The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1916-06-29
suI11Ne SUE
BY LESLIE soMERs.

She ran down to the end 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.
l should like to apply for the position
you oner. 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.seven, unmarried, and so anx.
ious to shake the dust of the city of
my heels and hit green fields again
that Id walk from here to Spring Val.
ley If you sa. the word.
Hopefully yours,
BART WILLIS"
Il think you're taking q fearful risk
on your shoulders, Sue," her mother
said after she had heard the letter.
You could hire the farm work done
-"
Il won't do that this year, mother
dear. Last spring we tried it, and It
was perfect frost"
Accordingly, Spring Valley had q
thrill the end Of the week when a tall.
determined-looking young man swung
of the early boat train with q suit
case and asked the way to the LOOMS
farm.
Old Mrs. Loomis saw him from the
sitttng-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 1
like the look of you real we'll"
Sutttng Sue was q 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
'ound that day by cay she was beside
him when he least expected to see
aer. advising. correcting and consult
ng with him.
you see, love the land and I want
% build it up" she told him. Father
lust took and took from it year after
year and wondered why it didn't
GEAR for him, but I'm running it diff
serently. never liked the house,
though. It's SO bare and lonesome
ooking."
Perhaps toward fall there'll be time
% do something with it," Bart said.
You can do wonders with cement
ind paint and IDEAS"
But" Sue hesitated. Il thought
you only said you'd stay until the
runners work was DONE"
Il like it here" the city boy an
,wered briefly, lifting his head to the
sun and air and beauty of it all like
he horses, Bess and Ready. out in the
pasture. 'Ill stay as long as l suit
'ou, Miss Loomis."
Under his care the old farm seemed
% put forth its very best efforts to-
make good. There had never been
such garden crop, even Mrs. LOOMS
,aid.
Don't it seem good to have a man
around?" Mrs. LOOMS said to her one
early morning as Sue cooked break
fast. It'll be right lonesome when
ae'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
we're 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 l went over to
look at the lower meadows. Wish
you'd forget about your hay devn
there next year and give me those
lush fields for prize cattle. I'd 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 it,
and Sue was silent, looking away from
him at the stretch Of home acres.
cts such a bully little place If it's
treated right. I've been planning
some new things for next year"
Sue looked up at him quickly, her
eyes full of surprised acknowledgment
Of what his words meant to her.
Il thought sure you'd go to the
dairy farm. They want you and they
can pay four tines 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 the farm here
with you. I've got some money saved,
enough to put into the place and stock
it up right for US. And l want you,
too. won't take the farm without