The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1916-10-16
HODGES need
BY LESLIE BROWNE.

=. to realize that. But after the hrS1
!. casual glance, If one care to 60 fur
ther, he might discover that in spite
J of neglect in grooming Hodge had, OF
once possessed, all the essentials of q
J gentleman.
Hodge and Lily Sears were to have
been married, 1t was understood, be-
cause 1t was the natural thing to do.
They were the two "best fixed' faml-
lies in the community and their pa
rents arranged the matter.
But nothing came of it. Sears whip
factory burned and the bank failed
with the Perliss money. The Searses
moved away and Hodges father died.
The years rolled on and after his
mother died Hodge was left alone on
the farm.
Time continued to roll along. Hodge
shaved less and slouched more. When
he was ~thirty-eight he looked fifty.
A neat little red roadster stopped at
Hodges gate one day and a woman
got out. The woman was q stranger,
neither fat nor thin nor beautiful. But
she vas 1.-the and well built and
dressed with a simplicity that smacked
of tailors, good taste and expense.
And, moreover, she had something in
her face more wonderful than beauty.
NO" after her inquiry, II guess I'm
not so awful busy. Come up and sit
down." nodding toward a porch.
"I've come on business" she said.
I'll frankly confess that I'm an agent.
l want to sell you something"
Hodge shuf1ed his feet uneasily and
fingered the hat on his lap. Il don't
know as 1 need anything" he said
"Oh, yes, you do! I'm going to con-
vince you of that. I have a little plan
l hope you'll approve of and it won't
take your time, either. Let me 30 over
your house while you're working and
find out what you need. Let me see"
She looked at a wrist watch. "It's half
past ten. 1 can be done and have your
dinner ready by twelve, Do you mind
II l cook your dinner"
Hodges jaw dropped. "Well, I
guess-I don't care. You'll find things
sort of unhandy, l suppose, and most
of the kettles leak, but I'll pump some
water and kindle up the fire." i
Hodge led the way into the house,
and going OF back to the kitchen, he
nodded toward the sitting room.
"You can take your things off in there.
Maybe IT'S a bit dusty. I'm not much
on cleaning"
A faded photograph of a very young
girl vas on the mantelpiece in a place
Of honor in front Of the silent clock.
She picked 1t up and looked at 1t a
long time. poor little Lilyr she
breathed. Then she put it back and
looked around.
OBSTRUCTION everywhere! Dirt,
neglect and corrosion. What a house! I.
What a home for any mani"
Hodge was washing at the pump
when n most compelling odor of cook
ing met his nose, and then a voice
from the doorway called: EVERY
ready to serve. You are ex-
actly on time"
He ran a comb through his hair be-
fore a cracked mirror on the porch and
went inside. The odors, long strange
to his bachelor nose, made him raven
ously hungry.
Hodge Strengthened. The smell Of
good cooking, a woman in the house,
4 table with a white cover and flowers
he could see through the dining
room door-brought a current Of
thoughts into action that had been
,tagnant for years. Here was a stu
ltiOn for him to act the gentleman.
'I'd-Td better change my clothes !"
lie said.
He came down. There were baggy
Inees and a fringed collar, to be sure,
tut Hodge no longer slouched. There
vas a snap in his eye and his head :
vas up. /,
Such a meal! And such a woman!
"Now, Mr.. Perliss," said the latter, {
lfter a dessert of fluffy pudding that :
lad melted down his throat. II am =
.oing to surprise you when I tell you /.
he things you need. You are expect !,
ng to hear Of rocking chairs and dish 7
ans, bedspreads and washing ma
hines. No doubt you need them all,
ut Tn going to tell you what you :
eed more than that. There's a big .
7orld going on at a rather amazing
ate outside of your valley, and you've .
orgotten 1t. What you need is energy
energy to take part in the worlds '
,ork. It's terrible to anyone who II
oes away and comes back to see how ;.
waste your lives here" IL
"Goes away and comes back I"
eyes. Dent you know me, Hodge2" +"
He locked at her hard for a minute. u
not" and after a long time :.
-"Lily?" :
She nodded. There were tears in 70
er eyes. Yes, Lily, plus twenty
III
Then suddenly he saw things as they J"
ere, the sordidness, meanness Of his
surroundings and the splendid ~
ling she had made of life. He held =
1t his hands in supplication. ~
II know what I need more than any oe
ling, Lily, but I'm afraid you can't ,
clip me with that. I-need-a wife," III
"Yes, you do, Hodge," She turned :.
way. II might offer a suggestion u nl
~ don't mindw Oh
"Go ont" I.
'There's a picture on the sitting IN
'om mantle in front Of the clock. na
Couldn't she dot" w
'Lilyw 70
'Hodge. dear, I've never cared for trS
..~.. ot.~p 49, SWIM. w f4f I'LL