SILLY GIRL: TRUE LOVER.

NZ Truth, Issue 72, 3 November 1906, Page 6

SILLY GIRL : TRUE LOVER.

The Romance of the Wheel-whizzer.

This is a Christohurch romance, and relates to the love of a man for a maid even though she had got into dire trouble over some thieving business. He "turned up at court on two occasions, and intimated, through solicitor Salter, that he would pay the parson a fee if he was permitted to take his girl out of the hands of the police. And she was a fine girl too ; a tall, stately petticoat-wearer of not a few charms. She answered to the name of Edna Susie Carruthers', but incidently had another name —Thackeray, but why "Thackeray" writer dunno. Some women pick on, aliases just m as haphazard a way as they pick losers at a race meeting, or mugs on the side-walk. However, Edna Susie is gifted with the bicycle lifting habit, and got away with a couple belonging to two Christchurch dealers-^ J. *T. Brice and Thos. Boyd. One machine was worth nine fluid, and the other fifteen. The handsome accused wanted some lubricating oil, and .popped them'; Then

SHE STRUCK TROUBLE, . or trouble struck her— it doesn't matter which. Lawyer Salter could not say much m explanation of the girl's freak, and it soon leaked out that Carruther's antecedents weren't altogether satisfactory. The polioa stated that, and the Bench, which was occupied by Mr Bishop, appeared to be aware of the ominous fact al-. sp. What the misguided young lady's antecedents were wasn't disclosed— x which is perhaps just as well for herself—but it is known that she comes from Wanganui, and that she -has been gfettmg a jew quid a week from her people. Anyhow, there is no visible reason why she should work. The S.M., on being asked to let her get spliced to the gent who loves her with such wholebeartedness, said m stern tones that he couldn't allow people like her to trade on people's credulity ; she would have to be treated on ordinary lines. There was less excuse m her case than m that of others for her crime. The accused had stayed at different places, and everywhere she stayed the record was baid against her. Her residence m Christchurch had extended only over seven weeks, and he wanted to know a little more about her. The case was adjourned, and

SILLY, SAUCY SUSIE ■ was released m a bond of £100, which her lover is, understood to have ■signed, Bishop, S.M., had seen .the, girl after: Arrest and had spoken /to her when fixing bail ; : so he formed same opinion about her. When the adjourned case came on' it. was; stated by Mr Salter that the girl was only 22 years of age.

"Is that true?" asked Mr Bishop ; "she has told me so many stories that I scarcely know what to believe; I don't want to send her to gaol if she intends leading an honest, • respectable life. Her lover wishes to marry her. Well; I will give him an opportunity of considering the matter from every standpoint ; it is for him to say. I won't be' responsible fpr anything that may happen m the future. He must be a free agentmust know what he is doing, so I will convict and remand her for sentence, and if he marries her well •and good, nothing more will likely 1 he heard about it." ' .= ■■■■

So the case stood over once again, and the ardent lover, who is a well-known . Christchurch, vocalist, and who was at one time an athlete, is to be given the chance to think it over, and dream on it this week. The S.M. didn't want to force him into what may. be a most undesirable marriage .; hence his excellent wisdom 1 m keeping his decision over for a bit. A cronk matrimonial venture is about the worst venture a man can take on on G-od's earth ; still a girl like Carruthers may be as desirable as any m the long' run. But it's a very short run of goal, and if the old failing manifested itself again—and it. can't he extra old at 22 years— well, it would mean quod right enough. Whether it's kleptomania or common theft it generally, leads to the police court, whatever may happen afterwards. Love may be blind, but m the .present case some sort of tribute must be paid to the chap who ds doing his best to get his cirl— whom many would have discarded—out of her misfortune. And he is the son of a one-time judge., too. and cannot be classed as a silly -.juggins. ..■.';..,