WOMAN'S WORLD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 222, 18 March 1912, Page 8

WOMAN'S WORLD

(Conducted by "Eileen.") MAGGIE PAPAKURA. GOING BACK TO ENGLAND. NOT ENGAGED TO A DUKE. Sydney, March 5. Under the heading of "The Siren of the Springs," the Sun publishes a sketch written, in very extravagant terms, of Maggie Papakura, who 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 romance, found the "belle of beautiful Rotorua." as he calls her, seated with some friends on the broad verandah of a Pott's Point mansion "dressed in a neat tailor-made costume and wearing a smile of vast contentment with the whole world." The interview proceeds in this wise:— "But you're not here by yourself, of course, Magcfie?" "Of course I am." "Why, what have you done with j him?" "Done with whom?" "The duke, of course."

"Don't you know that by this time you're supposed to be married to a duke, and to have become a member of the aristocracy of England. Don't try .to deny it. The cable told us all about it months ago. Tf it wasn't, a duke, it was an earl, or an archbishop, or something else pretty big." Miss Maggie's laughter was musical and infectious. But she answered not. "Come, come, this is not fair. Produce the goods., Tliev are due. We know all about it. Bring him out and let Australia see him." "It's all nonsense," slio' ejaculated, between loudly outspoken smiles. "And there isn't any duke?" A merry laugh that implied a negatice —with an overwhelming discountwas all the 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. Tell Us what your new name is to be!" Miss Maggie's laughter made the birds in the trees in front chirrup in happy chorus. She was blushing, quite hotly, and there was a world of witchery peeping from behind the .laughter of her dancing eyes. But to none of the questions as to her reported engagement would she say straightforwardly "No." And as the belle of Rotorua is very truth itself—well, perhaps it. i 3 not "No." "And you escaped from New Zealand?"

| The light faded at once, and the eyes I became sudden]/ grave. I "We had trouble there, yes. When |we went home. The people were angry J —it was because we did not all 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 uf our people stayed behind to make the ■ fortunes that we had 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 staying on. But the people at home did not like it. And our welcome back was 1 sad." "What was the matter with the trip to London?" "The syndicate would not send anyone over before we went to tell people >ve were going. They knew nothing about it till we got there. It was all very stupid. A little expenditure in advance notices would have made such a big differences in our earnings. But I'll never, never work for a syndicate ! any more." j "Why work for anyone any more!" "I don't think I will," said the Maori i belle reflectively. "I shall never go back I to my old work, of course. And no—l J will not have any more to do with j shows —never. No, I think I'll go hojne, after this holiday, and look after my I mother's property at Rotorua. Ah! I lam a home bird! There is no place like home for me. It is so beautiful at 'some!" "More beautiful than London? Don't you like London?" "Like it!" And the big eyes danced again. "No, I don't like it —I love it! ' There is no place in the world like Lon- | don! But 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!" Here there was hesitation. Then — "Yes, I think 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 demureness —"you might notice, if you were looking, that I am not wearing any rings." "'Um. Should 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 back. That in itself is " _ "Don't jump to conclusions. It isn t fair. I say that no one could go to London and not want to return." "Of course not. The English aristocracy " "But I teH you he isn't "Never said he was. It was the cable man said that. And he " "Yes, and he is " "Of course he is " "Well, you say it. I don't like to. But " "But you are going back?" The quiet eyes gleamed. "Yes, I think I will go back, afterwards—after I get my business finished."

WOMAN S FIGHT WITH LIONESS. A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE. A young actress had a terrible experience at Rouen, France, last month in a cage containing two lionesses. When M. Pierre Loiuse, the lion tamer, went to feed the animals he was accompanied by Mile. Julienne Lecauche, who said she would like to have the experience of entering the den. Despite the protests of the lion tamer, the actress got her way and accompanied the man into the cage. Hardly had she crossed the threshold when one of the lionesses sprang at her, felling her to the ground. The lioness began to claw the young woman's head and shoulders. With a struggle the actress got her arm free, and the lion tamer drove the animal into a corner. When dragged to safety Mile. Lecauche had not lost consciousness. She was taken to the hospital in a serious condition.