The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-24
AAToInE1TE's- KNIGHT
BY KEITH KENYON.

their hold. Her head leaned against
the window frame as she gazed dream
jly down the green ristas OF the old
ectory garden.
Hello, girlie." called tender
\ ,ice, and Antoinette's dream fed as
" lowered glance encountered Bob
b, 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 we're . rude
awakening from dreams Of 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
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.
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, Antoinette?'
! Antoinette tilted back her head and
! an imp of perversity whispered in her
ear
"Really"-shc managed to assume
slightly bored really,
Bobby, don't especially care"
Very WE'LL cut in Bobby. turning
on his heels. Good afternoon"
He strodo toward the hedgcd path,
passing the splashing fountain. With
vicious motion of his hand he sent
the sparkling jewel into the air, to fall
the deep basin.
my ring!" 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 +
pet like that!
Bobby did not stay long. dear"
observed the rector as they sat down
at dinner He was a mild-eyed, mild
hammered man. and he quite ap.
proved of Bobby Ortlepp.
Mrs. Carey looked concerned.
II 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 no ill?"
The rector shook his head No,
child, but you know young Henry
Blair, the foreman in Bobby's fac.
tory, Is at deaths door with anemia.
As a 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 it."
HE didn't say a 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.
1T was to be at five o'clock.
must telephone the hospital and find
out the result" said her father. fin
fishing his coffee.
yes. father" she said mechanical
ly. and then left the room abruptly
Antoinettc haunted the garden
paths that evening. II seemed to her
that TO matter which way she went
she saw Bobby's white. unhappy face
as he left her in anger. II was all
80 unnecessary, too, for she had brok
en- her troth only In a moment OF
caprice. I.
At last, standing disconsolate be-
side the fountain, 1t occurred to her
suddenly to make an attempt to re-
cover her ring. She groped wildly
for the jewel until the sleeve Of her
white gown was dreIched.
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, II was small won
der that Antoinette lost her balance
and went plump into the wide basin,
"iirlie!" sounded a blessedly famil
TAR voice, and then a strong arm
grasped her scarcely submerged form
and drew her from the basin. And
Bobby's one serviceable arm managed
to hold her tightly to his breast.
i've got it," she sobbed hysterical.
ly, her cheek against his.
Got what, gfrlie?'
This" She held up her left hand
and the moonlight fell on the spar.
king stone OF her engagement ring
Il was a fool Antoinette." he whis-
pered. I'm afraid don't understand
the ways OF girls
Nor I the ways OF knightiy men,
she confessed joyously.