The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-12
Antoinette's Predicament.
rFrom the Chicago News.l

He was one of Antoinette's beaux, and
Antoinette said he was an awful bore.
in which belief the family concurred. He
used to come around Sunday nights and
sit on a low chair in one corner of the
room without saying a word and 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 the bad grace to leave him alone in
his meditations while she went out and
made sport of him to her big sister Nell
Antoinette grew tired Of trying to inter
est him in anything, although she said
she realized that he had moments of in
telligence, at which times he sputtered
like an animated dictionary and quoted
Huxley and Bacon and the stock reports
impartial1y. In these moods AntOinette
said he resembled an intellectual sky
rocket. but the demise of these moods
was even more pitiful than the rockets
euttering end, and the strain became SO
great sometimes that Antoinette fed
precipitately before the CHASTITY climax
arrived
one night he sat quite mute after
some such peroration and twirled a big
solitaire on his finger for seventeen min
utes by the clock When Antoinette felt
herself getting Wabbly watching him
and was about to make her usual escape
he stiffened suddenly like a man in an
electric chair and fixed his eyes upon
her, with his hand outstretched.
do YOU see IL ne BaSpG1+
s4See what?v said Antoinette, wonder
ing If it was time to call the patrol.
ssThis." he said. in the same way, as
though he were choking with emotion or
Twill you wear it to please mech, to
please me?'' he pleaded, as he saw re-
fusal and distrust in her eyes
why should I wear it?" asked An
toinette, Indignantly.
seWell-well-I thought maybe you'd
like to wear something I'd given you
he answered, in tone that might have
meant shoes. cravat or even the exag
gerated muller he wore around his
throat
"Oh, it's immaterial to me-" said An
toinette but / think I'd rather not"
sOh, that's nothing" he said, stu
speaking like an automaton- Then he
made a quick rush for the girl. seized
her hand and thrust the ring upon her
third finger. It was almost half an inch
too large, and he pulled it off and re-
placed it again on his own hand, while
Anuoinette heaved a sigh of relief at
what she hoped had terminated an en-
barrassing predicament.
But she reckOned unWiSelY. Next day
he returned with a handsome box and
placed it hastily under her nose before
she had time to say How do you do?'
It was the ring, made smaller. and he
grabbed her hand again without remoy-
ing his own gloves in his impatience.
rammed the gem on her finger. gasped,
We're engaged, aren't we2" and backei
rapidly out of the house, with his gaze
still fixed on Antoinette-
Antoinette heard the street door close
before she recovered her wits. Then she
rushed frantically after him, but he was
gone. With a. stamp of her foot she
flung the ring from her 1t rolled peril
ously near the open register Of the fur
mace.
Good graciousl "she screamed, darling
after it. If I'm not in a fix If I lose
that hateful thing he'll sue me for lar
ceny as bailee, and If I wear it he'll
marry me in spite Of myself Whatever
shall I do2"
And she sank in a heap and wep-,
while her brother in the next room whis-
tied tantalizingly: Just because she
made them goo-goo eyes"
Washington, Feb. 12.-Senator Morgan
has given notice of an amendment to the
sundry civil bill or the river and harbor
-.