The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-04-27


for q little more land. Partly from
good viii and parrly ia fear that his
ueighbor would change LIS mind. Mr.
Lawrence sold Mr. HOsmcr Il strip
ten feet wide running directly behind
the big greenhouse. 1t was understood
that this was to be used as a drive
way.
shorty after this purchase was
completed Hosmcr began the erection
Of big factory on his land. Whether
he had intended from the hrst to do
this OF had taken up The project rs Il
result Of renewed quIrrelS with his
neighborS | cannot say with certainty.
The general opinion is that he dcliber-
ately tricked Mr.. Lawrence into the
sale Of that strip of ground. However
this may be, the factory was built
There were protests and complaints
beyond counting, beginning before the
foundations were laid. but Hosmer
seemed to have the law on his side.
The only legal proceeding which seem
cd TO have any validity was Mr. Law
rcncc'S action to set aside the sale of
his ten foot strip. The courts took Il
real interest in this, and the granting
and dissolying of injubtionS against
HoSmcr became Il favOrite paStime of
judges hcreabout. The building opera
tons We're made more expensive, and
Mr.. Lawrcnce's pocketbook grew lean
err day by day. But only the lawyers
gained anything by this litigation
The florists pretty daughter bore
these ills with angelic patience. as l
am credibly informed. She even sue
ceeded in convincing herself that the
shelter of the factory wall was advan-
tagcous to the greenhouse. Il very ami
able delusion, as you'll admit.
The Lawrences were members of
my church. and naturally took an in
terest in their troubles. Indeed, | en-
deavoTcd to exercise moral suasion
upon Mr. Hosmer in their behalf. and
since my interview with him | have
never been able to give Mr.. Lawrence
spiritual advice with a perfectly clear
conscience. for if Mr. HOSmer had been
ten years younger | think might have
forgotten the peaceful obligations of
my calling. l tell you privately that
that mans disposition positively cries
out for thrashing
This controversy extended over
period of five or six years. and in the
midst Of it, my friend, those lilies
which you have admired were coming
to the fullneSs of their beauty. Thc.e's
a miracle for you. They should have
turned to weeds in the midst of so
much bitterness, but Ends care
sweetencd the hearts of them, and ever
they grew. more close 10 her ideal
"Now. there is. 'of course, i CONNER
cial aspect of this matter. \ special
variety of flower may he worth Il
good bit of money. and though this
has been a labor of love with Enid. she
surely expected to repair her fathers
. fortunes, which had suffered as a re-
suit of too much law. Her work had
been kept secret and was conducted in
4 portion OF the greenhouse to which
the casual visitor was not invited. /
consider it a great honor that | was
admitted 10 see her lilies Of peace as
she called them, because Of the effect
which they produced upon her own
spirit
''lt was a little more than "A year ago
that l was the recipient of this diStinc-
ton, and | was exalted still more by
the promise of one lily for my pulpit
on Easter Sunday. 1t would have been
the first, she told me, that had ever
passed beyond her own care.
at was about this time that Mr.
Lawrence saw some sort of victory in
his endless litigations 1t was. barren
of good. but it exalted his heart | re
member his enthusiasm as he told me
about it. had been passing the house
and had found him standing by the
gate. Enid came out while the excited
old man was in the midst of his tale,
and | was deeply touched by her grief
at this renewal of the strife. She had
had some hope of a peaceful ending of
the long struggle through the interven-
ton of Il son of Hosmer'S who had
come home for visit This young man
and Enid had been friends in child
hood, and, though Frank HoSmer was
in some respects chip of the old
block he had not denied himself the
pleasure of Il meeting with his pretty
playmate of former days
"All IIOsmerS were alike to James
Lawrence, however, and when Enid on
that evening mentioned her hope that
Frank might influence his father she
received Il warm paternal reproof for
her folly in Supposing that any good
could come out of the Hosmer family
| was listening with the lesser half of
one ear and staring across at the tall
end of the factory, that looked particu-
larly ugly in the moonlight, when was
conscious that a mysterious something
was clamoPing for my attention. In re
ality | was wondering whether Ends
reliance upon Frank HoSmcr was based
upon any sentimental interest in him
and whether il could be possible that
she had summoned him by letter, and
| was so deeply immersed in these
considerations that in abandoning them
l felt the sensation of struggling out
of sleep. 1t was q somewhat startling