Ripley County democrat., 1917-04-27
AsTOlAETTE's KNIGHT
BY KEITH KENYON.

thO WihuOW hioihO 40 ouO 6oAOu ASoh
lily down the green vistas Of the old
rectory garden.
Hello, girlle!" called tender
voice, and Antoinette's dream fed as
her lowered glance encountered Bob
by Ortlepp's frank gray eyes. Think
ing Of mef" he asked softly, as he
stepped under the window.
Antoinette stared at him resentfulfy.
Bobby's plain face, rough tweeds
and villainous old pipe were o rude
awakening from dreams Of Sir Gala
had Of romantic charm.
whats the matter?" asked Bobby
quickly.
"Oh, nothing--only I'm tired Of
everything sighed Antoinette. W.
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 meT he repeated logged
ly.
AT that moment the ring slipped
from Antoinette's finger. touched the
wiadow sill and then bounded into the
bed Of forget-me-nots.
Obi" 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 II and held 1t toward her.
There was queer expression In his
honest eyes.
Would you rather not wear 1t
again, Antoinette?"
Antoinette tilted back her head and
an imp OF perversity whispered IN her
ears #
"Really"-she managed to assume
a slightly bored expression really.
Bobby, don't especially care"
Very WE'LL" cut in Bobby, turning
on his heels. Good afternoon"
He strobe toward the hedged path,
passing the splashing fountain. With
a vicious motion of his hand he sent
the sparkling jewel into the afr, to fall
and lie hidden in the water that filed
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 twentieth century
knight" she laughed shakingly.
Fancy Sir Galahad going on In a.
pet like that!'
Bobby did not stay long, dear"
observed the rector as they sat down
at dinner. He was q 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, the 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 It,"
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.
1T was to be at fve o'clock. !
must telephone tho hospital and find
out the result" said her father. fin !
ishing his coffee.
"Yes. father" she said mechanical.
ly, and then left the room abruptly.
Antoinette haunted the garden
paths that evening. 1t seemed to her !
that no matter which way she went
she saw Bobby's white. unhappy face |
as he left her in anger. It was all |
30 unnecessary. too, for she had brol-
en- her troth only in q moment Of
caprice.
At last, standing disconsolats be-
side the fountain. II occurred to her |
suddenly to make an attempt to re-
cover her ring. She CROPPED wildly |
for the jewel until the Sleeve Of her
white gown was drsnched.
At that moment there seemed TO
her to be only one desirable thing in
the world to be accompiished--to re-
cover the ring and restore It to her \
finger. \ /
With this thought racing dizzily |
through her head. It was small won
der that Antoinette Iost her balance
and went plump into the wide basin.
'Girliel" sounded q blessedly famil.
FAR voice. and then q strong arm
grasped her scarcely submerged form
and drew her from the basin. And
Bobby's one seryfcaahle arm managed /
10 hold her tightly to bis breast.
tive got 1T. she sobbed hysterical-
". her cheek against bis.
Got what. sirliey
"Thisls She held up her lefk hand