The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-02-28
The EDening Story
SuitinG Sue.
(By Leslie Somers. }

(By Leslie SOnerS.
She ran down to the end of the
lane when she caught sight of the lit
tie white nail cart coming up the hill.
The March air was fresh and keen,
with a hint of spring. A bluebird
gave a greeting from the old pear
tree. over the pines some crows flew
with businesslille intent. The world
was stirring from it's winter browsing.
Got a letter from New York. state
for you, Sue" said the old mail car
rier comfortably. as he sat sorting his
mail, glancing with interest at each
postmark and card. Didn't know as
you had any folks down that way"
Sue colOred a Little and laughed, but
she was used to his wiles at gaining
information.
Maybe it's just about some seed
catalogues" she suggested.
He peered at the writing over his
spectacles.
mo, cause this is writing They
print their addresses. Miss Susan F.
Loomis.' My wife said she didn't
recognize the writing. Like enough
you'll know tomorrow. Shes been so
poorly lately L like to tell her things
to interest her"
He logged on along the country
road, and Sue sat on the stone wall
beside the mail box to read her let
ter. 1t WIS an answer to her adver-
tisement. She had almost given up
hope, but here it was, and the writing
was dandy clear and decisive, with
out any twiris or curleycues
Dear Madam: While 1 have not
mad years of experience in farm work,
should like to apply for the position
you offer. Am fond of horses and all
animals, was brought up on a farm
ana can manag one the size of yours.
l am sure. with profit to yourself. Am
l..
shake the dust of the city off my heels
and hit green fields again that I'd
walk from here to Spring Valley if
you say the word.
Hopefully yours,
BART WILLIS"
Il think you're taking a fearful risk
on your houlders, Sue" her mother
sald after she had heard the letter
GU could hire the farm work
done"
won't do that this year, mother
gear. Last sprin; we tried it, and it
was perfect frost. Nobody wants to
work out here excepting on his own
farm. You have to wait and beg and
peg ana wait for them to deign to
ploW and harrow for you. L want TO
SWING II myself this time, please. WHY
we lost enough hay letting it stand
last year 10 almost pay a man for si,,
M iIAs. only offered fifteen a month
except for the hay lands. there ISM
so much to keep up. I'm going to send
for him. ~ Seiiu
Accordingly, Spring Valley had =
thrllI the end of the week when a tan
zee oeeese tI looking young man swIlng
OH the early boat train with suit
case and asked the way to the T,ooT1is
Iafnn. All he had to do was foIloyv the
telegraph poles, he was told. and when
ne came to the white mail box under
1VaIe
place.
Old Mrs. Loomis saw him from the
Suing room window and went ont 10
greet him. As she said later TO Sue
she just couldn't help taking to him
rlght away, he had such a way With
him and seemed such a clean. whole
some sort of big boy
Before Sue came in from cutting cut
dead raspberry canes in the sarden.
ne mad told her mother all about how
i iiv a peeh porn on a farm up in Rock
land county. New York state, and
fortune. WA MS
But think if the soils in your sys-
tem' you can't be conte-.ted in a city"
ne said Father and mother are 10Th
gone now, and the old place was =. Id
long ago. Somehow when 1 read the
ad IN the Sunday paper and caught a
Wnl1f OF spring in the air, l had to
take chance on it. l hope I'll suit
You'll have to suit Sue more than
me answered Mrs. Loomis, placldIv.
m sure I like the looks of You real
ven. Sue runs the place since her IA
ther died and you'll work for her
Sultlng Sue was a curious occupa-
ton, Bart found out. She liked him
at first sight, the same as her mother
mad, but she had no intention of ct
ting him Enow the fact.
The first day of his arrival she led
him all over her forty-seven acres IF
meadow, hay lands and the garden
with It's bit of orchard, the barn and
long line to the pastures. and last of
al, the pine woods to the north that
formed wind break for the s.ardcs.
he found that day by day she YVES be-
slde him when he least expected to see
ner' advising. correcting, and consult
ing with him.
You see, 1 love the land and 1
want to build it up" she told nm.
Father just took and took from it
year after year and wondered why
it didn't bear for him. but I'm run
ming it differently. I never liked the
house, though. It's so bare and lone
some looking Fatherd lev. Du- on
porch for us, or fixed it UP. do
wish Ii were a different shape"
PERHAPS toward fall thererI be
time to do something with it, Bart