The Monticellonian., 1916-02-24
WHITE ACRES By EDWINA FAxON.
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old house, desolate in the midst of a dreary late November landscape, and the house brought back recollections that were hard to bear
 touring car stopped at the gate and man got out. Miss Lowell, believe he said
 "Yes" she answered abruptly.
 He came up on to the veranda be. side her. Il am Horace Davidson. and l represent the Burlington and Hartwell road. But I've no doubt you have already guessed my identity I'm sorry if l kept you waiting. We had blowout. Deucedly cold. isn't it? Shall we go inside?"
 It is colder in there Besides, our business IS outside. l believe.
 The wind was screaming so he had words An uneommonly pretty girl by love- he said to himself.
 A shrill whistle sounded in the dis tance. and both turned quickly A big interurban trolley car appeared around the curve of the road and sped on raised track across the open space below them.
 The suit comes up next week, | believe began Kathleen.
 Unless you change your mind and have it withdrawn
 Why should F"
 "To begin with, don't think you have much chance"
 ''ls there no justice in the world then? What are courts for?"
 Justice" he answered. No judge can see why a strip of track should do any damage to farm.
 Perhaps he can see it if it is ex- plained to him that the road got it's right of way under false pretense, that the track cut my fathers farm in two to begin with, and that the raising of it made it impossible to pasture d herd of cows on one side with the barn on the other A culvert would have cost us two thousand dollars. and the company wouldn't pay it. Further, when lie saw i'll despair that his big dairy farm was ruined, began to have visions of summer hotel and petitioned the company for a sta tion. But that was refused, too He was ruined financially and in health He was too old to stand the blow. and he died"
 Horace Davidson was silent awhile. Then, Why don't you sell the plaee?'
 'I would if l could. Nc one will have it with that ugly raised track in the wrong place.
 He saw that she was shaking with emotion and cold. Miss Lowell,a he said more kindly. after all 1t was foolish of me to ask you to meet me out here. We can talk better in my office in town"
 The next morning, Horace Davidson was having trouble about a button which had disappeared from his over coat.
 Evelyn" he begged his married sister. will you sew a button on my oyereoat if you happen to have any thing at all that will match?"
 Such shiftlessness Where's your tailor? Take it up to the sewing room, the proper place for such oper ations You'll find someone there"
 So Horace went upstairs and along hall to remote corner of the great house, where he had vague idea the sewing room was. An open door through which light shone and the faint whir of machine were his guides, and he soon found himself watching a girl, her head and shoul- ders bent over the machine, a dark island in pillows upon pillows of snowly-white stuff.
 T beg your pardon, said Horace.
 The whir stopped and the girl looked around. It was Kathleen Low. ell. She sprang up. instantly reeog. nizing him. "Mr. Davidson! How you startled me! Won't you sit down."
 Thank you, Miss Lowell. We seem destined to meet in white acres, al- though l must say this landscape Is warmer than the last one. To ex- plain my errand this time, was told to come here to have button sewed on. May beg the favor?" He held out the coat he had been holding on his arm.
 Kathleen flushed Certainly. I'll do it right away Have you the but. ton?"
 No. l thought maybe there might be one around that would match"
 I'm afraid not. They are very odd.  Oh. l believe-Why. yes! I found one In the station yesterday and put it in my bag. It's up in the schoolroom with my things I'll get it. You see. I'm the children's governess"
 He looked his surprise and inquiry.
 This Is extra-you see!" she ex- plained. 'I teach days and sew nights"
 And all this because the road ran through your farm and ruined it,"
 She looked away and didn't answer. A new look had come into the mans eyes, stern and determined. Give me that coat, Miss Lowell. I'll sew on my own button" She handed it over wondering.
 You go home now and stay the rest of the winter. When spring comes. move back into your home in the coun- try. III answer for the road. I'm big stockholder myself. am going to make 1t my business to see that you are treated properly
 Copyright 1916. by the Mcclure Newspa-
 per Syndicate)
 Using Ferns as Preservatve.