Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1914-12-18
Evening Star S
Daily Story
HER WEDDING PRESENT
BY HARMoNY WELLEs.

field & Son was not large, but 1t was
prosperous.
you won't remember old Peter
Woodward. for you were not more
than a couple of years old when he
left the East to seek his fortune out
West. Well. Pete has evidently made
that fortune, because here is a letter
from him in which he asks me to
find a house for q wedding present
to his daughter. The property may
cost all the way from $4,000 to
s50,000."
''nere In the manor7" questioned
Wakefield junior.
"Yes. He is tired OF the West and
wants to come back and settle down
In his old home town. Didn't know
old Pete had daughter, but he must
have If she is to be married"
Perhaps some chap is marrying
her for her house." laughed the son
lightly, then turned to business. How
about the Stanlaw property? It's a
peach of a place and has great
view across the bay. l wouldn't ask
for a better one myself for a we'd
ding present" Wakefield, jr., sighed
and in the sigh was the pent-up de-
sire for home of his own and the
right girl within its portals. But the
right girl had not appeared on his
horizon.
Might be just the thing" unused
his father, quite unaware of the sons
the photographs and we will send
them on, but wait" he scanned the
contents of the letter a second time,
"no-our client will be on his way
here In a day or two and can look
over the property himself" He
smiled reminiscently. 1T will be
good to see old Pete again. I Won
der what the girl is like"
"Raw-boned Westerner, no doubt."
suggested Bobby Wakefield, intent on
finding the photographs OF the Stan
law property, which had apparently
found their way into the bottom OF
the drawer
Her mother was a mighty pretty
girl" unused Wakefield.
Here they arei" said Bobby, and
a moment later father and son were
looking over the photographs of a
most lovely home that overlooked the
bay and backed onto the beautiful
roads of fir trees for which Douglas
Manor was famous. If Bobby sighed
a second time, 1t was because the
property appealed to him so deeply.
"Old Peter Woodward's son-in-law
u
with the girl" was his comment.
A few days later both father and
son looked up from their desks when
the door opened to admit Peter Wood
ward and his daughter. Bobby was
the first to get onto his feet, and
Wakefield, sr., followed quickly.
Great Scott!'' muttered Bobby,
and unconsciously smoothed back his
immaculate neat hair that lay like
q golden wing across his head.
Even Wakefield, sr.. gasped softly
It seemed to be impossible that one
small feminine being could possess
so much beauty.
Her eyes were so heavily fringed
that after the fieeting glance she al
lowed Bobby he was not sure whether
they were violet or gray.
However, Peter Woodward's hearty
laugh and handshake first with
Wakefield and then with his son, dis
PEELED the silence of startled senses.
Afterward Bobby remembered that
Daphne Woodward's hand had
touched his own for an appallingly
short space of time and that he was
gazing at her and wondering who
the lucky chap was who had won her.
"Rawboned," he muttered softly.
! Did you speak to me?" questioned
Daphne, and for a moment the lashes
lifted themselves.
Bobby laughed quickly. NO" he
said, "but / think l had better do so,
Since we seem not to be wanted here.
He nodded to his father and hers.
The two men had forgotten houses
and everything connected with them
while they scanned the paststogether.
II say, sonny" suggested Wake
field, ST.. in belated apology. ''if Miss
Woodward cares to see that property
maybe you wouldn't mind showing 1t
to her. Woodward and ! are having
the time of our lives"
"Will II" exclaimed Bobby mental
ly and with great alacrity he took his
soft hat from the hook and piloted
Daphne from the office.
What delightful suburb" Daphne
said as she caught sight of the trees
that had been preserved even at the
expense of traffic and the shining bay
at the foot cf the road down whie h
Bobby was leading her. She glanced
at her escort and thought him as
good to look upon as anyone upon
whom her eyes had rested. She Won
dered II he was married or In any
way attached. Daphne blushed at her
own mental attitude regarding Bobby
Wakefield.
1--WE are fond of the Manor" he
shining in his eyes. THE swimming
and boating are great and the
dances! see that clubhouse" he said.
pointing to the old white shingled
house with its mass OF wistaria over
the ancient door. I'VE have ripping
dances there" He turned suddenly
toward Daphne. "I hope you and
your husband will Join the club
that is. II you decide to live In the
Manor"
my husband!" exclaimed Daphne
with wide-open eyes. II haven't any
husband"
But you're going to have. aren't
your" Bobby was conscious Of cer-
tain gruff tones In his voice that
startled even himself.
IT most certainly hope to some
day" Daphne said with a most raw
ashing blush.
"But you are engaged and your
father is buying a house for you for
@ wedding present. aren't you, isn't
he?" Bobby became all mixed up in
speech as well as manner and
Daphne had the grace to blush Sec
ond time.
papa is buying me "a home. but I
haven't fourd the congenial man yet.
He only wants me to have home
that will be all that I ever desire
and he is anxious that we find It
soon" She glanced swiftly at Bobby
Wakefield and the light in his blue
eyes brought the third blush rushing
into her cheeks.
Bobby gazed shamelessly at Daphne
and reveled In her beauty.
And in the real estate office 81
Wakefield & Son the two old friends
continued to chat, and Simultaneous
ly they glanced at the setting sun
that was turning the bay to sheet