The Detroit times., 1915-04-27
Beth; The Girl
Who Went Right"
No. 13-An Engagement Ring.

Oh. that sweet pitifui hour In which
girl nrst knows she loves! Wistful-
~ she cares into the innocent eyes
sood-b forever. Then fearfuiiy abe
turns TO follow the woman she shall
become. Her way lies-whcre7
should have been happy on the
night after my mother had told me
I was to marry Charles Dennison. II
was really my engagement night. al
though my fiance did not come to
see me until the following evening.
! should have been able. at least, to
have knelt at my mothers feet and
put my head In her lap, and have
known she understood all the things
neither OF US could say. Surely this
should be very sweet hour In q
girls life. The moment when she
takes her last long look into the eyes
Of her childhood and turns away 10
face the woman she shall become.
But in reality I spent the night In
tears. Z did not know why ! cried.
was only vaguely miserable at FIRST.
In the dark, as lay In my little mar
row bed, I was amazed to realize
the tears were making their way
down from my check to the pillow.
And then suddenly 1 was really
afraid, and I shook with sobs. The
only concrete thought had was that
I did not wish to be married. or so
much I was sure. II was not Charles
II was fond enough of him. But
felt so young. so ignorant. Every In
stinct I had cried out that all now
faced in life was big. momentous.
and was frightened because knew
myself to be unprepared.t
Il awoke In the morning with heavy
eyes and dull headache from cry.
ing. When / went In to breakfast II
was late and Mother already had
eaten and gone. The lamp beneath
the coffee urn had gone out, 90
had to nibble on some half-cold toast
and some coffee that was thoroughly
chilled. This on the morning of the
day which was to be milestone In
my life! And / dressed to meet
Charles In the evening far less care
fully than had done on many other
occasions.
Father and sat through dinner In
silence. Perhaps in the stress of his
business he had already completely
forgotten our talk OF the night be
fore. Though his affairs were mud
died he did not seem to dream that
at the table with him, sat his little
girl with heart as troubled over the
business OF life as ever his could be,
Mother did not return to dinner; and
Father did not audibly wonder where
she was. We ate In depressing 81.
lcnce. II was more as though we
were living In the impending gloom
Of some great catastrophe than Cd
though were on the verge OF walk
ing In the sunlight Of the greatest
happiness Of a girls life.
After dinner. when Charles came,
I met him languidly. But he. at least,
was feeling some of the emotion I
should have felt. His eyes were
sparkling and his cheeks were flush
ed. He was too important with the
news he had for me to realize how
half-hearted was my greeting. He
kissed me on both eheks and on the
end OF my nose and drew back. nod
ding his head at me.
Guess what I have for YOU" he
said.
woke into some slight animation,
I was still baby enough to love sur
prices.
| "What?" I asked.
II was 20 tremendous Charles
could not voice II. Silently he put
his hand into his pocket and brought
| Il out again with little green velvet
case lying on his palm. He held II
toward me.
This" he said.
Ny glance went from the case &c
his face. took the case gingerly
between my thumb and forefinger
without meaning to. my thumb
pressed the little mob that held the