The Florence daily tribune. (Florence, Colo.) 1898-1903, 1899-02-13
THE FATE WHEEL.


was in the mood 10 turn on her dearest
friend, ana the sight of John Castle of
all persons was calculated to loosen her
tongue considerably.
Leila Castle and Kate Manners were
students az the Datchley Art school
Leila living at home with her family
in Kelton road while Kate lived in
rooms alone. 1t had been pleasant for
Kate as she grew to know Leila better
to enliven 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 latteriy Kate had noticed with
drawul of the hospitality Mr.. and Mrs
Castle bowed chilly when they met
her. Leila became too busy to talk, and
John, Leila's brother, seemed the only
one who cInaiued cordial His cordiali-
ty indeed Kate was forced to admit,
had decidedly increased, and she found
it by no means unpleasant. though she
frettcd and wondered over the others
Then came the afternoon when Leila
dropped in 70 tea, and while pretending
to wax confidential had dashed Kate
pride and temper The subject of Leila
confidence had been John : matrimonial
hopes and plans, or rather the hopes
and plans of the Castle family with re-
gard 10 John
From hopes and plans Leila had then
dlifted on to a description. more real
istic than polite, Of the style of girl
who often sought to marry John, but
who would never he welcomed, nor in
deed tolerated 10y her parents or herself,
from which point she slipped ON TO hints
of the actual girl they all hoped and
felt sure John wunld soon present to
them as his future wife. Then she took
her departure
Kate clinched her hands as she sat
thinking over the ugly word picture
that Leila had drawn of herself as the
artful, worldly entangler of Johns af
fections, She could be scornful AS well
as they She But ii knock at the door
interrupted her angry musings
DIR Castle to see you, miss, said
the maid. and there stood John himself.
He did not beat about the bush He
had come To ask Kate to be his wife,
and be 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 when he paused.
do yon think l would marry man
whose people would not tolerate mer'
she asked in passionate scorn.
john started in amazement Then the
recollection of some home speeches to
which he had listened lately sent the
blood 10 his face.
Don't talk in that way, Kate, my
darling, he pleaded. Nothing mat
tiers if you love me.
Love youl she cried. Il think
hate every body in the world-you and
them and myself "
What do you meanr'' he burst out.
What have they what have | doneg''
Tell mel she turned on him furi-
ously. Would Your father and mother
and sister welcome me as your wife2'
John hesitated He was naturally
truthful
You know they would not, she
continued. You know they would de-
test me and do all in their power 10 pre-
vent such marriage, and do you think
. would fling myself at them as you
ask r
''But, Kate, dear Kate, it is mad
ness
Go away. she commanded. Twill
not have You here. l am going to cry,
but am not going to yield. and tell
you To 90.
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 go. but the
love and rage in 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,
at any rate, inspired them both, though
their motives appear To have been wide
apart, for they both wheeled ont their
bicycles and mounted them.
Then the divergence of their motives
was apparent. Kate. starting off inn
pulsively down the stretch of the road
in which she lodged, longing only to
get away from everybody. realized sud
+. denly that the figure in the distance
which had just 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, bat she devoutly hoped that
he had not caught sight of her.
The roads We're slushy, but the air was
still and the wild strength she brought
to bear upon her pedals sent her flying
over the ground She realized, however,
that the roads were no worse and the
air was equally favorable 70 John if he