The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1920-06-19
THE GREAT
MOMENT
By A. MARIA CRAWFORD

He had just asked her to marry him.
but even when he took her in his arms
and kissed her gently, as a brother
might have done. Milly felt that she
was being cheated of her birthright.
For It is the sum and substance of ev-
cry girls life to love and to be loved
and Milly knew instinctively, as it is
always given to girls to know, that
while Dick Carter passively held her
there in his arms he was thinking OF
Juanita Estes and Of what a joy he
would have experienced in possessing
her But Juanita had wantOnly Tilted
him six months before.
Since the days when she was hailed
by boisterouS schoolmateS as "Freckle
Face because Of the fine busting of
brown fiecks across the bridge of her
pretty nose. Milly had loved Dick, and
because of that love of ten years
growth she had felt comforting sense
Of possibility when she heard the wei
come news of his jilting by the proud,
cold beauty, Juanta. With no COM
junction of conscience, Milly had set
herself the happy task of comforting
him and now he had asked her to
marry him. but Milly did not feel the
wild elation of heart and spirit that
she had so hopefully anticipated. At
ter all, she reflected, as she stood
there, her cheek resting lightly against
his regularly beating heart, she had
no
and she had won him, but she had lost
the thrill of that great moment in ev-
cry girls life when the heat of mans
passion kindleS the fire of her own.
Suddenly she remembered old Grand
ma Winston's eagerly proffered adj
vice, 1.-TWO people never love each 9th
err in the same degree. It's safer to
marry a man who loves you better
than you love him."
you are going to marry me. Milly,
dear, aren't yOu?" questioned Dick in
that rich, throaty voice of his to which
the cords of her heart had always re-
Spcnded like the strings Of musical
instrument to the hands of a master.
'Oh, yes. Dick, you know that l will.
I have always loved you" she answered
without a moments hesitation. Then
she was hurt, Inundated over her con-
fession, for Dick had not said that he
loved her. He had merely told her that
she was the very finest girl he knew
and that it would make him very hap
DIV indeed if she would marry him.
But he held her little closer at that
and flush crept over his face. II
don't deserve you, Milly," he said
thickly, but I am going to try mighty
hard to make you happy"
And Milly, with age-old wisdom, out
Of the mother heart of every woman
| who loves truly and is therefore forget
full of self, slipped her arms around hi
| shoulders In utter abandonment OF
| pride to help him through what she
felt was a trying situation. He was
| giving her the best that he could offer
Fate had cheated him just as it was
| cheating her, and more than anything
else in the world. she wanted her love
| for him to help him, to comfort him. II
make him forget the girl who had hell
the priceless boon of his love so light
ly.
AWhat kind of a ring do you want
| dear?" he asked then. Il want you Il
have it before the dance tomorrow
night. IT," he smiled down at her whim
sically, 'if you will do me the honor t.
wear it then"
"Pll love to wear it, Dick. l want
roIitaire. if that suits you. gol'
band, but the stone mounted in plat
num-" she answered directly.
you're so sensible, Milly. Your
going to make me wonderful wife.
She knew why he wanted her t
have the ring before the next night
Juanita would be there, home from
six-months' visit In New York. wher
she had promptly taken herself afte
fitting Dick.
Milly had always been much NOR
economical than she really needed t
be, and when her mother chided he
about her lack Of interest In neN
clothes, the girl had always told he
that she was going to be an old mai
and that her parents would have
! support her as long as she lived.
was not like having daughter wi
would soon he married and off the
hands for life, she said.
Her mother, of course. was thrille
over her engagement. She was b.
ginning to fear that Milly would II
deed be an old maid, which state of
fairs invariably seems to hurt II
mother more than the daughter. 1t
sort Of shock to their own pride
feel that they have produced som
I thing which DO man wants. Milly
mother was delighted when. the ne
I morning at breakfast, the girl e
! pressed desire for a new evenlr
I dress. something really nice. mot
: er. and a handsome wrap
No homely girl can dress up al
/, suddenly appear to be a ravishiI
beauty. but fine feathers make I'll
birds, and a masseuse. hairdresser al
= really gifted buyer for ready-to-we
shop certainly did do wonders to Nj