The Washington times., 1927-09-24
Make the Matter
Clear to Avoid
Later Pain
BY Beatrice Fairfax

StkM really engagsd?s
a. Have you ever asked your-
self that question:
Many q girl has, with honest
doubt as to whether she has re.
ceived proposal.
or course, in great,grand-
mother day, when Jonathan
kneIt ak the feet Of his blnahing
Clarisse and formally begged her
20 become bis wife. Clarisse knew
she was being proposed 70.
Whether she became engaged
depended on her parents de-
cision.
''See that cunning cottage?
modern Claire exclairiAs as she
. and Jack whiz past in Jacks
roadster.
why wouldn't that do for us,
Claire?H asks Jack. Did you
notice whether there WAS ga
rage2n
Yes, ana sun.parlor and .
darling little flower garden at the
side. Let's look at II. There was
q sigu For sale in the window.
Jack turns back the car and the
two look a. the cottage and take
the name OF the agents for fur.
ther inquiry. They learn the cot.
tage will be ready for occupancy
in three months. I'VE can be
back from out honeymoon by that.
time, remarks Jack to Claire.
So the two become engaged--in
this Off-hand. casual manner
As q matter Of fact. when q
man loves woman and has de-
cided to marry her IL he can win
her, he Is only too eager to know
his fate beyond all question. He
win for that reason make his pro-
posal so clear that even though
It may be informal, it viii leave
, no room for doubt as to whether
an engagement exists, so far as
his willingness is concerned.
II you are in doubt as to whether
your understanding amounts
to an engagement, you win be
safe In assuming that you are not
engaged, and acting accordingly.
Jim said q lot about loving
me-bl1t rot much about mar.
rage effected Madge on her
return from her vacation She and
Jim had been guests at the same
hotel. They were also corworkers
for the same firm in town.
Had Jim been only amusing
himself after all, Madge wondered.
She could not doubt this sincerity.
And yet
She almost regretted that won
derful goodbye kiss--their first.
Madge would not have permitted
--and retuTned-that kiss had she
not grown to care for Jim. On
her part. at least, it was the seal
Of their love. Yet Jim had not
proposed.
Madge is wise to pause and
wonder. Yet Jim loves her, and
has since their work first threw
them together at the office. AT
the moment She was wondering
whether his words Of alteration
meant serious love and wish to
marry her. Jim was in the clouds.
He felt gloriously hopeful. thanks
TO the warm responsiveness Of
Madge's mood and good-by kiss.
Now he decided he would ask her
to be his wife, for he was confi-
dent that she cared.
So many girls encourage men
to propose Just because they en-
10Y attention and flattsry and
wish To have 1t continue. The
same girls are likely to brag OF
the proposals they have received
and refused IT urged this type
OF girl will cheerfully tell the
names Of her disappointed Lovers.
And such news spreads rapidly.
Al man realizing this propensity to
brag on the part OF some girls is
ssnxuraIly little slow and care
iii about definitely committing
himself to d proposal Of mar
riage which may mean every.
thing to him and merely a con-
quest to the Girl.
The considerate girl manages a
friendship with a man so cleverly
that he knows whether he will
have q reasonable chance Of sue
cess in proposing to her. If she
likes, but does not love him. she
MANAGES to convey this impress
sion to him so sweetly that he Is
spared the humiliation Of a use-
less proposal, yet their friend
ship goes right on Al girl should
be ashamed Of deliberately lead.
iHg any man on to propose mar
riage whom she does not love
and wish to marry.
If you really care for the young
man who shows such deep and
tender interest in you. and he
would be d suitable fiance, you
can encourage his friendship and
devotion without throwing your
self at him or answering the
question he has not vet asked.
Your sympathy and response
will give him confidence and In
spire him to share with you his.
hopes and dreams and ask you to
share his life as his adored wife.
Then YOU win be the happiest
girl IN the world. for you win
know YOU are engaged to the,
man you love.