West Virginia daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1894-1902, 1898-09-08
PUFFENHAM'S RIDE.
WHY THE POOR OLD BOY DEVELOPED
INTO A SCoRcHeR.
Jealousy, tho Green Eyed Monster, Some-
times Does Kind Acts Unawares, and
Pufenhsm's Experience at Lest Put
Him In Condition For Scorehinx.

experience at Lest Put
Him In Condition For Scorehine.
To say that Mr. Puffenham was
merely amazed is TO give the Intelligent
reader but faint conception of the
state OF that gentleman's feelings. He
was staggered, absolutely staggered,
when on turning in at one end of the
peaceful thOroughfare in which he
abode the spectacle of Mrs Puffenham
and male companion hiking out at the
other met his astounded gaze. 1t was
true he was not expected for he had
returned from solitary cycling tour >
whole day earlier than he had originally
intended, but that little circumstance
did not tend to console him.
Who the deuce was Mrs. Puffenham' $
companion? She knew no one i'm the
nelghborhood, he was sure, for his wife
being young and pretty and Puffenham
middle aged and jealous he had DUR
poSely set his face against her making
friends'in the vicinity. And here she
was riding gayly about in his absence
with masculine and youthful cavalier
In attendancel Mr.. Puffenham told
himself that here was a mystery that
AclulISu lOOhluS lnVO at once
At this particular moment, as the
pair slowly turned the corner, the lady
half turned her head and glanced down
the road. Puffenham was too far off TO
see her give a start but start he felt
instinctively she did as she caught SIGHT
Of him. He saw her pedal to her com
panlon's side and apparently make
known the circumstances Of their dis
covery. The next moment both quicken
ed their pace and were gone out of
sight
Just for moment Mr.. Puffenham
hesitated His wife had never before
given him cause for distrust, but this
obvious attempt to avoid recognition
was open to the worst construction.
MIR. Puffenham resolved to give chase
For man of his weight and years he
was rot bad rider, and in couple of
minutes he was again in sight of his
quarry. But they, too, were evidently
on the alert The instant they awoke to
the fact that they were being pursued
they settled down to ride in real ear
nest, and Puffenham saw at once that
the chase would be long and stern.
But he was thoroughly reused now
and set his teeth and pedaled for all he
knew. The way lay mostly down hill,
and the pace they took him along was
terrific. The hedges flashed by, pedes-
TRANS scattered in alright, dogs barked,
and chickens and children ran wildly
from the track. Mile after mile they
sped on thus, yet try as he would the
distance between himself and the hunt
ed couple did not lessen.
Poor Putfenham's heart was beating
wildly, his head was in whirl, his
throat parched, and his eyes half blind.
ed with the flying dust But vengeance
urged him on, and just when he felt he
must at last give up the awful chase
fortune came to the rescue The lady's
machine suddenly slackened speed and
wabDled unsteadily, then it's rider Jump
ed from the saddle and bent over the
tire, while her companion also pulled
up. Hurrah, puncture!
Puffenham could afford to take his
time now, and in two minutes he had
swooped upon the pair, and
Yes, dear reader and discovered that
it wasn't Mrs. Pufenham at all, but
the newly engaged parlor maid, who
had borrowed both her mistress ma
chine and costume for the afternoons
trip with her intended and was natural
ly anxious to escape detection
Putfenham is now seriously consider.
Ing going into training for the amateur
long distance championship He thinks
he ought to stand "a very decent chance.
Ally Sloper.