The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-18
The Euening Story
Her Wedding Present.
(By. Harmony Wells.l

v>~A~AAA14D
(By, Harmony WELSH
John Wakefield looked up from the
letter he had been reading and over
at his son. who occupied second desk
chair on the opposite side of the table.
The real estate onlce OF Wakefield 4
Son was not large, but it was pros-
porous.
You won't remember old Peter
Woodward, for you were not more tnan
couple OF years old when he lett the
east to seek ms fortune out west Well.
Pete has evidently made that fortune.
because here is a letter from HIM in
which he asks me to lind q house for q
wedding present to his daughter. The
property may cost all the way from
$l5,U UO to 5O.O00.''
Here in the manOr?" inquired Wake
field 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 u daughter, but he must have
| ii 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 peach OF
a place and has a great view across the
bay. Il wouldn't ask for better one
myself for wedding present" Wake
field. jr., sighed and in the sigh was
the pent-up desire for a home Of his
own and the right girl within its por-
tails. But the right girl had not APP
peared on his horizon.
Might be just the thing unused his
| father, quite unaware Of the sons sem
! timental sigh. ''You can get out the
photographs and we will send them on.
but watt 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 him.
self" He smiled reminiscently. 1T
will be good to see old Pete again.
wonder what the girl is like"
Raw boned westerner, no doubt,
suggested Bobby Wakefield. intent on
finding the photograph of the Stanlaw
property which had apparently found
their way into the bottom of the
drawer.
Her mother was mighty pretty
GIRL" unused Wakefield.
Here they arev' said Bobby. and a
moment later father and son were look
ing 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. II Bobby sighed a second
| time. it was because the property ap-
pealed to him so deeply.
''Old Peter Woodward's son-in-law
will be a lucky dub il he gets this with
the girl" was his comment.
| A few days later both father and son
door opened to admit Peter Woodward
and his daughter. Bobby was the first
| to get onto his feet, and Wakefield. ST.,
followed quickly.
unconsciousiy smoothed back his inn
maculately neat hair that lay like a
golden wing across his head.
Even Wakefield, ST.. gasped softly. u
seemed to be impossible that one small
feminine being could possess SO much
beauty.
Her eyes were so heavily fringed that
after the fleeting glance she allowed
Bobby he was not sure whether they
were violet or gray.
| However. Peter Woodward's hearty
laugh and handshake first with Wake
field and then with his son dfspel1ed the
silence Of startled senses. Afterward
Bobby remembered that Daphne wood
wards hand had touched his own for
an appallingly short space of time and
that he was gazing at her and wonder
| ing who the lucky chap was who had
won her.
"Raw-boned." he muttered softly. i.
| Did you speak to me?'' questioned
Daphne, and for a moment the Aasnes
lifted themselves.
Bobby laughed quickly. NO." he
said. "but think I 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 ev-
4
they scanned the past together.
| IT say sonny" suggested Wakefield,
ST., in belated apology, IF Miss Wood
ward cares to see that property maybe
YOU wouldn't mind showing it to her.
Woodward and I are having the time
Of our lives
srVill I?'' exclaimed Bobby mental
~ and with great alacrity he took
his soft hat from the hoo and piloted
Daphne from the Office.
l., Alt u ~, nev Hv@<
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 OF the road down which
Bobby was leading her. She glanced
at her escort and thought him as good
to look upon as any one upon whom
| her eyes had rested. She wondered it
he was married or in any way at
tached. Daphne blushed at her own
mental attitude regarding Bobby
Wakefield.
I'VE are fond Of the Manor" he
told her with boyish enthusiasm shin
| ing in his eyes. 1.-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. IT hope you and your hus-
| 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
you?" Bobby was conscious OF Ger
tain gruff tones in his voice that
| startled even himself.
"I most certainly hope to some
day." Daphne said with most ravish-
| ing blush.
But YOU - agaged and your
father is b1S1( house for you for
q wedding E aren't you. isn't
| he % Bobf0 81Ne all mixed up in
spsech as " Inner and Daphne