Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1917-03-08

1
was 20 agree 10 pay. no matter how
much the amount
Wnslow visited The bungalow and
was told that Miss Edgcrton, the rose
culfivator was i'm the office of the con
servatory. He went there and found
4 very different person from what he
Ind expected He supposed he would
see n 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 i'm 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 engag ing smile and listen
Ell 10 an introduction To his subject
which was an account OF his prepare
tion for the agricultural profession and
his having settled upon the branch OF
rose culture. From this he explained
that he desired TO purchase plant
ready for production and ended by sug
gesting that he would like 10 buy hers
had 10 say. then told him Of her own
ambition, adding that her property was
( not for sale An effort to get her to
put II price on il 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 hrst 10 attempt
| at. "a
plan as might seem best 10 buy her
property. As Ia cOncealing his Identity
as multimilionaire this was now be
yond hope
Rowland had by this time got into
his country home lie sent her some
strawberl'ic, from bis garden great,
luscious fellows with a note of wei
come 10 his new neichbOr He recei,-
ed a note of thanks IN return and an
invitation TO call. The call was made
IN due time. and the visitor devoted
himself 10 pleasing the hostess. He
said not a word about buying her
plant On the contrary. lie expressed
his satisfaction at having so attractive
property near him. He left with the
belief that he had made n very agree
able impression.
lt was not I'm Mr.. ilowland's plan to
lead Miss Edgerton 10 believe that she
had made Il conquest OF him. This
would rather hinder than facilitate his
purchase Of her property. He wished
merely 10 secure her good will hoping
that she would accept TWO OF three
times its value. OF that he might place
her in position OF standing in the
way Of friend. While he lavishcd
upon her every favor she would nc.
cept. he neither looked. spoke nor hint
ed love. Ills aim was merely 10 play
the good nci.hbOr.
When be had fully established Il
kindly entente lie one day told her that
he wondered that she had not selected
site for her rose plant where she
would have had better facilities for
! transporting her goods 10 market. To
this she expressed herself well salts
fed where she was. Later he inform
ed her that he owned splendid site
for her plant nearer the city and ON -
railroad by which She could ship her
I goods. IL she wanted il lie would cx.
change It for her property. build new
Conservatives for her and give her
triple the value Of her present proper
~ Tn boot
She appeared 10 take the matter into
consideration But she never came TO
decision-at any rate. no decision
that she revealed to the would be pur-
chaser OF her property
Disappointed in this move. Howland
resolved TO Try what virtue there
would be in loyemakiIg. He would
try ~ win the property through the
heart II he must wound the heart
he would lea the wound with gold.
for he had no doubt that if there was
j enough gold bestowed any such breach
would be stopped 10y H. But How
land had been so beset by women 10
marry him for his fortune that his
Ideas or this point had been somewhat
warped
So he began by first looking little
love. then acting little love and final
ly speaking little love \ beginning
having been made he doubled the guam
titles Miss Edgrrton received his nj.
tentiouS coy 49, She was always trife
behind him in ills Ioyemaklng New
erthclcss The affair developed.
Then one day Miss E0gcrton told
uowlaId that she was thinking of TAX
ing "A FARTHER III her business. How
land took fright at once. and when a