The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-02-13

was told tnat MISS LhStit t""'
cultiyator, was in the Office of the con
seryatory. He went there ana iounu
a very different person from "hat ne
had expected. He supposed he would
see a young woman OF plain exterior
serious businesslike, and whose cos
tune would he suitable for her work
Miss Edgerton was very pretty wo
man. dressed In excellent taste and In
fashion. Her assistants, who we're 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 prepara-
tion for the agricultural profession ana
mis- having settled upon the branch OF
rose culture. From this he explained
that he desired TO purchase plant
ready for production and ended by sus-
gesting 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 IA price on ii 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 10 attempt
TO win her favor. then adopt such a
plan as might seem best 10 buy her
property. As to couccaling his identity
as IA multimilliomire this was now be-
yond hope
Rowland hal by this time got into
his country home He sent her some
strawberries from his garden great,
luscious fellows with note of well
come To his new neighbor. He receiy-
ed Il 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. lie
said not 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.. IIowland'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 or three
times its value. or that he might place
her In Il position OF standing in the
way of friend While he lavshed
upon her every favor she would ac-
cept, he neither looked, spoke nor hint
cd love. His aim was merely to play
the good nelghbor.
When he had fully established n
kindly entente he 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 TO market To
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 10y which she could ship her
goods. If she wanted it he would ex-
change 1t for her property, build new
conservatories for her aud give her
triple the value OF her present proper
ty to boot.
She appeared TO take the matter into
consideration. But she never came TO
a decision-at any rate. no decision
that she revealed TO the would he pur-
chaser of her property.
Disappointed in this move. Howland
resolved to try what virtue there
would be in loyemaking. He would
try to win the property through the
heart. IL 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 10y 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 10y first looking a little
love, then acting little love and final
ly speaking little love. A beginning
having been made, he doubled the ouan.
titles. Miss Edgerton received his at
tentions coyly. She was always trif,e
behind him In this lovemaklng. New.
ertheless the affair developed.
Then one day Miss Edgerton told
Howland that she was thinking of TAX
ing partner In her business. How
land took fright at once, and when
swell from the city came to the rose
factory and hobnobbed with the owner
Rowland discovered that the factory
had become OF small importance to him
In comparison with the owner. Tha
moment the swell departed Howlaud
went TO Miss Edgerton and told her
that IL she would not marry him he
would commit suicide.
That's the end of my story. The two
were married, the conservatories were
taken down. and the land on which
they stood was made a part of How
land park. But there is an explana-
Hon. l.