VI.—AN ACCIDENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2130, 20 December 1894, Page 12

VI.— AN ACCIDENT.

Midway between the course and the station thc-ra is considerable bustle and excitsment. An accident has occurred. A ■waggonette, turned upside down, liea in a ditch, and a groom with battered hat and mud-bespattered clothes leads away a pair of ttcuiblitig, snorting horses. On the grass by the wayaide lies the inanimate form of Polly Harper. The local doctor kneels beside her, aa a number of ladies and gem lemon stand around in pltyiuft BileEC'-. " I'm afraid her Injuries are very serious ; let us remove her as gently as possible to the homesteud," remarked the dootor. "Polly was lilted a» tenderly as could be into a light-runuiag waggon, and ere long was Boon placed iv her bed, where the doctor attended to her.

" A very bad accident indoed, Boyd ; conctission of the brain, I am afraid," said the medico as he came out of the room. "We must have absoluta quietness." "Very well, dootor; your orders wi'l bo attended to. Poor little Polly," he mattered as ha Btrode away to inform the household of the doocor'a orders.

On returning to inquire if the doctor would have any refresh mant, ha was informed that none was required, and also that the doctor would remain by his patient throughout the night, and preferred that no one should enter the room unless called for by him. " Very well, doctor ; Mrs Boyd and myself will be in the drawing room should you raqulre us. We persuaded Lilly to go to bed", as Bhe was quite upset," whereupon Mr Boyd retired. The doctor folded his arms as he stood watohing the patient. 11 And do pretty Polly Harper ia a man I" ha soliloquised. " Here's ago I I hope I'm doing right In hiding the facS from Boyd; but I'll wait and see how Pully progresses before taking uny definite step." He thereupon sat down and perused a book to while away the time.

About 2 o'clock in the morning Polly became restlec-s, and to tho surprise of the dootor showed signs of returning consoiouaness.

The doctor walked towards the bed, and when he reached his patient and placed his hand on Polly's forehead, he remarked : " Well, Miss Harper ; how do you feel?" , a Polly's eyes opened, and as she recognised the dootor she said : " Ob, I remember now, doctor. There was an scoideafc. Am I badly hurt ? I can't move at all." " Oh, you will soon be up and about again. You have only had a bit of a shake-," replied the dactor.

" Doctor, can I takfl you Into my conffclones? lYe a secret— if you have not already fathomed It," aaid Polly. 11 1 must request you not to bother about seorets at present. Take a spoonful of this, end compose yourself," said the dootor* 11 No, I will not take a drop of medicine or compose myself until you have listened to my eeorefc and promised not to divulge! it. Will you promise, dootor i " "Very well," replied the doctor In att annoyed tone. " Make it brief." Polly then Eaid: "Aa you are by this time no doubt aware, I am a man in the ditgulse of a woman," and Polly waited as if to hear an expression of surprise flora the doctor, but none being forthcoming, she; oontinuedi ''Oh l I was right j you know already."

Tho doctor nodded.

"Well, I wilt tell you how it cams aboirt. I was a ebipmat* wltb one Ernest Dal& who iflLULjoiflL _witii_MlssL Boy?L and whd

came out to obtain Mr Boyd's consent to their marriage, but on his Arrival here he tecelved a curt • No,' and was sent about his business. I awaited his return to Danedin from his fruitless visit, and when he came back he wa* well nigh mad. A day or two afterwards Boyd advertised for a governess, &nd Dale suggested the mad idea that I should apply for the situation, I was not very strong, and was ill-fitted for the roughing of colonial life, 00, af t«r mnch pressing, I oonsented. 'Watch over my interests, Charlie,' said he, ' and if that Haggitt presses hl9 suit too hard let me know. I will go away to the diggings, and if I am successful I will come to the station at Christmas, and once more endeavour to obtain Boyd's consent, and if I do not then obtain it, we will get married without it. 1 He promised to write to me occasionally, and since I havo been here I have received several letters from him. He has made quite a fortune, and as it is only a fortnight till Christmas, he will Boon be here. Now, doctor, get me well as Soon as you can, so that I Bhall be able to got away before they discover my fraud, and for all tiie Ernest Dales in the world never again will I don the petticoats." " Well, Polly," said the doctor— l suppose I may be so familiar now as to address you by your Christian name— it was indeed a most silly freak of yours, and what object your friend had in suggesting it. for tha life of me I cannot comprehend. I thought at first your injuries were of a seriouß nature, h,ut evidently it waa only a severe shock. A d&y or two should see you about. Yob may rely upon it that I will not divulge your secret."

Polly, as we shall continue to call bim, expressed hia gratitude, and »fc the doctor's request he took a dose of medicine and was soon sound asleep. A O3upla of days after Polly was able to move about with tho aid of a c-jtipie of sticks, and on the recommendation of the doctor the following day ho set off by train for Danedin on a holiday — than meant never to return — or not as Polly at anyrate.