Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-06-05
hibit showed a most encouraging de-
velopment of artistic handicrafts in
this country.-Kansas City Star.
ANToINETTE'S PREDIcAMsNT.
How the Bashful Man and Fate Con-
spired Against Her.

now the bash1ul man ana rate Con-
spired Against Her.
Vie was one of Antoinette's beaux,
aVd Antoinette said he was an awful
bbre, in which belief the family con-
CURED. He used to come around Sun
day nights and sit on low chair in
one corner of the room without saying
a word ana just follow Antoinette with
his eyes. He seemed to be content to
be merely where he could see or hear
her for she often had had the bad grace
to leava him alone in his meditations
while she vent out and made sport of
him to her big sister Nell. Antoinette
grew tired Of trying to interest him in
anything, although she said she real
lied that he had moments of intelli-
gence, at which times he sputtered like
an animated dictionary and quoted
Huxley and Bacon and the stock re-
ports impartially. In these moods An
toinette said he resembled an intellect
ual skyrocket, but the demise of these
moods was even more pitiful than the
rockets guttering end, and the strain
became so great sometimes that An
toinette fled precipitately before the
CHASTITY climax arrived
One night he sat quite mute after
some such peroration and twirled big
solitaire on his finger for II minutes
by the clock When Antoinette felt
herself getting wabbly watching him
and was about to make her usual es
cape, he stiffened suddenly like man
in an electric chair and fixed his eyes
upon her, with his hand outstretched.
"Do you see it?' he gasped.
See what?" said Antoinette, won
dering if it was time to call the patrol.
This" he said, in the same way, as
though he were choking with emotion
or shad bone, and pNnting to the
ring. will you wear it to please me
oh, to please me?" he pleaded, as he
saw refusal and distrust in her eyes.
"Why should | wear it," asked An
toinette, Indignantly.
"Well-well-I thought maybe you'd
like to wear something I'd give you,"
he answered, in a tone that might have
meant shoes, cravat or even the eXag
gerated muffler he wore around his
throat.
ooh, it's immaterial to me-" said An
toinette, "but think I'd rather not"
"Oh, that's nothing" he said, still
speaking like an automaton. Then he
made quick rush for the girl. seized
her hand and thrust the ring upon
her third finger. 1t was almost half
an inch too large. and he pulled it off
and replaced it again on his own hand,
while Antoinette heaved a sigh of re-
lief at what she hoped had termin-
ated an embarrassing predicamelt.
But she reckoned unwisely. Next
day he returned with handsome box
and placed it hastily under her nose
before she had time to say How do
you do?" 1t was the ring. made small
er, and he grabbed her hand again
without removing his own gloves in
his impatience, rammed the gem on
her finger, gasped, Were engaged,
aren't we?" and backed rapidly out of
the house, with his gaze still fixed
on Antoinette.
Antionette heard the street door
close before she recovered her wits.
Then she rushed frantically after him,
but he was gone. With stamp of
her foot she flung the ring from her.
1t rolled perilously near the open reg
lister CT the furnace.
Good gracious!" she screamed,
darting after it. 'If I'm not in fix!
If lose that hateful thing he'll sue
me for larceny as bailee. and if |
wear it he'll marry me in spite of
myself. Whatever shall l .do?"
And she sank in heap and wept,
while her brother in the next room
whistled tantalizingly: "Just because
she made them goo-goo eyes" Chi
cago News.