The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-02-11
The Markland
Company
There Was a Problem to Be
Solved In Its Affairs
D.. L AITCHEI
By F. A. mitchell

the citizens were fearing that they
would lose the factory, which employ
ed a thousand men and was besides a
good advertisement for their town.
The reason why the MARYLAND COM
pany was going to ruin was that the
stock was owned by two different fam
lilies. each of which was trying to Sc
cure the control. 1t had been organ
lied and started by a Markland. At
his death his partner, an Osgood, had
taken the management of it and built
it up. At his death meeting of stock
holders was called, and it was discov-
cred that exactly half the stock was
held by the Markland and half by the
Osgood interest. Naturally q deadlock
was the result. Neither party would
give way to the other, each hoping to
secure a few shares or even one that
would give majority and consequent
control.
Months passed without either secur-
ing an advantage, and, there being no
head to the concern, it was losing
ground rapidly. When it seemed that
the feud must be settled or the COM
pany go out of existence Edward Flem-
ing, the attorney for the Marklands,
resolved to unite the two factions by
stratagem. There were two persons in
each, Vinton MARYLAND and Alice Os-
good, whose united stock would make
majority of the whole. Both were
young, well educated and attractive.
10 zlo ~; nI ;,,+
in the company that bore his name.
Miss Osgood was dependent entirely
on the dividends declared on the Mark
land company's shares she owned.
Mr.. Fleming resolved to make a
match between the two. They had
never met. Markland, who was an or
phan, had gene to boarding school at
eleven years of age, from there to col
lege and from there abroad without
having once returned to his home Miss
Osgoods life had been spent principal
ly at Centerville Fleming called upon
her and after making it plain that if
the affairs of the Markland company
should remain in their present condi-
ton much longer she would be without
an income secured her assent to a meet
ing with young Markland with a view
to marriage. He then wrote Markland,
who was in Europe, informing him of
the condition of his interests in the
Markland company and advising his
return at once to look after them.
Upon the young mans arrival the law
yer unfolded his matrimonial scheme.
Markland had no desire to cucumber
himself with wife and fatty refused,
saying that rather than make such a
marriage he would prefer to lose all his
stock in the Markland company. New
ertheless he had no objection to meet
ing the lady provided he should not be
placed in position as refusing to make
her his wife.
Fleming, after an interview with Miss
Osgood, assured him that no such con-
Struction should be put ON any act of
his and that the young lady would re-
ceive him simply as a visitor. Flem-
ing advised him to go at a time when
he would not be expected, that he
might find the lady her usual self
This put an idea into the young mans
head The Osgood grounds adjoined
his own. He would watch for an op-
portunity to join the young lady with
out making formal call or her know
ing who he was.
One bright winter morning, when the
snow glistened in the sun, he passed
through an opening in the hedge sepa-
rating the two places and sauntered
toward the Osgood home. Coming
upon a conservatory, he saw through
the glass young woman cutting some
flowers. Thinking her to be the lady
of his quest, he opened the door and
entered.
BEG pardon" he said. "Is this the
Markland place"
mo; that is the Markland place next
on the west. This Is the Osgood place"
"Oh, thank you! l hear Vint Mark
land has returned from Europe. He is
an old friend of mine, and l am look
ing him up. You are Miss Osgood,
presume"
mo; am the governess of Miss Os-
goods little sister"
lhuCCus MISS OSSOOu NuS
an only child. l am hoping to meet
Miss Osgood. / own a little stock in
a manufactory in which she is inter-
ested. l understand that something
must be done about its management
and that there is to be a meeting of
shareholders for the purpose of con-
certing plan"
'Will you permit me?" said the
young woman, advancing to place a
flower in his buttonhole.
'Thank you very much. Very kind
of you, assure you"
Perhaps you would like to talk with
Miss Osgood now about those shares
you speak Of. l think she is olsen
gagged"
II dare say a conference might be
Of some benefit"
The young lady led the way into the
house and ushered Mr.. Markland into