Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1899-03-11
THE FATE WHEEL.

THE FATE WHEEL.
II was certainly an unfortunate mo-
ment for John Castle to choose to put
his fate to the touch. for Kate Manners
was in the mood to turn on her dearest
friend. and the sight of John Castle Of
all persons was calculated to loosen her
tongue considerably.
Leila Castle and Kate Manners were
students ut the Datchley Art school.
Leila living at home with her family
rooms alone 1t had been pleasant for
Kate as she grew To know Leila better
to enlivcn her days by accepting the
hospitality which the Castle family
offered They We're kind to the lonely
little student. and she was grateful
But lattcrly Kate had noticed with
drawal of the hospitality. Mr.. and Mrs.
Castle bowed chilly when they met
her. Leila became too busy to talk. and
John. Leila brother seemed the only
one who remained cordial His cordiali-
~. indeed. Kate was forced to admit,
had decidedly increased and she found
II 10y no means unpleasant. though she
frettcd and wondered over the others
Then came the afternoon when Leila
dropped in to tea. and while pretending
TO wax confidential had lashed Kate :
pride ana temper The subject of Leila 5
confidence had been John 5 matrimonial
hopes and plans. or rather the hopes
and plans of the Castle family with re-
gard to John
From hopes and plans Leila had then
drifted on To- II description. more real
stic than polite of the style of girl
who often sOught To marry John hut
who would never he welcomed. nor in
decd tolerated by her parents or herself.
from which point she slipped oI To hints
of the actual :i:l they all hoped and
felt sure JOHN would soon present to
them as his future wife Then she took
her dcpartur"
Kate Ciinchcd her hands as she sat
thinking over tl:c ugly word picture
that Leila had drawn If herself rs the
artful. worldly entanglcr of Johns af
fcctions She could he scornful as well
as they She Bat Il kifock ut the door
interrupted her angry musings.
DIR Castle to see you. miss said
the maid and there stood Jchn himso'f
He did not beat about the bush lie
had come to ask Kate To- he his wife.
and he went straight To the point He
took the chair nearest to her. and he
leaned forward and told his tale with
his love shining in his eyes. But he
WAS not prepared for the wrath and
misery in the face which she turned ON
him wh'n he paused
''Do you think | would marry man
whose people would not tolerate mey"
she asked in passionate scurn.
john started in amazCmcnt Then the
recollection Of some home speeches to
which he had listened lately sent the
blood to his face
Don't talk in that way. Kate. my
darling. he pleaded. Nothing mat
ters if you love me.
Love you," she cried II think
hate everybody i'll the world-you and
them and myself :
w ldt Nv Npu IiItdH ne DuISt OUT
What have they-what have done r.
Tell mel" she turned on him furi-
ously. Would your father and mother
and sister welcome me as your wife,"
John hesitated. He was naturally
truthful
lyon know they would not. she
continued. lyon know they would de-
test me and do all in their power to pre-
vent such marriage and do You think
| would fling myself at them as you
ask y
But. Kate. dear Kate. it is mad
ness
"Go away. she commanded II will
not have yau here. ! am going to cry.
but am not going to yield. and tell
you to go.
John had not been in the room half
an hour. and he wanted to stay longer.
but. having issued her commands. Kate
gave him no option She went quickly
into the inner room and locked the
door So john WAS forced to 20. but the
love and rage III his heart We're fierce.
How Kate spent the hours which fol-
lowed most women know without being
told how John spent them most men
can guess. hut in the morning one idea.
nj any rate. inspired them both. though
their motives appear To- have been wide
apart. for they both wheeled Cut their
bicycles and mounted them
Then TIN. div, rgcucc of their motives
was apparent Kate. starting off inn
pulSively down the stretch of the road
in which sh" lodged. longing only to
get away from everybody. realized sud-
denly that the figure iii the distance
which had jast turned the corner was
the figure of John Castle. and without
hesitation she wheeled about and sped
the other way
That John was coming To see her she
felt sure. but she devoutly hoped that
he had not caught sight of her
Thc roads were slushy. but the air was
still. and the wild strength She brought
10 b'ar upon her pedals sent her flying
over the ground She realized. however.
that the roads were no worse and the
cir was equally favorable TO John if he
chose to follow. and her anxiety became
intense.
AS she turned into the busier roads
she was forced to slackcn pace. and the
hiu;lrance set her fuming. She S;Iw hi
cycles coming toward her and through
the clattcr of carts and feet she seemed
to hear the ''swish of Others following
her. but she dared not turn her head 10
see if the one she dreaded was among
them
After awhile. however. she left the
clatter Of traffic behind her and the re-
lief Of the quiet was very great. In
time. though. she grew accustomed to
it, and as she sped on her ears or her
Imagination became conscious of the
"swish of bicycle still following
The pace at which she was going be-
gan To distress her Her muscles seemed
To he contracting. her breath came pain
fully She remembered that after the
level stretch came u sharp downward
slope, and after that a hill. mp which it
would bc impossible for her To ride. She
was growing desperate She dared not
face John. for She could not RELY upon
her strength She was angry. mortified.
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