A DOUBLE EVENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 1848, 22 April 1887, Page 26

A DOUBLE EVENT.

(Licensed Victuallers' Gazette.) Things certainly looked gloomy for Arthur Vincent as he sat in the Raglan Club smok-ing-room one cold January day. He was head over ears in debt ; his uncle, from whom he had expectations, declined to assist him further, and he had just heard from Messrs Centage and Co., the West End financial agents, that his friend, Charles Gonlon, whose bills he had backed for £2000, had bolted. Vincent's life had been spent like many others. He had come into a nice property on his father's death, but the turf and general extravagances had nearly swamped the lot. He was now 27 years of age, and though he was a fine rider, had three or four good horses, and a few hundreds still left in the bank, how he was to get on until his uncle died he did not know. He was, however, a man of quick resolutions, and at once made up his mind to accept an invitation from an old friend of his father's, Colonel Harcourt, to visit him in Ireland for some hunting. A fortnight later he was located in the Emerald Isle. Colonel Harcourt was one of the best of good fellows, a sportsman all over, and a thorough man of the world. He was a widower, his only child, a daughter, keeping his house. Miss Havcourt was a fine horsewoman, and she was generally in the first flight with the Kildare. In a very few days the Colonel and Vincent had become great friends, and the latter was quickly an admirer of Miss Grace. It was not long before Vincent unburdened all his troubles to his host. He told him about his pecuniary position, of his debts, the unfortunate bill transaction now pending, and many other minor details that a fortnight back would have been kept to himself ; and as the Colonel was not free from financial trouble himself, he found him a sympathising listener. Times were bad in Ireland, he could not get his rents in, and a Dublin solicitor, named Kelly, held a .mortgage upon his place, Ballygany, for £1500. Ono evening, a month after Vincent's ayrival. he ;uirl Colonel Uaroonrl were sitting over their wine after dinner, wln-u the conversation turned upon Punchestowu, aud whether one of Vincent's horses, The Belle, was quite good enough' to pick up a race at the meeting. Th<? Colonel had a mare in the stable named Eileen that he thought highly of, although in reality she belonged to Miss Harcourt, and was her favourite mount. "When I was in Dublin three months back," remarked the Colonel, " I accepted 25 to lin ' ponies ' that I won the Hunt Cup at Puncbestown with Eileen, That moneylending fellow, Kelly, laid me the bet. What annoyed me greatly was that the scamp had the audacity to propose for the hand of my daughter. He also tried to bribe me by offering to lay me 30 • ponies ' thai her husband did not ride the winner of the Hunt Cup on Eileen. To give the fellow his due, he is a very fine horseman, and lie was not at all unlikely to do both. Just at that time young O'Brady was madly in love with Grace, and as he is a good horseman, and I imagined he was about to propose, I accepted the bet. When he asked the question a week later, my girl refused him pointblank, and therefore I have' as good as lost one of my bets already." "Excuse me, Colonel Harcourt," quickly replied Vincent, " you have not lost both of your bets. You know my family ; my father was your friend, and, although I am comparatively penniless at the present time, my uncle's estate must come to me on his death. He also promises to assist me if I will marry a lady of good social position that he approves of. I flatter myself that an offer on my part would not be unfavourably received by your daughter* and if we are married

quickly I can ride Eileen at Panchestown and try to win your bets." " Beajly, my boy," exclaimed the Colonel, " you quite take my breath away ; but I will at once say that if the lady is willing, I on my part would be delighted to accept you as a son-in-law." After this Vincent was not very long before he knew his fate, and, as was only to be expected, it was favourable. For various reasons it was considered expedient that the | engagement should be kept secret. As Pnnchestown Steeplechases were fixed as usual for April, it was decided that the marriage should take place in London about the middle of March-, and that, after a short honeymoon, Vincent shonld return and take up his quarters at Ballygany about a fortnight before the meeting began. In the meantime the horses were to be trained, and every preparation made for the big race that was to set both the Colonel and Vincent on their legs once more. It was also arranged that Vincent's mare, The Belle, should also ■ be entered in the Hunt Cup in addition to' Eileen, and that while Vincent should ride Colonel Harcourt's mare, young O'Brady should be on the back of The Belle. It was the latter's duty to make the. running and ensure a strong pace, as Eileen was a thorough stayer. Early in March Vincent left Ballygany and returned to London, and Colonel Harcourt and his daughter soon followed. In the ! meantime Vincent had communicated with his uncle, who not only gave his consent to the match, but congratulated his nephew on his good sense. The wedding was quiet, and took place from Colonel Harcourt's brother's house. A week only was devoted to the honeymoon, and then Vincent and his wife left England for the Old Country. When Vincent returned from his wedding tour he remained in Dublin two or three days. On the first evening he went into the Club in Sackville street for a few minutes with Colonel Harcourt, and there they met Kelly (the solicitor before mentioned), who had not heard of the marriage. Of course the conservation turned upon the approach ing steeplechase, and the Colonel was asked how Eileen was going on, and whether she would win. He expressed his opinion that the mare was very well, and he hoped so. " I'll bet you twenty * ponies,' or • fifties,' whichever you like, that Eileen is not successful," said Kelly. "All right," answered Colonel Harcourt, booking the bet ; " I'll take you in 1000 to 50." " I will do it again," said Vincent to Kelly, taking out his betting book; " in fact, if you like, Mr Kelly. I- will double all the Colonel's bets with you.". " You will, will you ? " eagerly, replied' Kelly. "If you will put it down in writing I shall be only too happy." The bets were put down in writing, and then Kelly asked who was going to ride Eileen. On being told that Vincent was, he remarked : "Then, Colonel Harcourt, you have lost' one of your bets, and I Have also won a bet off Mr Vincent, as he agreed to double all the bete that you had with me." " Dear me," laughingly replied the Colonel, " you are very sharp ; but I shall not agree that I have lost the bet until the race is decided, as no one can tell what might happen at the last moment. I shall keep you out of your money, Kelly, as long as I can." At last the eventful day arrived. In all there was an entry of 29 for the Hunt Cup. Four of these were from a well-known training stable at the Curragh, and, naturally, one of them was the favourite. This was The Chieftain, a big chestnut horse that had plenty of speed, having won several races on the flat, though this was his first attempt over a country. Kelly had entered two horses, one of them being a new purchase from England that rumour said was very smart. The Dublin solicitor rode this animal — a colt he called The Fenian — himself; whilst one of the Baileys, a member of the well-known steeplechase family of that name, rode Home Rule, who was reported to be the second string. Then there were two from Limerick, and a horse from Galway that was thought to have a great chance if he could only negotiate the course in safety. Colonel Harcourt drove over with his daughter on the morning, whilst Vincent had taken Eileen .and The Belle to a quiet farmhouse near the course the day before. Both were wonderfully fit and well, and as Eileen had given Vincent's mare a stone and beaten her in a trial a week before, it was thought" by her immediate friends that the chances were greatly in her favour. The Hunt Cup was the third race on the card, and after the other two bad been decided, the numbers were telegraphed, and the jockeys weighed out for the event in question. There were 16 runners, and The Chieftain was made a good favourite at. 4to 1. The fielders offered "7to 1 bar I ."' :i * which price several found friends, amongst them being Eileen. Perhaps the second favourite in the lot was • Kelly's The Fenian, the Dublin solicitor having backed his horse to win him a tremendous lot of money. The horse certainly looked remarkably well, and Kelly, as he swung himself into the saddle, looked a workman all over. There was not a long delay at the post. At last the flag fell, and the cry "They're off ! " echoed across the country. Young O'Brady, who was riding The Belle, at once raced to the front, and took the field along at a merry lead. Two or three outsiders followed him, the favourites remaining together in the ruck. At the third fence The Belle led four lengths, and here two came to grief, one rolling over the other. All the others were jumping well, now that their blood was up. It promised^to be a very exciting race, as when half the distance was covered a dozen horses still remained^in, and all were going well. The -Belle still cut out the way. The Fenian lying two lengths in her rear, with Eileen and the favourite on either side at his quarters. Eileen was jumping splendidly, and as the leaders cleared the bank, she raced up to her stablecompanion, as she was nearly pulling Vincent out of the saddle, so full was she of running. Six furlongs from home The Belle dropped back beaten, and' the fayourite falling at the drop fence, left Eileen,' The Fenian; -his stable companion, Home Rule, and Cbancel-

lor, the Galway horse, with, the- race between, them. Even now the people were yelling ♦•• The Fedian- wins ! " " The Fenian wins ! " as Kelly- let him have his head, and he Game, racing on. in, front; Vincent had not moved on Eileen ; as yet, arid he lay with his horse's" head at the leader's girths. . Jnst before the last hurdle Vincent called on Eileen, and the two -leaders. r rose at the jump together. The spectators . were shouting " Eileen ! " " Eileen I." as they recognised Colonel Harcourt'a blue and white stripes," whilst The' Fenian's friends* also yelled loudly ,in his. cause. ■ As they galloped home together it was evidently a desperate struggle. Kelly was getting a little uneasy, and already his whip' was < at . >work, whilst Vincent was "niggling" at" his mount. Both jockeys' were^now hard at' it, wtyp and 'spur, and as the post was neared it was difficult' to see which had the advantage. Vincent rode a | fine race, and, bringing Eileen along in the last three ' strides, just won by a short head." It was an exciting struggle, and the cheeringwas immense/ Vincent rode back to scale, and soon the welcome «' All right ! " made ' known that the e'otip had been landed: ' Kelly bore his defeat in good part, bnt he had evidently been hard hit. ; . He was just approaching Colonel H,arcourt's carriage, when he heard a mutual friend remark :\ "I must congratulate' you, Mrs Vincent, on your husband's fine horsemanship." It was the first time that he had heard of, the marriage, an# he. could scarcely believe it. This majde the defeat all the sorer, and he was a heavy los,e£. Colonel Harcourt won £1375' from' Kejly, and a few hundreds besides, so that he was able to pay off. Kelly's mortgage. Vincent had gone a raker for Eileen, and as his winning stake was between £3000 and j£4ooo, Messrs Cetage and" Company did not have to wait much longer for their money. , ■