"Life without Gertrude," thought George, "would prove a failure." Then
taking her white hand in his, he whispered, "I love you, dearest, with
all my heart, and you must be my wife."
"George," she replied, "in a thousand ways you have shown it. I have
known your heart ever since we studied together at the high school. My
own life has been ennobled by contact with yours." Her voice and hand
trembled as she added, "Yes, George, my life and happiness I gladly
place in your sacred keeping, and I promise purity and loyalty for
eternity."
Then George opened the little case which he had brought from New York,
and gave Gertrude a ring containing two diamonds and a ruby, which
surprised and delighted her. She placed it on her first finger, saying,
"George, we will advance this crystal pledge to the third finger just
as soon as we get the consent of father and mother."
Gertrude had found on a former trip some purple crystals on the
mountainside, and had had two unique emblems of their love made in New
York City. George pinned upon Gertrude a gold star set with a purple
amethyst, a tiny cross and a guard chain being attached, and she gave
George a gold cross set with an amethyst, the guard pin being a tiny star
and chain.
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