BUT THE WORLD WAS WRONG.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11058, 9 May 1899, Page 3

BUT THE WORLD WAS WRONG.

I. He was old, eccentric, and he was a miser; of that last fact thero could be no doubt, His name had never been seen on a subscrip-tion-list. He had frightened Hope Cardigan out of her wits when sho put in a plea for tho building of cottago homes. Hopo was the squire's orphan niece. She was insignificant, quiet, and shy; but she had the cause of the people at heart. "There's a letter for you, Hope." "A letter—for me?" It was a rare occunence, and curiosity was rife within her as she broke tho seal. She gave a great gasp of astonishment. There wero banknotes for £100, and on a half-sheet of paper was written, "For the cottage homes." Who could lave sent it? Hopo jumped to a rapid conclusion. Mr. Morion sent the money, she was sure of it; so sho sent a -timid hut grateful nolo of thanks to her supposed benefactor. By return sho got bis answer: " Mr. Morton presents his compliments to Miss Hopo Carligan, and is quito at a loss to understand hor note. He is surprised that eho should accusa him. of generosity, and emphatically deniss the sending of any money for any charitable causo whatever." What a horrid, sarcastic letter! Tears welled to her eyes as she read it, then she put on her fiat and wont out. As sho neared the miser's house sho recognised the old man hobbling down the garden. To Hope's dismay lie beckoned, calling to her imperiously to stop. J "You needn't come in," said tho miser sharply. " 1 can talk to you over the gate. What made you write mo that absurd loiter' eh!" "It was foolish of me, wasn't it?" said Hope cheerfully; "but you must forgivo me." "Eh? Apologia? What for? Do you think I'd give a hundred pounds to a chit like you to play ducks and drakes with? I am not such a fool, my dear!" "So I see. Th.ink you for enlightening me." said Hope. " Good morning." "Stop a minute; I haven't done talking to you yet. What can you know about building cottage homes, eh?" "I know a good deal," responded Hopo with dignity. " 1 have it all planned, and only needed the money. Now we need wait no longer.'' " Eh? But you haven't got enough?" "Enough to begin with, at any rate; and, oh. I am so pleased!" The miser looked at her; then his thin lips parted in a ghastly grin. " And what if I give you a subscription, eh? What'll you say then?" "That I'm much obliged; but I couldn't think of taking it, thank you." "Couldn't think of taking it, eh? Money? You'd be such a fool as to refuso it?" "Certainly; youi money!" "What for?" ho snarled. "Isn't my money as good as anybody else's for your precious cottages and paupers "Not when you grudge it!" responded Hopo undauntedly. "Good morning, Mr. Morton."

The cottages grew rapidly, and Hope was busy from daylight to dark. The unknown patron had not stopped at the first donation; a second and a third were sent to tho girl. The only flaw in Hope's happiness was an almost daily encounter with tho miser. Ho would waylay her at his garden-gate, and make scathing remarks on her work and charities in general. But, much as sho disliked the discussions, Hope stood hor ground •well.

"He's and old skinflint, ho is! I'd like to know what good he gots from it?" "Ay, hoardin' up his gold, and linn' on tuppence a day!" " He'll likely lake it with him," said another voice. " There's ono thing certain— nobody in this world will get aught o' Miser Morton's gold." "How dare you speak like that! I'm ashamed of you, Mary Whittle!" Hope stood in the doorway, her cheeks flushed with wrath. Why, now, Miss Hope, didn't ho bite the nose off yer own face when first you spoko to him? An' doesn't ho put his nasty sneorin' words upon you every day o' your life?" said Mary. " And what business is it of yonrs?"flasbcd Hope. " His money's his own, and he has a perfect right to use it as he likes." " Thank you, my dear." Man,' dropped her pan with a clatter, for Miser Morton stood in the doorway. Hopo turned with a start, then implsively held out her hand. " Oh, I am so ashamed you should havo heard!" she said. "Mr. Morton, forgive them." To her surprise the hand was taken. "Eh? Forgive you?" said the miser. "Forgive 'em? They know no better, my dear, eh? But come and show mo these fine homes of yours." Too astonished for remonstrance, Hopo complied. The old man said little, and that little was not encouraging; but the girl was not disheartened, and they parted on amicable terms. " I shall come to you again, my dear," tho miser said, "We'll see about to-morrow," 11. But to-morrow brought a storm, which kept Hope within doors, and the next day and the next she looked in vain for her crabbed companion. On the fourth day sho boldly marched up to lie door. "Yes, Mr. Morton was in "—the old servant looked surprised—" but he was very ill." "Oh, lam sorry!" cried the girl. "Do you think I might see him for a moment? Do go and ask him; tell him Hope Cardigan is so sorry, and would like to see himonly lor a moment!"

Hopo waited in fear and trembling. Her knees shook beneath her as she followed her guide to the room where the old man lay. The couch was drawn close to the fire, and Hope was shocked to see the changes those few days had brought. "So you've come to see me, eh? To see why I didn't keep my appointment? Couldn't manage it, aftei all, my dear; but that was do loss to you. The miser's room is better than his company, eh?" A fit of coughing broke the feeble laugh, and Hope knelt down beside him. Oh, donl!" she said. "I looked for you each day, and was so disappointed when you didn't come. I want to tell you I got some more money yesterday; there is enough now to complete the home?. You are not interested in charities," she added wistfully. " But you were interested the oilier day, when I told you about my people? And you'll come with mo again, won't you?" "Come with you again? You want me?" Ho scanned her face keenly, then he sighed. "No, no, my dear; nobody ever wanted the miser since—But that's all over!" smothered a sigh—"and I—well, I sha'n't trouble anybody long." " What do you mean?" cried Hopo, terrified. "You can't mean—" "Yes, my dear; I'm going." The miser spoke quietly. " Perhaps nobody's the bettor for my having lived; but I did my best. I dare say it was the wrong way, but it was ray way," and it's too late to alter it now. If I'd known you sooner, Hope-eh? Reach that hook off the desk; read me a bit; I think I might sleep." ~. < i Slowly Hope rose. Her eyes were bhncied with tears. Perhaps that caused her olumsi ness; but in stretching out her hand for the book she upset a bundle of papers on to the floor. She stooped and gathered them up; then stood transfixed. What was it? Oli! what did it mean? For she held memoranda of money given for cottage homes. The name of her anonymous benefactor was known at last. It was the miser! When Miser Morton's will was read it was found thai lie had left the whole of his wealth to Hope Cardigan, for hor private uso and the aid of charities. There wasn't a dry eye in the church on the following Sunday, when the rector preached from the text: " Let not thy right hand know what thy left hand doeth." While excavating for the purpose of laying the foundations for the Bank of New Zealand's new premises on the corner of Lainbton and Customhouse Quays, Wellington, recently, the labourers camo upon a line of lotara piles which were recognised by Mr. John Plimmer, sen., to,be the first breastwork erected for reclamation purposes in the city of Wellington, M., Plimmer himself, assisted by his sons,' having carried out the wow. The first pile driven was also pointed out, from its position, by Mr. Plimmer, and yet this piece of totara, when sawn, proved to be as sound as the nay it was driven,, the outer edges only having suffered from the moisture of the earth. From that time the Wellington end of the harbour has been steadily encroached won, until at the present time some hundreds of acres hare been reclaimed, 'cut: up into blocks, and now bear upon their surface some of the finest buildings the city can boast of. Still the work ot reclaiming is going gradually forward. The Harbour: Board has taken the matter in hand, and will, it is believed, continue the work as long as . Wellington prospers. - . ';',