The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-02-03

agriculture profession, and commits.
stoned him to buy the rose plant os-
tensibly for himself. winslow was told
to endeavor to persuade the owner to
put price on the property, which he
was to agree to pay. no matter how
much the amount
Winslow visited the bungalow and
was told that Miss Edgerton, the rose
cultivator, was In the office of the con
servatory. He went there and found
very different person from what he
had expected. He supposed he would
see young woman OF plain exterior.
serious, businesslike, and whose cos
| tune would he suitable for her work
Miss Edgerton was a very pretty wo
man, dressed In excellent taste and in
fashion. Her assistants, who were all
OF her own sex, were the only indica
tion that the owner was of the new
woman order. She received Mr.. Wins
low with an engaging smile and listen
ed to an introduction to his subject.
which was an account of his prepa ra-
ton for the agricultural profession and
his having settled upon the branch Of
rose culture. From this he explained
that he desired to purchase a plant
ready for production and ended by sug-
costing that he would like to buy hers
Miss Edgerton listened to what he
had to say, then told him Of her own
ambition. adding that her property was
not for sale. An effort to get her to
put a price on it was not successful
There was nothing left for Rowland
to do but tackle the lioness in her den
himself. Upon Winslow's report of her
personality he resolved first to attempt
to win her favor. then adopt such n
plan as might seem best to buy her
property. As to concealing his identity
as a multimilionaire, this was now be-
yond hope
Rowland had by this time got into
his country home. He sent her some
strawberries from his garden-great.
luscious fellows-with q note of well
come TO his new neighbor. He receiy-
ed note of thanks in return and an
invitation TO call. The call was made
in due. time. and the visitor devoted
himself to pleasing the hostess. He
said not a word about buying her
plant. On the contrary, he expressed
his satisfaction at having so attractive
property near him. He left with the
belief that he had made a very agree
able impression.
1t was not in Mr.. Howlands plan Il
| | sl.ra 60 halin hlf o. M
had made a conquest Of him. Thi.
; would rather hinder than facilitate hi
! purchase of her property. He wished
. merely to secure her good will. hopin:
; that she wolld accept two or three
, times its value, or that he might plac,
her in a position Of standing in tn
way of friend While he lavishe,
9 upon her every favor she would aC
e cept, he neither looked. spoke nor hint
Z ed love- His aim was merely to pla
4 the good ncighbor
When he had fully established
e kindly entente he one day told her tina
he wondered that she had not selecte
site for her rose plant where sh
e would have haG better facilities 70
e transporting her goods to market. L
:. this she expressed herself we'll sati.
fed where she was. Later he inform
e ed her that he owned a splendid sit
b for her plant nearer the city and on
$ railroad by which she could ship he
It goods. II she wanted 1t he would el
8 change it for her property, build me-
). conservatories for her and give ht
d triple the value of her present prope
e ty to boot
She appeared to take the matter I'M
e consideration But she never came
l. decision-at any rate, no decisiC
d that she revealed to the would be pu
- chaser of her property.
a. Disappointed in this move. HowlaI
d resolved to try what virtue the
would be in lovemaking. He won
Is try to win the property through Il
n heart. IL he must wound the hea
d he would heal the wound with gol
lie for he had no doubt that If there WI
d enough gold bestowed any such brea'
al would be stopped by 1t. But Ho'
S land had been SO beset by women
-t | mnrTN ulIu iOE iOituhS thoe -
II ideas on this point had been somewh
warped
he SO he began by first. looking a lit
p love, then acting little love and iin'
e. ~ speaking little love. A beginnil
T. having been made. he doubled the qua
n titles. Miss Edgerton received his 4
W tcntions coyly. She was always tri
IN behind him in this lovemaking. Ne
is erthelcss the affair developed.
IN Then one day Miss Edgerton to
re Rowland that she was thinking of ia
n ing a partner in her business. Ho
s. land took fright at once. and when
w swell from the city came to the ro
factory and hobnobbed with the own
hs Rowland discovered that the facto
had become of small Importance to n
A., In oomnarison with the owner. Il