The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-10-12
ANTOInETTE'S KNIGHT
BY KEITH KENYON.


to the floor as her fingers relaxed |
their hold. Her head leaned against
the window frame as she gazed dream
lily down the green vistas of the old !
rectory garden.
Hello, girlie!" called a tender
voice, and Antoinettes 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 vIlainous old pipe were rude
awakening from dreams of Sir Gala
had of romantic charm
What's the matter?" asked Bobby
quickly.
"Oh, nothing-only I'm tired OF
everything" sighed Antoinette.
Except me-" added Bobby, rushing
blindly 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.
Obi" cried Antoinette, forced back
| into the disagreeable present.
Bobbys 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, Antoinette?"
Antoinette tilted back her head and
an imp Of perversity whispered in her
| ear.
"Really"-she managed to assume
q slightly bored expression-''really,
Bobby, / don't especially care"
Very WELL" cut in Bobby, turning
on his heels Good afternoon"
He strobe toward the hedged path,
passing the splashing fountain. With
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 ringr' gasped Antoinette, star
ing after Bobby's form as he tramped
down the path. He did not turn
around.
There goes a twentieth century
knight" she laughed shakingly
Fancy Sir Galahad going off in q
pet like thati'
Bobby did not stay long, dear,
observed the rector as they sat dowr
at dinner. He was a mild-eyed, mild
hammered man, and he quite ap
proved of Bobby Ortlepp.
Mrs Carey looked concerned.
4 suppose he had to be at the hos
pital on time" she said
''Hospital?" asked Antoinette, go
ing quite pale for no apparent rea
son.
: ''Yes-he told you, dear, of course.
< "No--o-o," said Antoinette. III
didn't stay long Is he ill?"
The rector shook his head "No
child. but you know young Henri,
Blair, the foreman in Bobby's fac
. tory, is at deaths door with anemia
:, As last resort, they are going t
/ try TRANSMISSION of blood Bobby oil
n fered himself and was accepted. H
came in and told US and then sal
he was looking for you. He wante
i to tell you about it,
He didn't say a word" said Al
s toinette, family. 'Ts-is-there an
c danger, father?"
Il hardly think so, DEAR
rs it TO be tonight" asked Al
=. toinette timidly.
l. 1T was to be at five O'clock.
must telephone the hospital and fin
a out the result" said her father, fiji
g fishing his coffee.
yes, father" she said mechanical
II ly, and then left the room abrupt!
X,
Is Antoinette haunted the garde
= paths that evening It seemed to he
y that no matter which way she wer
= - she saw Bobby's white, unhappy fac
20 as he left her in anger. It was a
so unnecessary, too, for she had brol
& en- her troth only In a moment {
: caprice
" At last, standing disconsolate b
"a side the fountain, it occurred to he
es suddenly to make an attempt to r
cover her ring. She CROPPED Wild
IN for the jewel until the sleeve of ht
81 white gown was drenched
ne At that moment there seemed
OF her to be only one desirable thing
OF the world to be accomplished-to T
cover the ring and restore it to ht
~ finger.
- With this thought racing dizzi
"a through her head, it was small wo
ay der that Antoinette lost her balant
st and went plump into the wide basi
"Girlie!" sounded blessedly fam
h lar voice, and then a strong ar