\"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?\"