THE BOOK OF FOLLY

NZ Truth, Issue 1212, 21 February 1929, Page 4

THE BOOK OF FOLLY

Ilkfated Romance of Chauffeur and Maid CMS STORY BELIEVED

(From "N.Z. Truths* Special Dunedin Representative)

He was a private chauffeur, and she was the maid at a fashionable suburban villa. The routine of the .young man's duties brought them together. What simple- and ideal material to inspire the sentimental novelist 1 But when reality is the writer, he writes sometimes with a harsh pen, and Youth is put through many dark chapters.

IP the kitchen meetings between John Brown and Julia Carey had not led to their overstepping the bounds of discretion, all would have' been well, but, as it is now, the young couple's blighted romance must go as another page to be placed between 1 the covers of the book of youthful folly. It is three years since Thomas Brown came into the girl's life. As chauffeur for a relative of the girl's mistress, Brown's duties took him often to the residence at St. Clair where she was employed as a domestic. From the thoughtful gesture of a proffered cup of tea came the inevitable tetfi-a-tete. Later, on the girl's nights off duty, the gardens became (a favorite trysting-plaee for lovers' whispers. What then may have seemed to the girl soft "moments m love's young dream, became very prosaic matter in' the course of justice, when it was told to Mr. 11. W. Bundle, S.M., at the Dunrrtin maintenance court, and Thomas lVown w.ia adjudged the father of the girl's three-months-old son. A fresh-complexioned, well-dressed girl of twenty-four years, Miss Carey was conducted through her evidence by Mr. J. B. Thomson. Mr. A. C. Hanlon defended. , Speaking of the early period of her-acquaintance with Brown, Miss Carey said that she often came Into his company through his calling to take her mistress out for a motor drive. > Their acquaintance developed into a ••walking out" friendship, and Brown yraa m the habit of taking her to the

Gardens on such occasions as her situation allowed her time off. She then gave details m support of her application. To Mr.-Hanlon, she stated that she had been out with Brown several times after March 13 of last year. Evidence by the girl's mother was to the effect that her daughter had not betrayed any sign which would load to suspicion as to her state of health. , It was usual for the girl, on her weekly half-day, to assist her mother with the home washing. This work she had completed as usual, five days before the child was born. .On interviewing Brown on behalf of her daughter, Mrs. Carey was told that he was ju6t going to see a girl friend off by the train. He asked her .if the baby was "a nice little chap." Brown denied the greater part of the girl's story. " : He admitted that he had ■ been intimate with her, but not within a period whereby he could be cited as the father of the child born last No- | veraber. [ Having become very friendly, with a | young 1 lady from Geraldine, he had ceased keeping company with Miss Carey as far back as June, 1927. In summing up,- His Worship remarked that he had no alternative but to believe the girl's evidence. Brown, therefore would be adjudged the father ' of the child and ordered to pay 15/- a week maintenance, with £8/5/- past I expenses.