The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1903-05-08

i tie around the small station at
Finley, nondescript teams of horses
and mules coming and going, or
backed up against the platform with
loads of oranges and truck; idle ne
groes slouching contentedly about,
bantering talk with any one who
would notice them, and ieering such
of their number as had accepted job
and were hurrying through it with an
exaggerated show of zeal and activ.
ity; <grunting razorbacks and NANCY
ours disputing favored positions I'M
der the platform, or moving ]istlessly
across the hot open sand between
the station and the isolated outlying
stores.
Presently there was perceptible
Fastening of movements and the
loungcrs in front of the store came
]eisurely across the open space and
ranged themselves comfortably about
the platform. There was roar and
culver, and the great, gasping en-
CINE rushed by and came to a, slow
stop as the passenger cars glided op-
posite the platform.
Among those to alight was a young
girl of II Or IS, plainly but expensive
ly dressed, and with I; bright, eager
air of expectation. A quick glance
about the platform brought a shade
Of disappointment to her face. Aft
err a moments hesitation she ap-
preached man with a broad, low
Tapping hat, who was leaning against
some orange boxes he had just fin
ished marking.
Can you direct me to Mr.. John
tAustin's placer" she asked.
''Mr.-John-Austin, he repeated
rehectively; ''why. no.. I don't-oh,
yes, of course; Booty john He
stopped abruptly, as he noticed the
inquiring look on her face. Eyes. I
reckon / know. Are you some o. his
kin?"
Il am his daughter," she replied,
wondering a little at the startled
whistle which came to his lips, and
which she noticed he choked back
alphabetically. II have been at
boarding school ever since l was
little girl. This is my first visit to
Florida =
An does your paw, Mr.-John-
Austin, know you're comin'?" He
spoke in evident perplexity, and with
a look of consideration on his good
natured face.
mo; but haven't heard from him
in almost a year. Father doesn't
to I,,,f ho
my letters to go unanswered so long
before. I feared something might
be the matter with him or the boys,
and he would not write. l just had
to come. I am glad you know him."
She hesitated, and then asked in
lower voice, as though she feared
her question would be answered in
the negative, els he-well?"
Eyes, fur as sickness goes. Your
paw is one O. the ruggedes' and heal
thies' men know. low he and the
boys never had Il sickness in all their
born days. They're puffectly we'll,
all. on 'em. L know, for their place
iines mine." He spoke rapidly, as
though glad to be able to say that
much, but his eyes roved uneasily
about the platform, and never by any
chance met hers.
''Why, really?" Her face grew
radiant. 'Their nearest neighbor!
And you know the boys and all about
them? Dear little fellows! 1t seems
strange that I should never have
seen them. You see, when we left
town, father sent me to the board
ing school and then came south.
That was IL years ago. and I have
been at the school ever since. Little
Tommy is almost nine, and Predict
ME see-Fred is seven. Is the place
far?" eagerly.
"About half mile.''
And are you. going out soon?'
''Arter the train leaves
''Well,of course, I can go with you.
I'll go and see about my baggage
and be back directly. Won't they be
surprised!" And. leaving him star
ing at knothole in the platform,
she hurried away to look after her
trunk and valise.
Half minute passed, then the man
raised his head with dismal, ex-
pressive whistle. 1t was echoed by
another, equally expressive, from the
other side of the orange boxes.
''Wall, you're in for it now, for a
fac',' said the owner of the second
. whistle sarcastically. "What are you
goin' to do bout it?''
Goodness only knows groaned
the man in reply. Reckon mebbe
I'll have to tell her,
Reckon mebbe you will,'' dryly.
you better have told her plumb
straight III the fust place. F.
'How could ~" Indignantly; IAN
she almost the same age as. my
Cindy. Lord sake alive, man! dive
s'pose I was such brute as to tell
her that Mr.-John Austin wasn't no.
body but Booty john not fifteen to
be father to nobody, an that he'd
been sent to prison most year ago
for stealth an that the boys was in
the poorhouse, an that the place
want with. the bringin' out of an