The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1916-07-13
suI1lNe SUE
BY LESLIE somERs.


She ran down to the end of tho
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 a 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
t"enty-seven, unmarried and so anx.
lous to shake the dust of the city OF
my heels and hit green fields again
that Id walk from here to Spring Val.
icy II you say the word.
Hopefully yours,
BART WILLIS"
think you're taking a fearful risk
on your shoulders. Sue." her mother
said after she had heard the letter.
You could hire the farm work dons
-"
I 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
on the early boat train with a 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 him
right away.
you'll have to suit Sue more than
me-" said Mrs. Loomis. I'm sure I
like the look of you real WE'LL"
Suiting Sue was a curious occups.
ton. Bart found out. She liked him
At first sight, the same as her mother
1ad, but she had no intention Of let.
ling him know the fact
The first day of his arrival she led
aim all over the forty.seven acres. He
'ound that day by cay she was beside
aim when he least expected to see
aer, advising, correcting and consult
,ng with him.
You see, / love the land and l want
% build it up" she told him. Father
lust took and took from it year after
year and wondered why it didn't
Dear for him, but I'm running it DIFF
:erently. never liked the house,
hough. It's so bare and lonesome
ooking."
Perhaps toward fall therell be time
% do something with it," Bart said.
You can do wonders with cement
md paint and IDEAS"
But" Sue hesitated II 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 tho
'un and air and beauty of it all like
he horses, Bess and Ready, out in the
pasture. "1ll stay as long as | 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. Loomis said to her one
sar!y morning as Sue cooked break
last. It'll be right lonesome when
1e's gone"
Her own heart echoed the words.
out Sue laughed. Wasn't she the man
around the place? They wouldn't need
my 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.
md met him halt way with the milk
pals.
THE land CLOVIS this morning,
doesn't it," he called t. her happily.
I was slow because wcnt over to
sook at the lawer meadows. Wish
you'd forget about your hay dcvn
there next year and give ME those
.ush fields for prize cattle. III Start
with six and buy more land as we
accded it. Don't you want to take on
partner, Sue?"
He spoke her name uHthinxingly,
quite as if he were accustomed to it,
md Sue was silent. l:lkicg away from
aim at the stretch IL hoce 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 at him quickly. her
eyes full of surprised acknowledgment
Of what his words meant to her.
y 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 60 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 | want you.
too. won't take the farm without