The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-07-10
TIE DAILY
.SHORT STORY
The Hired Man.
~ VINCENT g. RERRY.
fcrSr y 1913. b. ne HcClure
naDof eynlieato)

En1nol Dynlleato.J
m lttof OIOb'em vas . serious
-. Tisioh Ifofnln vas win;
h tlnitlt. F5F over . well.
~ btfn trying % o0lqln helg
~ ID but Without
1900. oh6 hfd called q eveFy EN-,
- buT6au. adYoTtiPo4 inter-
N. 0li and YONG butt Wilp;I
80 ale % Dofrlaee O1e man
o1n - oonIo out 70 locslat " tat4n'
A 1cre tilck fagm ID notToquire
$1,000 ole mans attonaiop, b IL
mrIf li1t q vel have FSQul1F (e9.
1000 dl1 not want % have to wire
hoR' % rotnIR from the rest the
ffrftr faf OTl6Isd hin 70 take. ne
~ re farm was being vel taken
o17o6f How VS. be toiknoW that the
@sa ~ hah iolt n elfso had gone
iihout even giving Blanche
uoiIce ~hr hrA niu1nsed to keep
thinrr fIon ryiug 20 pieces for . week
hnfl IL strength would not hold out,
Shs tnsW. A girl fresh from cOlledge
coniinG rough Il Ike an ordinary
colTv III. The farm was . hobby
81 htF fafher's more than anything
oIro. Just the came, the country
needed n TIE food the land could
produce Ihat yOdF. and Blanche wasn't
1olnr. % i6t g 80 20 waste Just because
htf aginF did not depend upon It. In
farrrfit'0n Blanche inserted another
aftfilgomOHt a the Help Wanted
connn Of TIE local daily paper and
Wot bach b the farm 10 await results
aInFf let one man put in an appear
anre and be won't get off this farm
uiIIl ! have poFauaded him 70 stay"
she exclaimed. o. she glared a. the
weeds a the plot at the front Of the
house..
ne drive from. the city had given
her n appetite. Asudden craving for
DOT biscuit took possession Of her. and
f6f q few minutes her cares were for
f6llen q sho rolled out dough. She
didn't stop q b,Ecuits. either. The
very crispest hind Of cookies she knew
how 10 make were turned out next and
then Ghe tried her hand 40 q cake.
Nov, q there was only someone to
helb ne eat them" she muFmured re-
gr6llu|ly. 90 sac viewed the finished
products, set out IN q row.
HWheW, those smell goOd!"
Blanche turned quickly. There stood
q young man inhaling the aroma Of the
cooking An applicant 10 her adVer.
tis6mcnt-she knew it the minute her
eyes liehtod upon him, and FASTENED
70 corral him. A plan had suggested
itself 10 her.
"Come right IN, she invited, as she
threw open the screen door that sep
aFatod them. "YOu are Just In time
Cor supper"
The young man was arrayed IN a
linen dusler from head 10 foot and was
dust bosmeared; but Blanche didn't
mind That he looked strong and able
70 work; nat e what counted with
Der.
''Il won't take me a minute 10 poach
\ fresh oFg for you, and the tea Is
brewing now. I am 80 glad 10 have
somebody % help me eat this baking
I'D bake often. n I had known you
were coming would have baked more.
7 am q dandy "a strawberry shortcake
bat We can have those later on" The
man was too surprised TO speak, but
Blanche would not have given him an
opportunity 10 get a word In edgewise
% he wanted to. Blanche showed him
where 70 wash and placed q chair
az TIE table for him. She poured his
tea and waited on him, smiling and
talking as sWeetly as she could all the
time. What hungry man wouldn't do
Justice % that supper? Blanche waited
until be finished the meal before she
mentioned the farm. The satisfied
sikh be gave as he devOuFed the tenth
biscuit told her that the time was op-
perfume.
Aren't you glad you came 70 ans
wor NY advertisement she said.
"You'u really like Il here, and the
work e light. Il Is merely gardening.
you know. Even q city man could do
that. The meals you win like, am
sure They will all be as nice as this
one MANY Of them nicer. This was
q nice moal, wasn't IT,"
1T certainly was" he answered en-
Enthusiastically. That was all the &C.
eeptanee Blanche required.
Then, oome right out and will
show you where you are to sleep. We
have q nice rom out in the barn for
our help"
The young man tried to offer a
word 81 protest, but blanche was on
tie way b the barn. He hesitated
but q minute. and then followed.
= took two weeks 70 get the little
farm back IN 10 its original shape For
Q day o. two the new man, who gave
BE name IS Clifford Towers was
rather awkward at the work, but II
AID not take him long 10 grow into the
way q q. e was q great encourage.
menl for Blanche 10 get good meals
ready end then watch the way Clifford
enjoyed them. He never failed TO com.
p.iment her On them either. He was
very pleasant hired man 10 have
around and Blanche wondered what
ever she would DO when he left. She
'net wouldn't think about Il, that was
u you can find q weed In that
larden o. q spot that hasn't either
been hocd over, OF hlllod up. I'll work |
Without wages" Clifford said o. he
came N Tor supper two weeks from /
ts dag ho had arrived.
It1 inst inc" Blanche told him,
Ilaitiully. = believe could let you
,tF6a holiday"
y dont want one" be laughed. 81
4oolllt miss one Of your meals for
he world. Let's 90 for q walk 10.