The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-19
AAToINETTFs KNIGHT
BY KEITH KENYON.

:. !.
Antoinette's book slipped unnoticed |
70 the floor as her fingers relaxed |
heir hold Her head leaned against |
he window frame as she gazed dream |
ly down the green vistas of the old |
rectory garden.
Hello, girlie!" called tender
voice. and Antoinctte's dream fed as
her lowered glance encountered Bob
by Ortlepp's frank gray eyes. Think
ing of me?" he asked softly. as he
stepped under the window
Antoinette stared at him resentfully.
Bobby's plain face, rough tweeds
and villainous old pipe were rude
from dreams of a Sir Gala
had Of romantic charm.
What's the NATTER" asked Bobby
quickly.
"Oh, nothing-only I'm tired of
everything" sighed Antoinette.
Except me-" added Bobby, rushing
blinGly to his fate.
Antoinette was twisting her engage
ment ring around her slim finger. The
diamond flashed and almost dazzled
Bobby's quick glance.
Except me?" he repeated logged
ly.
At that moment the ring slipped
from Antoinette's finger. touched the
window sill and then bounded into the
bed of forget-me-nots.
OH" cried Antoinette, forced back
into the disagreeable present.
Bobby's face crimsoned and then
went gray as ashes.
He bent down and searched the for
get-me-nots for the lost ring. At last
he found it and held it toward her.
There was a queer expression in his
honest eyes.
Would you rather not wear It
again, Antoinctte?'
Antoinetto tilted back her head and
an imp of perversity whispered in her
ear.
"Really"-shc managed to assume
a slightly bored really,
Bobby, don't especially care
Very WELL" cut in Bobby. turning
on his heels. Good afternoon
He str1de toward the hedged path,
passing the splashing fountain. With
a vicious motion of his hand he sent
the sparkling jewel into the air, to fall
and lie hidden in the water that filled
the deep basin.
My ring!" gasped Antoinette, star
ing after Eobby's form as he tramped
dov n the path. He did not turn
around.
There goes a twentieth century
knight" she laughed shakingly.
Fancy Sir Galahad going off in
pet like that!
Bobby did not stay long, dear"
ob.,erved the rector as they sat down
at dinner. He was mild-eyed. mild
hammered man, and he quite ap.
proved of Bobby Ortlepp.
Mrs. Carey looked concerned.
Il suppose he had to be at the hos
pital on time," she said.
Hospital" asked Antoinette, 60
ing quite pale for no apparent rea-
son.
"Yes-he told you, dear, of course"
"No-o-o." said Antoinette. He
didn't stay long, Is he ill.,"
The rector shook his head mo.
child, but you know young Henry
Blair, tho foreman in Bobby's fac
tory, is at deaths door with anemia.
As last resort, they are going to
try TRANSMISSION OF blood. Bobby Of
fered himself and was accepted. He
came in and told us and then said
he was looking for you. He wanted
to tell you about 1t"
"He didn't say word" said An
toinette. family. "Is-is-there any
danger, father?"
Il hardly think so, dear"
rs 1t to be tonight?" asked An
toinette timidly.
ut was to be ut five O'Clock.
must telephone the hospital and find
out the result" said her father, fin
ishing his coffee.
Eyes. father" she said mechanical
ly. and then left the room abruptly.
Antoinette haunted the garden
paths that cvenirg. 1t seemed to her
that TO matter which way she went
she saw Robby's white, unhappy face
as he left her In anger. II was all
SO unnecessary, too, for she had brok-
en- her troth only in a moment of
caprice
At last, standing discorsolate be-
side the fountain, II occurred to her
suddenly to make an attempt to re-
cover her ring. She groUed wildly
for the jewel until the sleeve of her
white gown was drenched.
At that moment there seemed to
her to be only one desirable thing In
the world to be accomplishments re-
cover the ring and restore II to her
finger
With this thought racing dizzily
through her head, it was small won
der that Antoinettc lost her balance
and went plump into the wide basin.
"Girlie!" sounded a blessedly famil-
lar voice, and then strong arm
grasped her scarcely submerged form
and drew her from the basin. And
Bobby's one serviceablo arm managed
to hold her tightly to his breast.
I've got it," she sobbed hysterical-
ly, her check against his.
Got what, girlie?"
This" She held up her left hand
and the moonlight fell on the spar.
Eling stone of her engagement ring
Il was q fool. Antoinette,' he whis-
pered. I'm afraid ] don't understand