VII.—CHRISTMAS AT ROMNEY DOWNS STATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2130, 20 December 1894, Page 13

VII.— CHRISTMAS AT ROMNEY DOWNS STATION.

It is the day bofore Christmas, and great preparations are being mace at the homestead, la tbe kitchen the ladies are busy prepariog dainties, whilst; outside Boyd and two of his men are busily tcgagad decorafcirg tbo verandah with evergreen?. The lad who rides for the station mail deposited a bundle of letters on the verandah Eteps, al the same time drawing Mr Boyd's attention to tbe fact.

Mr Boyd ceaeed hia labours and ghnced hurriedly over the envelopes. One be held out from th« others, and as he pernsed the address a scowl crept, o'or hia features, and bo mattered to himself, " From that d d Dalai"

Lilly at this moment caroe out on to the verandah and *skod her father to ooms in and have a cap of tea. " Here's a l&ttor for yon," said her father in a gruff voice. "You will probably recognise tbe bawl writing." Lilly took the letter, and as she glanced at the address h»r oolonr came and went, and with an appealing look in her eyes &be gazed at her father as much as to inquire, " You are not asgry, are you father ? " " I thought you had done with that fellow, Lilly. I tell you again I will never content to your marriage with him " ; arid turning on hia" heel he entered the hou cc to partake of a cop of tea. Lilly sought tbe privacy of h*r bedroom, and with pearly war* flowing down her obeeks and palpitating heart she read that Ernest ■would reaoh tho station on the morrow (Christmas Day) for the purpose of once more interviewing her father. On reading this h»r heart waa filled with sorrow, for she feared her father would give poor Ernest a very warm reception. Tho reader will recollect that on the night prior to the races a man accosted Mr Boyd, and gave him tho information that hia colt was to be pulled for the DeTby. Well, LtfJy was disturbed In her reflections by this tame Individual knocking loudly at the front door and asking for Mr Boyd. Lilly called her father, and be, after bearing from the horsey individual tbat he had some useful information to impart, invited him into the house.

It is unnecessary to reoord the conversation that took place between the two men, but when the horsey man departed he jingled a ootiple of sovereigns in bis pocket, bolug tbe purchase money received from Boyd for a letter which the latter now folded safely away In bis pocket-book. This is what the letter contained j Peak station, November 1, 1869.

W. Leech, Esq., Bookmaker.

Dear Sir, — Re our conversation in connection with Boyd'a colt for the Derbly. He did & trial of 2.46 yesterday morning, so it will be necessary to make sure of the riu> r, »s if he has a fair go he muit win. As I told you before, I fametbeat bim, and you know our contract; only do not let ibbe kcownthat I am at the back of it. Carry tut the game successfully, end you will bo well paid for your pains — Yours truly, Frank Ha.ggt.tt.

This letter came at a most opportune time. It greatly assisted Ernest's chance. Mr Boyd could hardly believe hia eyes as he read it.

The fact of tho matter waß that Haggltt had proposed to Lilly and been refused. He wrongly came to the ooncldMon that the refusal was In some way due to Mr Boyd; hence his arrangement to " fix " the Derby colfc. To make a longstmy Bhort, Ernest arrived next day, partook of an excellent Christmas dinner, interviewed the pater in the af tertoooD was successful, and the marriage was fixed' for the following week in Dunedin. Tbe event duly came of, "Polly" aoting as best man. Tba few days he had been in Dunedin was sufficient to allow of a slight growth of whißkere, therefore It was not for •ome months after that Mr and Mrs Boyd learnt that Polly, the jockey who rode Pica, and Charlie Raes— the three in one— was the Mad Maiden.

♦ # * Seasonable.— Old Ladyi **I just called, mem, to thank you for the kind precent you fiftVe we last Cltttetmafi.* fiint taken*.*