The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-04-03
sUIIlNe SUE
BY LESLIE SOMERs.

she ran DOWN 10 the emu OF the
lane when she caught sight of the
little white mail cart coming up the
hill The March air was fresh and
keen, with hint Of spring.
Got letter from New York state
for you, Sue" said the old mail car
rier, comfortably.
Sue colored little and laughed.
He logged on along the country
road, and Sue sat on the stone wall
beside the mail box TO read her letter.
1t was an answer to her advertise
ment
Dear Madam While ! have not
had 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
and can manage one the size of yours,
! am sure, with profit TO yourself Am
twenty-seyen, unmarried and so anx-
ious TO shake the dust OF the city of
my heels and hit green fields again
that d walk from here 10 Spring Val
ley # YOU say me word
Hopefully yours,
BART WILLIS"
y think you're taking fearful risk
on your shoulders, Sue. her mother
sand after she had heard the letter.
You could hire the farm work done
j won't do that this year, mother
dear Last spring We tried il. and il
was a perfect frost
Accordingly Spring Valley had a
thrill The end of the week when a tall,
determined-looking young man swung
of the early boat train with a suit
case and asked the way to the LOOMS
farm.
Old Mrs. LOOMS 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 him
right away
You'll have TO suit Sue more than
me, said Mrs. Loomis. I'm sure
like the look Of you real we'll"
Suiting Sue was curious occupa-
ton, Bart found out She liked him
at first sight, the same as her mother
had, but she had no Intention of let
ting him know the fact
The first day Of his arrival she led
him all over the forty-seven acres. He
found that day by day she was beside
him when ne least expected to see
her advising correcting and consult.
ing with him
You see, love the land and ! want
TO build il up, she told him Father
just took and took from it year after
year and wondered why il didn't
bear for him. but I'm running it diff.
ferently. never liked the house,
though. It's so bare and lonesome
looking
Perhaps toward fall therell be time
to do something with IT," Bart said.
You can do wonders with cement
and paint and ideas"
But" Sue hesitated Il thought
you only said you'd stay until the
summers work was done"
Il like it here, the city boy an
swered briefly, lifting his head to the
sun and air and beauty Of it all like
the horses. Bess and Ready, out in the
pasture. III stay as long as | suit
you, Miss LOOMS
Under his care the old farm seemed
to put forth its very best efforts to
make good There had never been
such garden crop. even Mrs Loomis
said
Don't it seem good TO have a 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 milk
pals.
The land CLOVIS this morning,
doesn't it," he called TO her happily.
i was slow because ! went over TO
look at the lower meadows. Wish
you'd forget about your hay down
there next year and give me those
lush fields for prize cattle Id start
with six and buy more land as we
needed it. Don't you want TO take on
partner Sue"
He spoke her name unthinkingly,
quite as if he were accustomed to il,
and Sue was silent, looking away from
him al the stretch of home acres.
It's such bully little place if it's
treated right. I've been planning
some new things for next year"
Sue looked UP al him quickly. her
eyes full OF surprised acknowledgment
of what his words meant TO her.
4 thought sure you'd go to the
dairy farm. They want you and they
can pay four times as much as 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. Il
want TO go shares on tie farm here
with you. I've got some money saved.
enough 10 put into the place and stock
il up right for US. And want YOU.
too. ! won't take the farm without
you"
Mothers waiting for the milk for
her breakfast, and forgot all about
It she faltered oh, Bart, some
bodyll see you from the road"
Bur Barr never an-,aara5 49,.