EARL’S JOKE.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIII, 23 May 1922, Page 5

EARL’S JOKE.

FLUTTER WITH MERRY WIDOW

Per Press Association—Copyright.

LONDON, May 21. The young Earl of Kinnoull, aged 20 sailed tor South Africa, allegedly as the outcome of a love entanglement. *

According to the story he told interviewers, he met Mrs Elrie Culcie Irewartha, otherwise known as Miss Surle, widow, aged 25, a few weeks ago. and as a result of the acquaintance he went to the registry offie, but the registrar informed him that he could not marry without the consent of one of his guardians, as he was a minor. x

He declared he meant it for a joke, but when the registrar wanted to see his birth certificate, he thought the joke had gone far enough. Lord Kinnoull added that he liked the lady, but had no intention of marrying her.

PACKED OFF TO SOUTH AFRICA. He is paying for the joke because his mother is packing him off to South Africa.

Miss Surle told an interviewer that she certainly did not regard it as a joke, and was amazed to think that the Earl did. They had had a real round of pleasure together, and found each other most congenial company. ■

They kept the engagement secret, and she gave notice of marriage at the Registry Office. She did not know the Earl was a minor. She described him as “George Hay, 23, insurance agent.” TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH. Miss Surle expressed her determination of sailing for South Africa by the same boat as the Earl. The Earl’s mother, in the meantime, took steps to prevent this.

She told interviewers that if Miss Surle joined the steamer the Earl would walk off. She described the affair as a silly boyish escapade. The Earl had told her he never intended to marry Miss Surle. The Earl’s party joined the steamer with stacks of luggage, keeping a sharp lookout, and prepared to leave if the lady appeared. Miss Surle failed to appear. Before the steamer sailed for South Africa it was stated that Miss Surle left by the night boat for Paris, with the allegedly declared intention of meeting the Earl nt Madeira.