第6章

"AssoonasIcanrunupanewhouseattheembarcadero,"saidHarkuttpeevishly,"andthat\'sgottobedonemightyquickifI

wanttomakeashowtothecompanyandbeinpossession."

"Andthat\'seasierforyoutodo,dear,nowthat\'Lige\'sdisappeared,"saidMrs.Harkuttconsolingly.

"Whatdoyemeanbythat?Whatthedevilareyetalkin\'about?"

demandedHarkuttsuddenlywithunexpectedexasperation.

"Imeanthatthatdrunken\'Ligewouldbemightypoorcompanyforthegirlsifhewasouronlyneighbor,"returnedMrs.Harkuttsubmissively.

Harkutt,afterafixedsurveyofhiswife,appearedmollified.Thetwogirls,whoweremindfulofhispreviousoutbursttheeveningbefore,exchangedglanceswhichimpliedthathismannersneededcorrectionforprosperity.

"You\'llwantaheapo\'moneytobuildthere,Dan\'l,"saidMrs.

Harkuttinplaintivediffidence.

"Yes!Yes!"saidHarkuttimpatiently."I\'vekalkilatedallthat,andI\'mgoin\'to\'Friscoto-morrowtoraiseitandputthisbillofsaleonrecord."HehalfdrewElijahCurtis\'spaperfromhispocket,butpausedandputitbackagain.

"ThenTHATWASthepaper,dad,"saidPhemietriumphantly.

"Yes,"saidherfather,regardingherfixedly,"andyouknownowwhyIdidn\'twantanythingsaidaboutitlastnight——norevennow."

"And\'Ligehadjustgivenittoyou!Wasn\'titlucky?"

"HeHADN\'Tjustgivenittome!"saidherfatherwithanotherunexpectedoutburst."GodAmighty!ain\'tItellin\'youallthetimeitwasanoldmatter!Butyoujabber,jabberallthetimeanddon\'tlisten!Where\'sJohnMilton?"Ithadoccurredtohimthattheboymighthavereadthepaper——ashissisterhad——whileitlayunheededonthecounter.

"Inthestore,——youknow.Yousaidhewasn\'ttohearanythingofthis,butI\'llcallhim,"saidMrs.Harkutt,risingeagerly.

"Nevermind,"returnedherhusband,stoppingherreflectively,"bestleaveitasitis;ifit\'snecessaryI\'lltellhim.Butdon\'tanyofyousayanything,doyouhear?"

Neverthelessafewhourslater,whenthestorewasmomentarilyfreeofloungers,andHarkutthadrelievedhissonofhismonotonouscharge,hemadeapretense,whileabstractedlylisteningtoanaccountoftheboy\'sstewardship,tolookthroughadrawerasifinsearchofsomemissingarticle.

"Youdidn\'tseeanythingofapaperIleftsomewhereabouthereyesterday?"heaskedcarelessly.

"Theoneyoupickedupwhenyoucameinlastnight?"saidtheboywithdiscomposingdirectness.

Harkuttflushedslightlyanddrewhisbreathbetweenhissetteeth.

Notonlycouldheplacenorelianceuponordinaryyouthfulinattention,buthemustbeonhisguardagainsthisownsonasfromaspy!Butherestrainedhimself.

"Idon\'tremember,"hesaidwithaffecteddeliberation,"whatitwasIpickedup.Doyou?Didyoureadit?"

Themeaningofhisfather\'sattitudeinstinctivelyflashedupontheboy.HeHADreadthepaper,butheanswered,ashehadalreadydetermined,"No."

AninspirationseizedMr.Harkutt.Hedrew\'LigeCurtis\'sbillofsalefromhispocket,andopeningitbeforeJohnMiltonsaid,"Wasitthat?"

"Idon\'tknow,"saidtheboy."Icouldn\'ttell."Hewalkedawaywithaffectedcarelessness,alreadywithasenseofplayingsomepartlikehisfather,andpretendedtowhistleforthedogacrossthestreet.Harkuttcoughedostentatiously,putthepaperbackinhispocket,setoneortwoboxesstraightonthecounter,lockedthedrawer,anddisappearedintothebackpassage.JohnMiltonremainedstandinginthedoorwaylookingvacantlyout.Buthedidnotseethedullfamiliarprospectbeyond.Heonlysawthepaperhisfatherhadopenedandunfoldedbeforehim.Itwasthesamepaperhehadreadlastnight.ButtherewerethreewordswrittenthereTHATWERENOTTHEREBEFORE!Afterthewords"Valuereceived"

therehadbeenablank.Herememberedthatdistinctly.Thiswasfilledinbythewords,"Fivehundreddollars."Thehandwritingdidnotseemlikehisfather\'s,noryetentirelylike\'LigeCurtis\'s.Whatitmeanthedidnotknow,——hewouldnottrytothink.Heshouldforgetit,ashehadtriedtoforgetwhathadhappenedbefore,andheshouldnevertellittoanyone!

Therewasafeverishgayetyinhissisters\'mannerthatafternoonthathedidnotunderstand;shortcolloquiesthatweresuspendedwithillconcealedimpatiencewhenhecamenearthem,andresumedwhenhewassent,onequallypalpableexcuses,outoftheroom.Hehadbeenaccustomedtothisexclusionwhentherewerestrangerspresent,butitseemedoddtohimnow,whentheconversationdidnoteventurnuponthetwosuperiorvisitorswhohadbeenthere,andofwhomheconfidentlyexpectedtheywouldtalk.Suchfragmentsasheoverheardwerealwaysinthefuturetense,andreferredtowhattheyintendedtodo.Hismother,whoseaffectionforhimhadalwaysbeenshowninexcessiveanddepressingcommiserationofhiminevenhislightestmoments,thatafternoonseemedtoaddapropheticandCassandra-likesympathyforsomevaguefutureofhisthatwouldrequireallherministration."Youwon\'tneedthemnewboots,Miltydear,inthechangesthatmaybecomin\'toye;sodon\'tbebotheringyourpoorfatherinhisworrimentsoverhisnewplans."

"Whatnewplans,mommer?"askedtheboyabruptly."Arewegoin\'

awayfromhere?"

"Hush,dear,anddon\'taskquestionsthat\'senoughforgrownfolkstoworryover,letaloneaboylikeyou.Nowbegood,"——aqualityinMrs.Harkutt\'smindsynonymouswithceasingfromtroubling,——

"andaftersupper,whileI\'mintheparlorwithyourfatherandsisters,youkinsitupherebythefirewithyourbook."

"But,"persistedtheboyinaflashofinspiration,"ispoppergoin\'tojoininbusinesswiththosesurveyors,——asurveyin\'?"

"No,child,whatanidea!Runawaythere,——andmind!——don\'tbotheryourfather."

NeverthelessJohnMilton\'sinspirationhadtakenanewandcharacteristicshape.Allthis,hereflected,hadhappenedsincethesurveyorscame——sincetheyhadweaklydisplayedsuchashamelessandunmanlyinterestinhissisters!Itcouldhavebutonemeaning.Hehungaroundthesitting-roomandpassagesuntilheeventuallyencounteredClementina,tallerthanever,evidentlywearingaguiltysatisfactioninherface,engrafteduponthathabitualbearingofherswhichhehadalwaysrecognizedasbelongingtoavaguebutobjectionableracewhosememberswereindividuallyknowntohimas"aproudy."

"Whichofthosetwosurveyorfellowsisit,Clemmy?"hesaidwithanengagingsmile,yethaltingatastrategicdistance.

"Iswhat?"

"Wotyou\'regoin\'tomarry."

"Idiot!"

"Thatain\'ttellin\'which,"respondedtheboydarkly.

Clementinasweptbyhimintothesitting-room,whereheheardherdeclarethat"reallythatboywasgettingtoolowandvulgarforanything."Yetitstruckhim,thatbeingpressedforfurtherexplanation,shedidNOTspecifywhy.Thiswas"girls\'meanness!"

Howbeithelingeredlateintheroadthatevening,hearinghisfatherdiscusswiththesearch-partythathadfollowedthebanksofthecreek,vainlylookingforfurthertracesofthemissing\'Lige,thepossibilityofhisbeinglivingordead,ofthebodyhavingbeencarriedawaybythecurrenttothebayorturninguplaterinsomedistantmarshwhenthespringcamewithlowwater.Onewhohadbeentohiscabinbesidetheembarcaderoreportedthatitwas,ashadbeenlongsuspected,barelyhabitable,andcontainedneitherbooks,papers,norrecordswhichwouldindicatehisfamilyorfriends.ItwasaGod-forsaken,dreary,worthlessplace;hewonderedhowawhitemancouldeverexpecttomakealivingthere.

IfElijahneverturnedupagainitcertainlywouldbealongtimebeforeanysquatterwouldthinkoftakingpossessionofit.JohnMiltonknewinstinctively,withoutlookingup,thathisfather\'seyeswerefixeduponhim,andhefelthimselfconstrainedtoappeartobeabstractedingazingdownthedarkeningroad.Thenheheardhisfathersay,withwhathefeltwasanequalassumptionofcarelessness:"Yes,IreckonI\'vegotsomewhereabillofsaleofthatlandthatIhadtotakefrom\'Ligeforanoldbill,butI

kalkilatethat\'sallI\'lleverseeofit."

Rainfellagainasthedarknessgathered,buthestillloiteredontheroadandtheslopingpathofthegarden,filledwithahalfresentfulsenseofwrong,andhuggingwithgloomyprideanincreasingsenseoflonelinessandofgettingdangerouslywet.Theswollencreekstillwhispered,murmuredandswirledbesidethebank.Atanothertimehemighthavehadwildideasofemulatingthesurveyorsonsomeextemporeraftandsoescapinghispresentdrearyhomeexistence;butsincethedisappearanceof\'Lige,whohadalwaysexcitedanoddboyishantipathyinhisheart,althoughhehadneverseenhim,heshunnedthestreamcontaminatedwiththemissingman\'sunheroicfate.Presentlythelightfromtheopenwindowofthesitting-roomglitteredonthewetleavesandsprayswherehestood,andthevoicesofthefamilyconclavecamefitfullytohisear.Theydidn\'twanthimthere.Theyhadneverthoughtofaskinghimtocomein.Well!——whocared?Andhewasn\'tgoingtobeboughtoffwithacandleandaseatbythekitchenfire.No!

Neverthelesshewasgettingwettonopurpose.Therewasthetool-

houseandcarpenter\'sshednearthebank;itsfloorwasthicklycoveredwithsawdustandpine-woodshavings,andtherewasamouldybuffaloskinwhichhehadoncetransportedthitherfromtheoldwagon-bed.There,too,washissecretcacheofacandleinabottle,buriedwithotherpiraticaltreasuresinthepresenceoftheyouthfulPeters,whoconsentedtobesacrificedonthespotinbuccaneeringfashiontocompletetheunhallowedrites.Heunearthedthecandle,litit,andclearingawayapartoftheshavingsstoodituponthefloor.Hethenbroughtaprized,battered,andcoverlessvolumefromahiddenrecessintherafters,andlyingdownwiththebuffalorobeoverhim,andhiscapinhishandreadytoextinguishthelightatthefirstfootstepofatrespasser,gavehimselfup——ashehadgivenhimselfup,Ifear,manyothertimes——totheenchantmentofthepagebeforehim.

Thecurrentwhispered,murmured,andsang,unheededathisside.

Thevoicesofhismotherandsisters,raisedattimesineagernessorexpectationofthefuture,felluponhisunlisteningears.Forwiththespellthathadcomeuponhim,themeanwallsofhishiding-placemeltedaway;thevulgarstreambesidehimmighthavebeenthatdim,subterraneousriverdownwhichSindbadandhisbaleofrichesweresweptoutoftheCaveofDeathtothesunlightoflifeandfortune,sosurelyandsosimplyhadittransportedhimbeyondthecrampedanddarkenedlimitsofhispresentlife.Hewasinthebetterworldofboyishromance,——ofgallantdeedsandhighemprises;ofmiraculousatonementanddevotedsacrifice;ofbravemen,andthoserarer,impossiblewomen,——theimmaculateconceptionofaboy\'svirginheart.Whatmattereditthatbehindthatglitteringwindowhismotherandsistersgrewfeverishandexcitedoverthevulgardetailsoftheirrealbutbaserfortune?Fromthedarktool-shedbythemuddycurrent,JohnMilton,withabattereddogs\'-earedchronicle,soaredonthewingsoffancyfarbeyondtheirwildestken!

CHAPTERV.

ProsperityhadsettledupontheplainsofTasajara.NotonlyhadtheembarcaderoemergedfromthetulesofTasajaraCreekasathrivingtownofsteamboatwharves,warehouses,andoutlyingmillsandfactories,butinfiveyearsthetransformingrailroadhadpenetratedthegreatplainitselfandrevealeditsundevelopedfertility.Thelow-lyinglandsthathadbeenyearlyoverflowedbythecreek,nowdrainedandcultivated,yieldedtreasuresofwheatandbarleythatwereapparentlyinexhaustible.EventhehelplessindolenceofSidonhadbeensurprisedintoactivityandchange.

Therewasnothingleftofthestragglingsettlementtorecallitsformeraspect.ThesiteofHarkutt\'soldstoreanddwellingwaslostandforgotteninthenewmillandgranarythatrosealongthebanksofthecreek.Decayleavesruinandtracesforthememorytolingerover;prosperityisunrelentinginitscompleteandsmilingobliterationofthepast.

ButTasajaraCity,astheembarcaderowasnowcalled,hadnopreviousrecord,andeventheformerexistenceofanactualsettlerliketheforgottenElijahCurtiswasunknowntothepresentinhabitants.ItwasDanielHarkutt\'sideacarriedoutinDanielHarkutt\'sland,withDanielHarkutt\'scapitalandenergy.ButDanielHarkutthadbecomeDanielHarcourt,andHarcourtAvenue,HarcourtSquare,andHarcourtHouse,ostentatiouslyproclaimedthenewspellingofhispatronymic.Whenthechangewasmadeandforwhatreason,whosuggesteditandunderwhatauthority,werenoteasytodetermine,asthesignonhisformerstorehadbornenothingbutthelegend,GoodsandProvisions,andhisnamedidnotappearonwrittenrecorduntilaftertheoccupationofTasajara;

butitispresumedthatitwasattheinstigationofhisdaughters,andtherewasnoonetoopposeit.Harcourtwasaprettynameforastreet,asquare,orahotel;eventhefewinSidonwhohadcalleditHarkuttadmittedthatitwasanimprovementquiteconsistentwiththechangefromthefever-hauntedtulesandsedgesofthecreektothebroad,level,andhandsomesquaresofTasajaraCity.

ThismighthavebeentheopinionofavisitorattheHarcourtHouse,whoarrivedonesummerafternoonfromtheStocktonboat,butwhoseshrewd,half-critical,half-professionaleyesandquietquestioningsbetrayedsomepreviousknowledgeofthelocality.

SeatedonthebroadverandaoftheHarcourtHouse,andgazingoutonthewell-keptgreenandyoungeucalyptustreesoftheHarcourtSquareorPlaza,hehadelicitedacounterquestionfromaprosperous-lookingcitizenwhohadbeenloungingathisside.

"Ireckonyoulookezifyoumighthavebeenherebefore,stranger."

"Yes,"saidthestrangerquietly,"Ihavebeen.Butitwaswhenthetulesgrewinthesquareopposite,andthetideofthecreekwashedthem."

"Well,"saidtheTasajaran,lookingcuriouslyatthestranger,"I

callmyselfapioneerofTasajara.Myname\'sPeters,——ofPetersandCo.,——andthosewarehousesalongthewharf,whereyoulandedjustnow,aremine;butIwasthefirstsettleronHarcourt\'sland,andbuiltthenextcabinafterhim.Ihelpedtoclearoutthemtulesanddredgedthechannelsyonder.ItookthecontractwithHarcourttobuildthelastfifteenmileso\'railroad,andputupthatdepotforthecompany.Perhapsyouwereherebeforethat?"

"Iwas,"returnedthestrangerquietly.

"Isay,"saidPeters,hitchinghischairalittlenearertohiscompanion,"youneverknewakindofbroken-downfeller,calledCurtis——\'LigeCurtis——whooncesquattedhereandsoldhisrighttoHarkutt?Hedisappeared;itwasallowedhekilledhisself,buttheyneverfoundhisbody,and,betweenyouandme,Inevertookstockinthatstory.YouknowHarcourtholdsunderhim,andallTasajararestsonthattitle."

"I\'veheardso,"assentedthestrangercarelessly,"butIneverknewtheoriginalsettler.ThenHarcourthasbeenlucky?"

"Youbet.He\'sgotthreemillionsrightaboutHERE,orwithinthisquartersection,tosaynothingofhisoutsidespeculations."

"Andliveshere?"

"Notfortwoyears.That\'shisoldhouseacrosstheplaza,buthiswomen-folkslivemostlyin\'FriscoandNewYork,wherehe\'sgothousestoo.TheysaytheysortergotsickofTasajaraafterhisyoungestdaughterranoffwithafeller."

"Hallo!"saidthestrangerwithundisguisedinterest."Ineverheardofthat!Youdon\'tmeanthatsheeloped"——hehesitated.

"Oh,itwasasquareenoughmarriage.Ireckontoosquaretosuitsomefolks;butthefellowhadn\'tnothin\',andwasn\'tworthshucks,——asortoflandsurveyor,doin\'oddjobs,youknow;andtheoldmanandoldwomanwereaginit,andthetotherdaughterworseofall.Itwasallowedhere——youknowhowwomen-folkstalk!——thatthesurveyorhadbeensweetonClementina,buthadgottiredofbeingplayedbyher,andtookupwithPhemieouto\'spite.Anyhowtheygotmarried,andHarcourtgavethemtounderstandtheycouldn\'texpectanythingfromhim.P\'rapsthat\'swhyitdidn\'tlastlong,foronlyabouttwomonthsagoshegotadivorcefromRiceandcamebacktoherfamilyagain."

"Rice?"queriedthestranger."Wasthatherhusband\'sname,StephenRice?"

"Ireckon!Youknewhim?"

"Yes,——whenthetidecameuptothetules,yonder,"answeredthestrangermusingly."Andtheotherdaughter,——Isupposeshehasmadeagoodmatch,beingabeautyandthesoleheiress?"

TheTasajaranmadeagrimace."Notmuch!Ireckonshe\'swaitin\'

fortheAngelGabriel,——thereain\'tanothergoodenoughtosuitherhere.Theysayshe\'shadmostofthebigmeninCaliforniawaitin\'

inalinewiththeiroffers,likethatcuethefellowsusedtomakeatthe\'Friscopost-officesteamerdays——andshewithnaryaletteroranswerforanyofthem."

"ThenHarcourtdoesn\'tseemtohavebeenasfortunateinhisfamilyaffairsasinhisspeculations?"

Petersutteredagrimlaugh."Well,Ireckonyouknowallabouthisson\'sstampedingwiththatgirllastspring?"

"Hisson?"interruptedthestranger."DoyoumeantheboytheycalledJohnMilton?Why,hewasamerechild!"

"Hewasoldenoughtorunawaywithayoungwomanthathelpedinhismother\'shouse,andmarryheraforeajusticeofthepeace.

Theoldmanjustsnortedwithrage,andsworehe\'dhavethemarriageputaside,fortheboywasunderage.Hesaiditwasaput-upjobofthegirl\'s;thatshewasolderbytwoyears,andonlywantedtogetwhatmoneymightbecomin\'someday,butthatthey\'dneverseearedcentofit.Then,theysay,JohnMiltonupandsassedtheoldmantohisface,andallowedthathewouldn\'ttakehisdirtymoneyifhestarvedfirst,andthatiftheoldmanbrokethemarriagehe\'dmarryheragainnextyear;thattrueloveandhonorablepovertywerebetternorriches,andalotmoreo\'thatstuffhepickedouto\'themten-centnovelshewasallusreading.

Mywomen-folkssaythatheactuallylikedthegirl,becauseshewastheonlyoneinthehousethatwaseverkindtohim;theysaythegirlswerejustragin\'madattheideao\'havin\'ahiredgalwhohadwaitedon\'emasasister-in-law,andtheyevengotoldMammyHarcourt\'sbackupbysayin\'thatJohn\'swifewouldwanttorulethehouse,andrunheroutofherownkitchen.SomesayheshookTHEM,talkedbackto\'emmightysharp,andheldhisheadaheaphighernorthem.Anyhow,he\'slivin\'withhiswifesomewherein\'Frisco,inashantyonasandlot,andworkin\'oddjobsforthenewspapers.No!takin\'itbyandlarge——itdon\'tlookasifHarcourthadrunhisfamilytothesameadvantagethathehashisland."

"Perhapshedoesn\'tunderstandthemaswell,"saidthestrangersmiling.

"Mor\'nlikelythematerialain\'tthar,orain\'tasvallybleforanewcountry,"saidPetersgrimly."Ireckonthetroubleisthatheletsthemtwodaughtersrunhim,andthemanwholetsanywomanorwomendothat,letshimselfinforalltheirmeannesses,andallhegetsinreturnisawoman\'sresult,——show!"

Herethestranger,whowasslowlyrisingfromhischairwiththepolitesuggestionofreluctantlytearinghimselffromthespeaker\'sspell,said:"AndHarcourtspendsmostofhistimeinSanFrancisco,Isuppose?"