第16章

Mr.Fletcherlaidasidethemanuscriptandletter,andtookuphisapparentlysuspendedwork.

"WhenyouseethisMrs——Mrs.Ashwoodagain,youmightsay"——

"Ishallnotseeheragain,"interruptedJohnMiltonhastily.

Mr.Fletchershruggedhisshoulders."Verywell,"hesaidwithapeculiarsmile,"Iwillwritetoher.Now,Mr.Harcourt,"hecontinuedwithasuddenbusinessbrevity,"ifyouplease,we"lldropthisaffairandattendtothematterforwhichIjustsummonedyou.SinceyesterdayanimportantcontractforwhichIhavebeenwaitingisconcluded,anditsperformancewilltakemeEastatonce.Ihavemadearrangementsthatyouwillbeleftintheliterarychargeofthe"Clarion."Itisonlyafittingrecompensethatthepaperowestoyouandyourfather,——towhomIhopetoseeyoupresentlyreconciled.Butwewon"tdiscussthatnow!AsmyaffairstakemebacktoLosGatoswithinhalfanhour,IamsorryI

cannotdispensemyhospitalityinperson,——butyouwilldineandsleephereto-night.Good-by.AsyougooutwillyoupleasesendupMr.Jacksontome."Henoddedbriefly,seemedtoplungeinstantlyintohispapersagain,andJohnMiltonwasgladtowithdraw.

TheshockhehadfeltatMrs.Ashwood"sfrigiddispositionofhiswishesandhismanuscripthadbenumbedhimtoanyenjoymentorappreciationofthechangeinhisfortune.Hewanderedoutofthehouseanddescendedtothebeachinadazed,bewilderedway,seeingonlythewordsofherlettertoFletcherbeforehim,andstrivingtograspsomeothermeaningfromthemthantheircoldlypracticalpurport.Perhapsthiswashercruelrevengeforhistellinghernottowritetohim.Couldshenothavedivineditwasonlyhisfearofwhatshemightsay!Andnowitwasallover!Shehadwashedherhandsofhimwiththesendingofthatmanuscriptandletter,andhewouldpassoutofhermemoryasafoolish,conceitedingrate,——perhapsafigureaswearilyirritatingandstupidtoherasthecousinshehadknown.Hemechanicallyliftedhiseyestothedistanthotel;theglowwasstillinthewesternsky,butthebluelampwasalreadyshininginthewindow.Hischeekflushedquickly,andheturnedawayasifshecouldhaveseenhisface.

Yes——shedespisedhim,andTHATwashisanswer!

Whenhereturned,Mr.Fletcherhadgone.HedraggedthroughadinnerwithMr.Jackson,Fletcher"ssecretary,andtriedtorealizehisgoodfortuneinlisteningtothesubordinate"scongratulations.

"ButIthought,"saidJackson,"youhadslippeduponyourluckto-

day,whentheoldmansentforyou.Hewasquitewhite,andreadytoripoutaboutsomethingthathadjustcomein.Isupposeitwasoneofthoseanonymousthingsagainstyourfather,——theoldman"sdeadsetagainst"emnow."ButJohnMiltonheardhimvaguely,andpresentlyexcusedhimselfforarowonthemoonlitbay.

Theactiveexertion,withintervalsofplaciddriftingalongtheland-lockedshore,somewhatsoothedhim.TheheavingPacificbeyondwaspartlyhiddeninalowcreepingfog,butthecurvingbaywassoftlyradiant.Therockswhereonshesatthatmorning,thehotelwhereshewasnowquietlyreading,wereoutlinedinblackandsilver.Inthisdangerouscontiguityitseemedtohimthatherpresencereturned,——notthewomanwhohadmethimsocoldly;whohadpennedthoselines;thewomanfromwhomhewasnowpartingforever,buttheblamelessidealhehadworshipedfromthefirst,andwhichhenowfeltcouldneverpassoutofhislifeagain!Herecalledtheirlongtalks,theirrarerridesandwalksinthecity;

herquickappreciationandreadysympathy;herprettycuriosityandhalf-maternalconsiderationofhisfoolishyouthfulpast;eventheplayfulwaythatshesometimesseemedtomakeherselfyoungerasiftobetterunderstandhim.Lingeringattimesintheshadowoftheheadland,hefanciedhesawthedelicatenervousoutlinesofherfacenearhisownagain;thefaintshadingofherbrownlashes,thesoftintelligenceofhergrayeyes.Driftingidlyintheplacidmoonlight,pullingfeverishlyacrosstheswellofthechannel,orlyingonhisoarsintheshallowsoftherocks,butalwaysfollowingthecurvesofthebay,likeabirdcirclingaroundalighthouse,itwasfarinthenightbeforeheatlastdraggedhisboatuponthesand.Thenheturnedtolookoncemoreatherdistantwindow.Hewouldbeawayinthemorningandheshouldneverseeitagain!Itwasverylate,butthebluelightseemedtobestillburningunalterablyandinflexibly.

Butevenashegazed,achangecameoverit.Ashadowseemedtopassbeforetheblind;theblueshadewaslifted;foraninstanthecouldseethecolorlessstar-likepointofthelightitselfshowclearly.Itwasovernow;shewasputtingoutthelamp.Suddenlyheheldhisbreath!Aroseateglowgraduallysuffusedthewindowlikeaburningblush;thecurtainwasdrawnaside,andtheredlamp-shadegleamedoutsurelyandsteadilyintothedarkness.

Transfiguredandbreathlessinthemoonlight,JohnMiltongazedonit.ItseemedtohimthedawnofLove!

CHAPTERXIII.

Thewinterrainshadcome.Butsoplenteouslyandpersistently,andwithsuchfatefulpreparationofcircumstance,thatthelonglookedforblessingpresentlybecameawonder,ananxiety,andatlastaslowlywideningterror.Beforeamonthhadpassedeverymountain,stream,andwatercourse,surchargedwiththemeltedsnowsoftheSierras,hadbecomeagreattributary;everytributaryagreatriver,until,pouringtheirgreatvolumeintotheengorgedchannelsoftheAmericanandSacramentorivers,theyoverleapedtheirbanksandbecameasonevastinlandsea.Eventoacountryalreadyfamiliarwithbroadandstrikingcatastrophe,thefloodwasaphenomenalone.FordaysthesullenoverflowlayinthevalleyoftheSacramento,enormous,silent,currentless——exceptwherethesurpluswatersrolledthroughCarquinezStraits,SanFranciscoBay,andtheGoldenGate,andreappearedasthevanishedSacramentoRiver,inanoutflowingstreamoffreshandturbidwaterfiftymilesatsea.

Acrossthevastinlandexpanse,broodedoverbyaleadensky,leadenrainfell,dimplinglikeshotthesluggishpoolsoftheflood;acloudychaosoffallentrees,driftingbarnsandouthouses,wagonsandagriculturalimplementsmovedoverthesurfaceofthewaters,orcircledslowlyaroundtheoutskirtsofforeststhatstoodankledeepinoozeandthecurrent,whichinserriedphalanxtheyresistedstill.Asnightfelltheseformsbecamestillmorevagueandchaotic,andwereinterspersedwiththescatteredlanternsandflamingtorchesofrelief-boats,oroccasionallythehighterracedgleamingwindowsofthegreatsteamboats,feelingtheirwayalongthelostchannel.Attimestheopeningofafurnace-doorshotbroadbarsoflightacrossthesluggishstreamandintothebranchesofdrippinganddrift-encumberedtrees;attimestheloomingsmoke-stackssentoutapent-upbreathofsparksthatilluminatedtheinkychaosforamoment,andthenfellasblackanddrippingrain.Orperhapsahoarseshoutfromsomefaintlyoutlinedhulkoneithersidebroughtaquickresponsefromtherelief-boats,andthedetachingofacanoewithablazingpine-knotinitsbowintotheouterdarkness.

ItwaslateintheafternoonwhenLawrenceGrant,fromthedeckofoneofthelargertugs,sightedwhathadbeenoncetheestuaryofSidonCreek.Theleaderofapartyofscientificobservationandrelief,hehadkeptatirelesswatchofeighteenhours,keenlynoticingtheworkofdevastation,thechangesinthechannel,theprospectsofabatement,andthedangerthatstillthreatened.HehadpasseddownthelengthofthesubmergedSacramentovalley,throughtheStraitsofCarquinez,andwasnowsteamingalongtheshoresoftheupperreachesofSanFranciscoBay.Everywherethesamesceneofdesolation,——vaststretchesoftuleland,oncebrokenupbycultivationanddottedwithdwellings,nowclearlyerasedonthatwaterychart;longlinesofsymmetricalperspective,breakingthemonotonouslevel,showingorchardsburiedintheflood;Indianmoundsandnaturaleminencescoveredwithcattleorhastilyerectedcamps;halfsubmergedhouses,whosesolitarychimneys,however,stillgavesignsofanundauntedlifewithin;isolatedgroupsoftrees,withtheirlowerbranchesheavywiththeunwholesomefruitoftheflood,inwispsofhayandstraw,rakesandpitchforks,orpatheticallyshelteringsomeshiveringandforgottenhouseholdpet.

Buteverywherethesamedull,expressionless,placidtranquillityofdestruction,——ahorriblelevelingofallthingsinoneblandsmilingequalityofsurface,beneathwhichagony,despair,andruinweredeeplyburiedandforgotten;acatastrophewithoutconvulsion,——

adevastationvoiceless,passionless,andsupine.

Theboathadslowedupbeforewhatseemedtobeacollectionofdisarrangedhouseswiththecurrentflowingbetweenlinesthatindicatedtheexistenceofthoroughfaresandstreets.Manyofthelighterwoodenbuildingswerehuddledtogetheronthestreetcornerswiththeirgablestotheflow;someappearedasiftheyhadfallenontheirknees,andotherslaycomplacentlyontheirsides,likethehousesofachild"stoyvillage.Anelevatorstilllifteditselfabovetheotherwarehouses;fromthecentreofanenormoussquarepond,oncetheplaza,stillarosea"Libertypole,"orflagstaff,whichnowsupportedaswinginglantern,andinthedistanceappearedtheglitteringdomeofsomepublicbuilding.

Grantrecognizedthesceneatonce.ItwasallthatwasleftoftheinvincibleyouthofTasajara!

Asthiswasanobjectivepointoftheschemeofsurveyandreliefforthedistrict,theboatwasmadefasttothesecondstoryofoneofthewarehouses.Itwasnowusedasageneralstoreanddepot,andboreasingularresemblanceinitsinteriortoHarcourt"sgroceryatSidon.Thissuggestionwasthemorefatefullyindicatedbythefactthathalfadozenmenwereseatedaroundastoveinthecentre,moreorlessgivenuptoakindofphilosophicalandlazyenjoymentoftheirenforcedidleness.AndwhentothiswasaddedthemoresurprisingcoincidencethatthepartyconsistedofBillings,Peters,andWingate,——formerresidentsofSidonandfirstcitizensofTasajara,——theresemblancewascomplete.

Theywereruined,——buttheyacceptedtheircommonfatewithacertainIndianstoicismandWesternsenseofhumorthatforthetimeliftedthemabovethevulgarcomplacencyoftheirformerfortunes.Therewasadeep-seated,ifcoarseandirreverentresignationintheirphilosophy.AtthebeginningofthecalamityithadbeenroughlyformulatedbyBillingsinthestatementthat"itwasn"tanybody"sfault;therewasnobodytokill,andwhatcouldn"tbereachedbyaVigilanceCommitteetherewasnouseresolootin"over."WhentheReverendDoctorPilsburyhadsuggestedanappealtoaHigherPower,Petershadreplied,goodhumoredly,that"aCreatorwhocouldfoolaroundwiththeminthatstylewasabovebeinginterferedwithbyprayer."Atfirstthecalamityhadbeenathingtofightagainst;thenitbecameapracticaljoke,thestingofwhichwaslostinthevictims"powerofenduranceandassumedignoranceofitspurport.Therewassomethingalmostpatheticintheirattemptstounderstanditspeculiarhumor.

"HowaboutthatEurop-e-antripo"yours,Peters?"saidBillings,meditatively,fromthedepthsofhischair."LooksasifthoseCrownedHeadsovertherewouldhavetowaittillthewatergoesdownconsiderableaforeyoukintrotoutyourwifeanddartersbefore"em!"

"Yes,"saidPeters,"itratherpintsthatway;andezfarezIkinsee,MameBillingsain"tgoin"tonoSaratoga,neither,thisyear."

"Reckontheboyswon"thangaboutoldHarcourt"sFreeLibrarytoseethegirlshomefromlecturesandsinging-classmuchthisyear,"

saidWingate."WonderifHarcourteverthoughto"thisthedayheopenedit,andmadethatrattlin"speecho"hisaboutthenewproperty?Clarksayseverythingbuiltonthatmadegroundhasgottogoafterthewaterfalls.RoughonHarcourtafterallhisotherlosses,eh?Heoughterhaveclosedupwiththatscientificchap,Grant,andmarriedhimtoClementinawhilethebigboomwason"——

"Hush!"saidPeters,indicatingGrant,whohadjustenteredquietly.

"Don"tmindme,gentlemen,"saidGrant,steppingtowardsthegroupwithagravebutperfectlycollectedface;"onthecontrary,IamveryanxioustohearallthenewsofHarcourt"sfamily.IleftforNewYorkbeforetherainyseason,andhaveonlyjustgotback."

HisspeechandmannerappearedtobesomuchinkeepingwiththeprevailinggrimphilosophythatBillings,afteraglanceattheothers,wenton."Efyouleftaforethefirstrains,"saidhe,"youmusthaveleftonlythesteameraheadofFletcher,whenherunoffwithClementinaHarcourt,andyoumighthavecomeacrossthemontheirweddingtripinNewYork."

NotamuscleofGrant"sfacechangedundertheireagerandcruelscrutiny."No,Ididn"t,"hereturnedquietly."Butwhydidsherunaway?DidthefatherobjecttoFletcher?IfIrememberrightlyhewasrichandagoodmatch."

"Yes,butIreckontheoldmanhadn"tquitegotoverthe"Clarion"

abuse,forallitseatinghumble-pieandtakingbackitsyarnsofhim.Andmaybehemighthavethoughttheengagementrathersudden.Theysaythatshe"donlymetFletcherthedayaforetheengagement."

"Thatbed——d,"saidPeters,knockingtheashesoutofhispipe,andstartlingthelazyresignationofhisneighborsbytakinghisfeetfromthestoveandsittingupright."Itellye,gentlemen,I"msicko"thissorto"hog-washthat"sbeenladledroundtous.

ThatgalClementinaHarcourtandthatfellerFletcherhadmetnotonlyonce,butMANYtimesafore——yes!theywereoldfriendsifitcomestothat,amatterofsixyearsago."

Grant"seyeswerefixedeagerlyonthespeaker,althoughtheothersscarcelyturnedtheirheads.

"Youknow,gentlemen,"saidPeters,"Inevertookstockinthisyerstoryofthedrownin"of"LigeCurtis.Why?Well,ifyouwanterknow——inmyopinion——thereneverwasany"LigeCurtis!"

Billingsliftedhisheadwithdifficulty;Wingateturnedhisfacetothespeaker.

"Thereneverwasascrapo"papereverfoundinhiscabinwiththenameo""LigeCurtisonit;thereneverwasanyinquirymadefor"LigeCurtis;thereneverwasanysorrowin"friendscomin"after"LigeCurtis.Forwhy?——Thereneverwasany"LigeCurtis.ThemanwhopassedhimselfoffinSidonunderthatname——wasthatmanFletcher.That"showheknewallaboutHarcourt"stitle;that"showhegothisbestholtonHarcourt.AndhediditalltogetClementinaHarcourt,whomtheoldmanhadrefusedtohiminSidon."

Agruntofincredulitypassedaroundthecircle.Suchisthefateofhistoricalinnovation!OnlyGrantlistenedattentively.

"YeoughttotellthatyarntoJohnMilton,"saidWingateironically;"it"saboutinthestyleo"themstoriesheslingsinthe"Clarion.""

"He"smadeagoodthingouterthatjob.Wonderwhathegetsforthem?"saidPeters.

ItwasBillings"stimetorise,and,undertheinfluenceofsomestrongcynicalemotion,toevenrisetohisfeet."Getsfor"em!——

GETSfor"em!I"lltellyouWHAThegetsfor"em!Itbeatsthisstoryo"Peters"s,——itbeatstheflood.Itbeatsme!Yeknowthatboy,gentlemen;yeknowhowheusterlieroundhisfather"sstore,readingflapdoodlestoriesandsich!YerememberhowIustertrytogivehimgoodexamplesandknocksomesenseintohim?Yerememberhow,afterhisfather"sgoodluck,hespiledallhisownchances,andranoffwithhisfather"swaitergal——allonaccounto"themflapdoodlebooksheread?Yerememberhowhesashayedroundnewspaperofficesin"Friscountilhecouldwriteaflapdoodlestoryhimself?Yewanterknowwhathegetsfor"em.

I"lltellyou.Hegotaninterductiontooneofthemhigh-toned,highfalutin","don"t-touch-me"richwiddersfromPhiladelfy,——

that"swhathegetsfor"em!Hegotherdeadsetonhimandhisstories,that"swhathegetsfor"em!HegothertoputhimupwithFletcherinthe"Clarion,"——that"swhathegetsfor"em.Anddarnmyskin!——efwhattheysayistrue,whilewehard-workingmenaresittin"herelikedrownedrats——thatairJohnMilton,ezneverdidastitcho"liveworklikemeyere;ezneverdidanythin"butspinyarnsaboutUSezdidWORK,isnow"gittin"for"em"——what?

Guess!Why,he"sgittin"THERICHWIDDERHERSELFandHALFA

MILLIONDOLLARSWITHHER!Gentlemen!lib"tyisagoodthing——butthar"ssomethingsyegetstoomuchlib"tyofinthiscountry——andthat"sthisyerLIB"TYOFTHEPRESS!"