MAGGIE PAPAKURA.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 11303, 19 March 1912, Page 2

MAGGIE PAPAKURA.

GOING BAGK*TO ENGLAND. NOT ENGAGED TO A DUKE. AN AMUSING INTERVIEW. Under the heading of "The Siren of tho Springs,", the Sydney Bun publishes i> sketch written, in very extravagant terms, of Maggie Papakura, wJio is on a visit to Sydney, and an interview mostly about her engagement to an English aristocrat. The reporter, who surrounds Maggie with a halo of romauce, found the "hello of beautiful Kotorua," as he calls her, seated with some friends on the-broad verandah of a Pott's Point mansion "(tressed in a neat tailor-made costume aud wearing a smile of vast contentment with the whole world." The interview proceeds in this wise:— "lint you're not here tiy yoursell', of course, Maggie." ''OF course, i am.'' "Why. what have, you done, with him? 1 ' "Done, with whom?" "The duke, of course. "Don't you know that by this time you're .supnosed to be married to a duke, and to have become a member of the aristocracy of England. Don't ry and deny it. The cable! told us all about it mouths ago. If it. wasn't;! duke, it was an earl, or an archbishop, or something else pretty big. " Miss Maggie's laughter was musical and infectious, lint she answered not. "Come, come, this is not fair. Produce the goods. They are due. We know all about it. Bring nini out and let. Australia see him." "It's ali nonsense.," she. ejaculated, between loudly outspoken smiles. "And there isn't any duko'. J " A merry laugh that implied a negative—with an overwhelming discount —was all tho answer. "Isn't he even a dukeling, younger son to a lord or so, or—well, what sort of a gifted aristocrat is it? Don't keep us in suspense. It isn't fair. 'Jell us what your new name is to be,'' = Miss Maggie's laughter made the birds in the trees in front, chirrup in happy choru,-;. .She was Mushing, quite hotly, and there was a world of witchery peeping from behind the laughter <>f her dancing eyes. Mit to nyaie of the questions as to her report!™ engagement would she say straightforwardly ".No." And as'the belle of Roforua is very truth 9, itself—well, perhaps it is not "No." "And you escaped from New Zealand , :" , ; » The light laded at once, and the eyes became suddenly grave. i "We had trouble there. Yes. When 'we went home. The people were angry—it was. because we did not all I come home. And also that we came home poor, and not with the money that they all expected. Yes, it was a '■ bad reception. You see, twenty-two of out* people stayed behind to make the foitunes that we bad not made. They stayed against my wishes. There were six women amongst them. Four of these are married. The. other two live with their relatives, who also are ) staving on. But the people at home did' not like it. Ami our welcome back was sad. '" "What', was (lie matter with the trip to London': , " "The syndicate would not. send anyone over before v/e went, to till people we were going. Tiie.y Uuew ; nothing about it- till we got there. It " was all very stupid. A little expenditure in advance notices would have made such a big difference in our earnings, i>at I'll Jiever, never work for a syndicate 1 any more." " vYhy work for auvone any iiwri , ?" "1 don't think i will." 'said the Maori belle reflectively. "I shall never go back to my old work, of course. And no -1 will not have any more to do with shows—never. No, i think I'll go homo, after this holiday, and look after my mother's property at itotorua. Ah, lam a home bird! Then 1 is no place like home for me. It is so beautiful at home!" "More beautiful than London. Don't yon Like London.-, " "'Like it! , ' And the big eyes danced again. "No, I don't like it—l love it! There is no place in the world iiKe London! But it is all different there to the Springs. I love London. Love it ! .Love it, with all my heart and soul." "And will you go back?" Hero there was hesitmon. Then— "Yes, I tliink I will go back. I wish to." "Ah! Ha! Then there is truth in cabled communications, after all. And there is a duke " Again the merry laughter stirred the birds to melody. "You might notice" —and this was said with much deniurcness — "you might notice if yon are looking, that I am not wearing any rings. " "Urn. Sliould have done, so. But wasn't looking for any insignia of mere rings. It was a coronet that we all expected. And we'll be disappointed. However—well, you are going hack. That in itself is " "Don't jump to conclusions, ft isn't fair. 1 say that no one could go to London and not want to return." "Of course not. The English aristocracy " "But I tell you lie isn't " "Never said he was. It was the cable man said that. And he " "Yes, and he is ■" "Well, you say it. I don't like to. But " ' ' I "But you are going back?" | The quiet eyes gleamed. "Yes, I think I wiii go back, aftterwards — after I get my business finished.