So the rumors were true after all.

Well, sort of.

True, Lt. Andy Baldwin gave his final rose — and an engagement ring — to 26-year-old Tessa Horst, of San Francisco, on last night's finale of ABC's "The Bachelor."

(She allegedly spilled the results earlier this month.)

But reports said she declined the proposal.

So not true!

In the two-hour episode, Horst happily accepted the ring from the 30-year-old triathlete and Navy doctor who, all along, said he was looking for a woman to marry.

The competition for the final rose, which started with 25 bachelorettes eight weeks ago, came down to Horst and Bevin Powers, a 28-year-old clinic research coordinator from Palo Alto, Calif.

Though Baldwin admitted sharing a strong connection with Powers, he told her last night "there's somebody who's touched my heart deeper."

Baldwin took both women home to meet his family in snowy Lancaster, Pa. (He called it "Operation Soulmate.")

All three returned to Hawai'i, where Baldwin is based, to spend more one-on-one time before the final rose ceremony.

Horst and Powers each had one last chance to win over Baldwin, who obviously was torn.

In the end — and even after Powers' "I love you" confession — Baldwin chose Horst, calling her a "wish come true."

In 10 seasons of "The Bachelor" and three of "The Bachelorette," only one couple is known to have tied the knot.

Trista Rehn married firefighter Ryan Sutter after meeting during "The Bachelorette" in 2002.

Their highly publicized wedding was televised on ABC in 2003. The couple is now expecting a baby.

Reach Catherine E. Toth at ctoth@honoluluadvertiser.com.