Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1942-03-12

would never marry her.
knew? When she remained silent,
Karl changed the subject. "By the
way, did you see Paul Sherman last
night?,"
She hesitated for one cautious mo-
ment before she said, "Yes,-I did"
Karls smile was untroubled. "Ah?
l am glad he found you. / sent him
after you. l forgot to mention it
last night when you got back to the
office" -:
Joan's eyes widened. Karl had
sent Paul after her? Certainly Paul
had not given her that impression.
Don't you believe me?" Karl
asked softly and Joan felt the color
rush into her cheeks.
Karl, however, did not seem an
cry. He paid the check and to-
gether they walked to where he had
parked his car.
1t was not until they reached the
beach that Karl stopped and said
abruptly, 81 know what you're think
ing, Joan!"
She stared straight ahead into the
blue waters of the Pacific. She did
not know what to say.
"You are wondering" Karl Mil
ler continued, "why don't ask you
to marry me-"
Her heart beat heavily. She could
not bring herself to meet those pierre
ing blue eyes. .....
"Joan!" .
She felt his hand strong and warm
over hers. .'...
"Look at mel" he commanded.
Blindly she raised her eyes to his.
Twill you marry me?"
She could not believe it. She stared
at him as though she had not heard.
s'No answer? You do not love
me?"
ooh, Karl! Of course 1 dol"
"We can't be married for two or
three months yet," Karl said. 81
want to get the club going first.
Then We'll take a long honeymoon,
maybe to South America. Would
that make you happy"
Tears trembled in her green eyes.
Happy? I'm SO happy can't
speak, =
',N'You must learn to trust me,
Joan9I would have asked you be-
fore to marry. me, but l wanted to
be SECURE financially. You under
stand?"s
t'Of course 1 do, darling" How
could she have doubted him? Paul
Sherman had been so sure that Karl
would not marry her! How wrong
he had been! How wrong Sybil had
been! Karl had been misjudged by
them all. II
'I'l never doubt him again." Joan
vowed as they drove back to the
Club Elite. She sat contentedly
with her arm tucked through his.
No girl had ever been so happy
as she was at that moment All
fears had been swept away by Karl's
proposal of marriage.
When they entered his private Of
flee he drew her to him, kissed her
and said, II have a surprise for
you.
What is it," Her eyes shone like
child's in their happiness.
Karl smiled as he opened his safe
and drew out a small velvet box.
Swapping open the lid, he took out
ring, magnificent emerald set in
plain platinum. 1t was+a large stone,
beautifully cut.
"sOh KARL Karl! It's gorgeous!"
can emerald to match your eyes,"
Karl said as he slipped the ring on
her finger. - - 1@ts.ss5s
Suddenly the words of Eric Strom
|.came back to her: "a woman with
green eyes is very rare - Why
must she think of Eric Strom now?
Like a warning of evil in the midst
of her new joy.
Hurrying home at six o'clock,
Joan displayed the ring to Sybil.
"We're engaged, Syb! We're 60
ing to be married in two or three
months.
Karl asked you to marry him?"
Sybil asked unbelievingly. "That's
beautiful emerald, Joan! Must have
cost a fortune
"You don't seem very enthusiast
TIC"
FRANKLY I'm not" Sybil con-
fessed.
Il suppose you would have been
better pleased if Karl and l had
quit" Joan said coldly.
Sybil was silent for a moment,
then said, You're not going to be
married for at least two months?"
'That's right. Sybil, what's the
matter with you? You act SO mys-
ferrous lately. Is anything wrong?"
mot a thing in the world" Sybil