The Washburn leader., 1916-05-12
suITlNe SUE
BY LESLIE soMERs.

lane VIXEN she caught sight Of the
i little white mail cart coming up the
hill. The March air was fresh and
keen. with hint of spring.
Got q letter from New York state
for you, Sue," said the old mail car.
rier, comfortably.
Sue colored a little and laughed.
He logged On along tho couctry
road, and Sue sat on the stone wall
beside the mail box to read her letter.
1t was an answer to he" advertise.
| ment
Dear Madam: while l have not
had years Of experience in farm work.
l should like to apply fer the position
you offer. Am fond Of horses and all
animals, was brought up on a farm
and can manage one the size of yours,
I am sure. with profit tc yourself. Am
twenty-seven, unmarried, and so anx-
ious to shake the dust of the city OH
my heels and hit green fields again
that I'd walk from here to Spring Val.
ley IL you say the wcrd.
Hopefully yours,
BART WILLIS"
Il think you're taking fearful rish
on your shoulders. Sue," her mother
said after she had heard the letter.
"You could hire the farm work done
l."
Il won't do that this year, mother
dear. Last spring we tried it, an, ii
was perfect frost"
Accordingly, Spring Valley had
thrill the end of the week when tall,
determined-looking young man swung
OFF the early boat train with suit.
case and asked the way to the Loonis
farm.
| Old Mrs. Loomis saw him from the
sitting-room window and went out to
greet him. AS she said later to Sue,
she Just couldn't help taking to ktm
right away.
You'll have to suit Sue more than
me-" said Mrs. LooEais. I'm sure
like the look Of ySu real WE'LL"
Suiting Sue was a curious occupa.
zion, Bart found out. She liked him
ut first sight, the same as her motheI
had, but she had nc intention Of let.
ting him know the fact.
The first day of his arrival she led
him all over the fcrty-seven acres. He
found that day by Gay she was beside
him when he least expected 70 see
her, advising, correcting and consult
Ing with him.
"You see, love the land and want
to build it up,'' she told him. Father
Just took and took from it year after
year and wondered why it didn't
bear for him, but I'm running it elf
terently. never liked the house.
though. It's SO bare and lonesome
looking"
perhaps toward fall thereli be time
to do something with it," Bart said.
you can do wonders with cement
and paint and IDEAS"
But" Sue hesitated. II thought
|-you only said you'd stay antiI the
summers work was DONE"
II like it here" the city 10y an
swered briefly, lifting his head to the
sun and air and beauty Of 1t all like
the horses. Bess and Ready. out in the
pasture. "Ill stay as long ~ suit
you, Miss Loomis."
Under his care the Old farm seemed
to put forth its very best e3orts to
make good. There had Eever been
such garden crop, even Mrs. I.oomie
said.
Don't 1t seem good to have man
around?" Mrs. Loomis said to her one
early morning as Sue cooked break
fast. "It'll be right lonesome when
he's gone.''
Her own heart echoed the words,
but Sue laughed. Wasn't she the man
around the place? They wouldn't need
any assistant manager after the crops
were harvested and fall had come.
She hurried out of doors and down
the lane with food for the turkeys.
and met him half way with the I7i!k
pals.
"The land glows this morning.
doesn't it," he called to her happily.
II was slow because l went over tc
look at the lower meadows. Wish
you'd forget about your hay Gcva
there next year and give me those
lush fields for prize cattle. rc start
with six and buy mere lane as We
needed It. Don't you want to take On
q partner, Sue?"
He spoke her name unthink.ngly.
quite as IL he were accustomed 70 It.
and Sue was silent. looking away :r:ra
him at the stretch Of aoz1e acres.
"It's such a bully little place Il it's
treated right. I've been planning
some new things for next year"
Sue looked up ct him quickly. her
eyes full of surprised acknowledgment
Of what his words meant 70 tec
Il thought sure you'd 60 to the
dairy farm. They want you aad they
can pay four times as much 20 can
down there"
"No. they can't Sue" His voice
lowered until it seemed to her the
whole world must hold its breath to
catch what he was telling her. II
want to 60 shares on the farm here
with you. I've got some money sa7ed.
| enough to nut into the place and stack