Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-02-09

lrleuu, 0eOIBe NluSiON, WIZ Adu mduo
agriculture a 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 a 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
c%ultivator, was in the office of the con-
servatory. He went there and found
a very different person from what he
had expected. He supposed he would
see a young woman of plain exterior,
serious, businesslike, and whose cos
tune would be 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-
ton 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 prepara-
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 hat 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
plan as might seem best to buy her
property. AS to concealing his identity
as a multimillionaire, 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 a note of well
come to his new neighbor. He receiv-
ed a 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
a property near him. He left with the
belief that he had made a very agree
able impression.
1t was not in Mr.. Howland's plan to
lead Miss Edgerton to believe that she
had made a conquest of him. This
would rather hinder than facilitate his
purchase of her property. He wished
merely to secure her good will, hoping
that she would accept two OF three
times it's value, or that he might place
her In a position of standing in the
way of a friend. While he lavished
upon her every favor she would ac-
cept, he neither looked, spoke nor hint
ed love. His aim was merely to play
the good neighbor.
When he had fully established a
kindly entente he one day told her that
he wondered that she had not selected
a site for her rose plant where she
would have had better facilities for
Il dAopOl lniS hCl SOOoo " hloihCL' ~
this she expressed herself well salts
fled where she was. Later he inform
ed her that he owned a splendid site
for her plant nearer the city and on a
railroad by which she could ship her
goods. If she wanted it he would eX-
change it for her property, build new
co~nservatories for her and give her
A.:.lo Al .-i,,o oe hon ,arocor+ pnopor
ty to boot.
She appeared to take the matter into
consideration. But she never anne to
a decision-at any rate, nc decision
that she revealed to the would be pur-
chaser of her property.
Disappointed in this move, Rowland
resolved to try what virtue there
would be in lovemaking. He would
try to win the property through the
heart. If he must wound the heart
he would heal the wound with gold,
for he had no doubt that if there was
enough gold bestowed any such breach
would be stopped by it. But How
land had been so beset by women to
marry him for his fortune that his
ideas ON this point had been somewhat
warped.
So he began by first looking a little
love, then acting a little love and final
ly speaking a little love. A beginning
having been made, he doubled the guam
titles. Miss Edgerton received his at
tentions coyly. She was always a trifie
behind him in this lovemaking. New
ertheless the affair developed.
Then one day Miss Edgerton told
Rowland that she was thinking of TAX
ing a partner in her business. How
land took fright at once, and when a
swell from the city came to the rose
factory and h~obnobbed with the owner
Rowland discovered that the factory
had become of small Importance to him
in comparison with the owner. The
moment the swell departed Rowland
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