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?"