Evening star., 1901-02-09
ANTOINETTE'S ANE>T
HOW the Bashful Man and Fate Con-
spired Against Her.


From the Chicago News.
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 low chair in one corner of tho
room without saying a word and lust fol.
low 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 interest him In anything.
although she said she realized that he had
moments of intelligence, at which times he
sputtered like an animated dictionary and
quoted Huxley and Bacon and the stock
reports impartially. In these moods An
toinette said he resembled an intellectual
skyrocket. but the demise of these moods
was even more pitiful than the rockets
guttering end, and the strain became SO
great sometimes that Antoinette fed pre-
cipitately before the ghastly climax ar.
rived.
One night he sat quite mute after some
such peroration and twirled a big soli-
taire on his finger for seventeen minutes
by the clock. When Antoinette felt her
self getting wabbly watching him and was
about to make her usual escape, he stiff-
SuSu SuuutHIy like man IN electric
chair and fixed his eyes upon her, with his
hand outstretched. .-r.
''Do you see it?" he gasped.
See what?' said Antoinette, wondering
If 1T was time to call the patrol
This" he said, in the same way, as
though he were choking with emotion or 4
shad bone, and pointing to the ring. viii
you wear it to please me-oh, to please
trust in her eyes.
why should 1 wear itr' asked Antoi.
nette, Indignantly.
''Well-well-I thought maybe you'd like
to wear something I'd given YOU" he anA
swered, in tone that might have meant
shoes, cravat or even the exaggerated
muftier he wore around his throat.
'Oh, It's immaterial to me-" said Antofs
nette. but think I'd rather not"
"Oh, that's nothing" he said, still speak.
ing like an automaton. Then he made q
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
sigh of relief at what she hoped had ter
minated an embarrassing predicament.
But she reckoned unwisely. Next day
he returned with a handsome box and
placed 1t 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 removing his own
gloves in his impatience. rammed the gem
on her finger. gasped. We're engaged.
aren't We! ana packed rapidly out OF the
house, with his gaze still fixed on Antoi-
nette.
Antoinette 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 register of the furnace.
Good graciousr' she screamed, darting
after it. IF I'm not in a fix! If lose that
hateful thing he'll sue me for larceny as
balee, and If I wear it he'll marry me in
spite Of myself! Whatever shall 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,