"Oh Grannie, Grannie, Don't Let Them Take Me Away!" Is Mickie's" Cry

NZ Truth, Issue 1211, 14 February 1929, Page 7

"Oh Grannie, Grannie, Don't Let Them Take Me Away!" Is Mickie's" Cry

liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinuiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniuiiimiiiiiiiimiiiiiiimn 'THAT, m tabloid, is the story -which 1 covers the span of time between September 7, of last year, when the TJlimaroa left the wharf at Auckland, to the eighth day of last month, when Mlckie . and his grandmother, Mrs. Luff senior, left Melbourne on their way home. But beforaa.we deal with events that befell this small boy, we must cast our minds' back to see how it all came about. . About six months ago, it appears, t-eonara "Vera Luff, the wife, complained of feeling unwell.

Her husband persuaded her to see a doctor, and when the medico advised complete rest as part of the treatment for some internal disorder, arrangements were completed for her to stay at her sister's place at Ormondville, Hawkes Bay. ! In the meantime, little Mickie Luff stayed with his grandmother at Owen Street, Newtown, where he seems to have been very happy. During her six weeks' absence, Mrs. Luff dispatched most affectionate letters to her. husband, George— in terms which entirely divorced* his mind from the veriest tinge of suspicion, and it appeared that the holiday was. proving very beneficial. In the last letter-which Luff received from his wife, she expressed a deep longing to see her young son, and suggested that she should go down, to Wellington, take him

Mickie Disappears

from his grandmother's house, and return with him to Hawkes Bay. This was three days before she and a man named Harry Berry eloped from the country. Luff Willingly complied, and ,on Tuesday, .September 4, young Mickie went back with his mother to Ormonclville. It must be explained that since the departure of Mrs. Luff on. her healthrecruiting trip, her husband paid only occasional visits to their home at Lower Hutt, and when he did make the journey it was merely to satisfy himself that the house was m order. Two days after his wife took Mickie away with her, Luff felt impelled to make a special trip out to the Hutt, as he had an impression that something was wrong there. Arriving at the house, he searched diligently through every room, and at last his apprehension, whatever form it had taken, was crystallized.

to return home, but before his departure he signed a number of documents which would ensure the safe keeping of his son when he was handed over .to his grandmother. In the afternoon of the third- day m the New Year, a wan, tired-looking little boy was whirled ' upwards m one of the lifts m the building m which are situated the legal offices of Pavey, Wilson and Oohen. He looked very pale and uneasy, and when the man who accompanied him knocked on the counter of the public office the boy's face was stamped with the imprint of something akin to fear. He was then handed over to the care of two or three kindly men who were gathered m one .of the private rooms, and when they had spoken a word or two of comfort to the little chap, they opened a door leading to another room and took him m to see someone he had known so well.

Oh -You're Grandma

"Grandma! Oh, you're grandma, I know," he cried, the tears welling from his eyes as he ran to the shelter of the kindly soul who had travelled many thousands of miles and who had passed many sleepless nights m search of him. He was sadly m need of attention, Mrs. Luff told "Truth," but some fresh clothing and a dose of homely medicine soon adjusted his physical needs, although all the love and care of his* grandmother could not erase the fear from his eyes. "You won't leave me, grannie, will you?" was his urgent question, night and day, and even though he seemed happy enough as he walked up the gangway of the Manuka when she sailed from Melbourne on January 8, he continually, looked about him, as though he expected someone to come and take him from the woman- who walked beside him. When they arrived at Wellington,

inniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiniiuiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiliiiiiiiHiiil'"""';""" 1 ! there was Mickie's father, shining, of eye and looking wonderfully happy,, waiting at the foot of the gangway with Uncle Alf. . , ■ "I know you, you're Uncle Alf," said young Mickie, when he had struggled away from his father's long embrace, ! and when they had greeted each other they all bundled into Uncle Alf's car and drove away home. . . .. "I'm glad it's all over. It "was a worrying time," said Mrs. "Luff. "It has brought happiness to the home again and" — she smiled — "I'm glad for my boy's sake. Glad, glad. ..."