few
months after he left our house burned
down, and his mother and l were in
jured. When we got well we moved
away from the town, almost penniless,
and somehow l had lost track of him
and he OF us, because we never heard
from him since.
but lately Providence has favored
me, and everything l undertook pros
pered. and felt that could spare a
few weeks to come down here and look
for my boy. Now, Mr. He paused
interrogatively.
Brown is my name"
well, Mr.. Brown, I thought maybe
you could tell me something. The last
I heard of him was in Montgomery. MY
name is Carter-Willis Derringforth Car
ter"
Brown had been bordering during the
latter part of the speech.
Garter? Willis Carter?' he said.
mo, l know some Carriers here and
some in Georgia, but they were all born
in these parts. Maybe
The voice of the sphinX-like. blond
bearded man startled them.
II remember young fellow named
Willis Carter" he said slowly. at was
about fifteen, years ago. Blue eyes,
That's right-that's right" the old
man interrupted eagerly.
"Well," his informant went on, che
stayed with Dick Sanders when he first
came, and that's the last l know of