“Somehow I had to save it for the last minute, dear. I’ve carried it for weeks because—because—I either wanted to go away deliriously happy or knowing there wasn’t any hope. Then war would be mighty welcome.” “Don’t say that, Gordon! It—implies a weakness!” “I might as well be honest, Madge.” “Gordon, if I take this ring and wear it, I’ll be engaged to you. And if you come back safely, it means that we’ll be married.” “Pray God I come!” “Do you know what it means for a girl to be engaged to a man? After the word is spoken, that man will be my life and my world.” “I know.” “Then don’t you see at what a cruel disadvantage you’re placing me? To leave this until the last moment so? To ask me to love you forever—while in my heart there’s the least little doubt?” “You know I didn’t mean it for an intrigue, Madge.” “True! I can’t conceive of you doing such a thing—now. And yet, oh, Gordon, I want so much to make you happy, to reward you for your manhood and your faith and your hope. And yet, dear boy, I want to be happy, deliriously happy, myself. Not for my own selfishness but because that much will also be due to you!” Her appeal was suddenly that of the lonely little orphan girl pleading for a chance to give of her nameless life and love to its fullest. “Gordon!” “Yes, dear?” “Can’t we—can’t we—let the war decide?” “What do you mean, let the war decide?” “Can’t you go away with my promise that when you return you shall have my answer—with the knowledge that you’re the first man thus far in my life—that I love you more dearly than any other man up till to-night—that the ending of the war may bring more happiness than either of us dare dream? Can’t you go away being happy and temporarily satisfied with that?” His voice was like aching iron as he asked: “You wish it, Madelaine?” “I wish it—yes!” “And—what of the ring?” “Because you’re so far the dearest man in my life—closer than any man has yet become—I’ll keep the ring. But it must lie in white satin until I’m sure. Then when the Better World we’re fighting for has come, and you return with victory—perhaps there’ll be an Amethyst Moment when you may take this beautiful thing from its satin and place it on my finger, Gordon. And if the doubt is all washed away, that moment will be very, very sweet. That’s half a promise, Gordon. But it can’t be a full promise—yet. I must know for certain.” “If you wish it, Madelaine. Above everything, your happiness comes first.” She moved over so that by leaning forward she could drop her forehead on his tightly interlaced fingers. Her free tears fell upon those fingers. He unclasped them. One hand smoothed her wondrous hair. Then he bent and placed a kiss upon that hair, tenderly. “I know you love me very much indeed, when you say that, Gordon. A girl could easily trust herself to a man who’d think of her happiness so much at such a time as this.”