Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1919-07-18
For Her Sake!
By MATILDA FRANCES PFEIFFER

anu CdHceIeu notes. linen ne went
to the apartment that had been his
wife's room, consulted a memorandum
book, operated the lock of a little wall
safe and stood gazing at a jewel case
lying open in full view. Upon its
white velvet forms lay a sunburst pin
and two rings.
Il have cleared all the debts" he
murmured, "and need worry no longer
about caring right for Neva. Her
mothers legacy-here it is as it was
will be hers when the prescribed
time arrives. "Poor, dear Marcia! 1
am glad now 1 humored her whims,
costly as they have been to me-"
Ten years previously Robert Dale
had welded Marcia Lane, a widow
with one child. 1t was a case of ma
ture, real love, and the little one
brought into his home Mr.. Dale
had grown to love as though he were
her own father. A brave, s~elf-sacrific-
ing man, he had kept to himself a
knowledge of his wife's failing-ex-
travagance. When Mrs. Dale died he
told nobody that she had left him in
deep debt.
But now that was all over and past.
And the jewels-the pretty diamonds?
His wife had always spoken of giving
them to Neva upon her wedding day.
And here they were, intact. They
were a present he had given Marcia
directly after their marriage. On her
last birthday Mr.. Dale had shown the
jewels to Neva. He had given her a
glimpse of her legacy, and hey eyes
had sparkled in anticipation of some
day calling them her own.
ITS a long, long time ahead" said
Neva. "Why, father, I haven't yet
met the man l would leave you for"
"The nan and the hour will come in
due time" replied Dale gravely. And
he was on his way then, though nei-
Their dreamed of 1t.
In the city was Phineas Wilde. law
yer, and his SON.. and at the very hour
when Dale felt that he had won a
hard-earned battle against debt these
two were in close consultation.
PLAINLY, Waldron," spoke the fa-
Their, 81 am sending you on a very deli
cate mission. Mrs. Dale was a girl
hood friend of your mother, and when
she came to me with her jewels for
a loan l could not refuse her. Shortly
before she died she told me that her
husband never dreamed that she had
used his gift for a loan. She had a
false set of pins and rings made, faith
s full copies, but worthless and Mr.
Dale, I suppose, believes them to be
break his heart to know that she had
trifled away his presents"
"And what am l to do?' inquired
Waldron.
"Well, the money I loaned belong
ed to a client. For the sake of old
time friendship for Mrs. Dale, would
stand a loss rather thar annoy or OPP
press her husband. You will go down
to see Mr.. Dale on pretense of deliv-
ering to him some old papers his wife
left with US. Feel your way, and see
how he Is fixed, and act as you think
best"
Waldron Wilde was received at the
Dale home as a welcome guest, for
it's owner recalled the high regard his
wife had held for the family. AS to
Waldron, the moment his glance fell
upon Neva he knew that he had met
his fate.
1t was quite natural that Mr.. Dale
should disclose his affairs to the trust
ed visitor. He told him of his fight
with debt. He took him up to the
room where the jewels were kept, and
he opened his memorandum book to
get the combination of the little wall
safe. Waldron Wilde read over his
shoulder and memorized. He remain
ed with these friends for the week end.
and in his woodland w~anderings with
Neva he was drawn closer and dear
or to her.
1t was a week later when he again
appeared at the Dale home. The sec
Gnd evening of his stay Neva sat at
the window of her room enjoying the
sweet calm of midnight, when she
startled in amazement and stared in
concern. For in the room where the
Jewels were she observed Waldron
Wilde. Enthusiastically she saw him
open the wall safe, take something
from it, and disappear.
Neva. perturbed, mystified, was rest
lessly treading the garden walk in the
morning when Waldron appeared. She
was a clear minded, frank spirited girl,
and as he led her TO a rustic seat she
asked him to solve the mystery of his
nocturnal exploit.
81 am sorry you saw me-" he said,
'but you must now know the truth.
Neva. Would it cloud your bright
spirit if you knew that your mother
was led to deceive your father? Would
you guard with me a secret from him
that might darken his trustfulness?"
81 do not understand" she
ed, filed with vague alarm, and then
ne told how love for her and high es-
teen for her father had led him to