HUGO'S FATE

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 17, 21 January 1933, Page 3 (Supplement)

HUGO'S FATE

The errand-boy was unloading liis basket at the door of the fiat.

"I shan't be coming any more, miss," he said. "But why?" asked Miss Archibald. She and her sister liked Hugo very much; he was so polite, and he always remembered to bring all they ordered. They had found out that what Hugo liked best was not tearing about on his bicycle, but gardening; and the Archibald sisters had lent him some books 011 the subject. "I can't be an errand-boy all my life," said Hugo, longing to confide in this golden-haired young lady who was taking the packets of rice and salt- and sugar from" him so energetically. "I'm sixteen, and I must do something else. Gardening I'd like to do, but people are sending away their men. Still, I'm going to look about. I leave the stores' 011 Monday." "As a matter of fact, we are leaving the flat ourselves very soon," observed Miss Archibald. "Wc have had a very good oil'cr for it for a year, and have decided to go to the Scilly Islands. Our tenants can't coma in for a month. Nelly, come here I" And one Miss Archibald called to another Miss Archibald. "We want a caretaker here, don't we? Hugo is leaving his job. I wonder if lie would come in and light fires occasionally and see that the flat is aired and re-address letters." "I'll be your caretaker, then," cried Hugo, and his broad face beamed with pleasure. That these ladies should trust him to look after their flat! "Just for a month, Hugo. Our new tenants arrive then. We won't be backfor a year at least. We are going to live on Brylier." "Where's that, miss?" "A charming little island in the Scilly group. We're going to read and paint. We have had a cottage lent us. It's, prettier even than this, Hugo," and Miss Archibald waved to the distant Surrey hills. Hugo hoped anxiously they would come back. His parents were dead, and these ladies had been extraordinarily kind to the lonely lad. Anxiously did he keep the flat clean, twice every day. After his fruitless search for work as a gardener's lad he would proudly let himself in with the latchkey with which they had entrusted him. Three weeks passed. Then Hugo was offered another job, to take round the milk. His little stock of money was wearing down, but he recoiled at the idea of work that led nowhere. Restless and dissatisfied, lie could not stay in his dull lodging one evening, and found himself going up to sec the flat for tlie third time that day. His heart, nearly stopped beating as lie let himself in. A bright light showed itself under Miss Archibald's bedroom door. Burglars! Well, here was chance to do something for the ladies. He flung open the door, prepared to fall upon anybody who should touch the big trunk that stood by tlic window. A lady was kneeling beside it—not a Miss Archibald, but an older lady, so pleasant-looking that as she glanced round Hugo knew at once she must be a friend and 110 thief. "Oh, I hope I didn't frighten you," she said. "You are the caretaker, of course. Miss Archibald has asked me to go down to Bryher arid take some of her things. I was coming round to see you later. They sent me a latchkey. I've a message for you." "Yes, ma'am," said the boy, and bis face lit up with pleasure. It was good, in a world where nobody wanted any gardening done, that somebody should remember his existence. "Miss Archibald is starting bulbgrowing 011 her cottage ground, and if you aren't suited with a job she would pay your fare to tlie island and take you on. You could come with me. I star: on Friday. What do you say 1" Hugo was silent with the rush of sudden ecstasy. But she read his answer in the honest blue eyes that were never afraid to look at a piece of work waiting to he tackled.