Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-16
THE WHEEL OF FATE.
The Old Tack Puncturing Yarn in n
Form of Thrilling Romance.
From Punch.

From Punch.
"Grammercyr' quoth the Baron d'Agin.
court, as he rolled off his bicycle into a po-
tato bed, "'tis a full-mettled steed, Me.
thinks those varlets have fed him with over
much oil Of late. so FESTIVE is he become
And. lack-a-day! My doublet is besmirched
with mire! Thou smilest, 1 see. Agatha.
There is but scant reason for merriment,
shameless girl!'
May" replied the beautiful Lady Aga
tina. as with exquisite skill she rode her
dainty steed Ia thoroughbred Coventry up
and down the terrace, twas not at thy
mishap. dear father! OF truth thou must
be sorely bruised. Was not that thy sew
enth fall this afternoon? If [ smile, it's
but that am happy
.Humph! said the baron. as he hoped
painfully behind his machine. tainly en-
deavoring to mount anew. Happy, eh?
And wherefore? Whom hast thou seen to
change thy mood so since this morning?
Twas but few hours ago that thou vast
weeping over some trifie of a split oil can.
All, L am up at laStr
Il have seen none," said the lovely maid
en-, with blushing cheeks; 'at least, save
only" She hesitated doubtfully.
Whom, girl?" insisted her father.
Sir Algerron Fitzclarence."
With desperate swerve the baron rode
toward her, his face purple with passion.
QlSOD6y
again? Talking with him whom had for
hidden to come within twenty leagues of
my castle! Now, by St. Humber, both thou
and he shall rue this day! l say that
The baronS skill failed him once more,
and he was shot off into the gooseberry
bushes.
Nay. hear me. dear father
"Cease! reared the angry baron. What
no. there! Lead the Lady Agatha" he
commanded as twenty men rushed forward
in srswer to his summons, Into the upper
dungeon. And, varlets. bring me the stick
ing pls ster."
Twas midnight. Alone in the dismal cell
to which her fathers cruelty had consign-
ed her. the Lady Agatha wept increasingly
Sleep came not to her weary eyes; she
paced reStlessly up and down or gazed
through the narrow bars of the window
over the mounlit landscape.
Suddenly she started! Was it fancy
Nay. twas human voice, manly. resonant
and strong that sang beneath her window
She could catch some of the words:
o sweetest blossom of the lea,
o daintieSt flower of the field!
For love, for hopeless love of thee
My reason must her kingdom yield.
Good heavens! 1t was Algernon Fitz-
clarence!
Across the land, across the main,
A single steed shall bear US twain.
He was ascending by a ladder! His face
appeared at the window
An, darling Agatha" he said, news was
brought me of thy parlous state! But dry
thy tears. my sweet! See"-he snapped the
massive bars with the little finger of his
left hand-"the cage is broken. Two of the
swiftest wheels are saddled for us at the
castle gate. Let us ny together!''
Noiselessly the gallant steeds fitted along
the re ad.
"Were't not best to light our lamps?''
whispered Agatha. "Methinks that the
sage councillors of the parish"
Nay, l fear them not said the intrepid
Fitzclarence. Enough for me is the light
of thine eyes"
Suddenly their steeds Stacker ed pace 81
multaneousH, and a faint kissing sound
was heard. They looked at one another and
groaned.
I'VE are punctured!' cried Agatha. Il,
was too true. At the foot of steep hill they
dismounted, their tires f1abby, shapeless
useless. Fitzclarence passed his hand over
the ground
"As thought he said bitterly, its thy
father that hath contrived this! He hath
scattered tin lacks broadcast over the road
to foil our attempt to escape! But we will
battle him.
For some minutes he worked his air pumps
in silence. SuddeT ly sound was heard at
which Agatha grew deathly pale. 1t was the
clear resonant note of bicycle bell!
I'VE are pursued she cried. Let US fly
Algernon."
I'VE cannot" said her practical lover, "the
tires are almost empty, We can but meet
our doom bravelyv
Louder and louder came the noise of whir-
ring wheels. Then-a whir, and the baron
GREATNESS. pale with terror, went by them
like a flash of lightnngi Fitzclarence under
stood in moment what had happened. The
baron was but an unskillful rider and had
allowed his machine to run away with him
down the hill!
To stop him was impossible. He went
along the highway for thirty-two and a half
miles. and then, with last despairing yell,
he vanished over the cliff. still seated on his
steed, and was buried beneath the waves
of the English channel So Fftzclarenee and
Agatha returned to the castle and lived hap
PLY ever after.