believeyoucandowhatloverscannotdo,——makeothersfeelastheydo,——andthatiswhatIcallbeinganartist.Youwrite?Youareapoet?"
　　"Ohdear,no,"hesaidwithasmile,halfofreliefandhalfofnaivesuperiority,"I'maprosewriter——onadailynewspaper."
　　Tohissurpriseshewasnotdisconcerted;ratheralookofanimationlitupherfaceasshesaidbrightly,"Oh,then,youcanofcoursesatisfymycuriosityaboutsomething.YouknowtheroadfromSanFranciscototheCliffHouse.Exceptfortheviewofthesea-lionswhenonegetsthereit'sstupid;mybrothersaysit'slikealltheSanFranciscoexcursions,——adustydrivewithajulepattheendofit.Well,onedaywewerecomingbackfromadrivethere,andwhenwewerebeginningtowindalongthebrowofthatdreadfulstaringLoneMountainCemetery,IsaidIwouldgetoutandwalk,andavoidtheobtrusiveglitterofthosetombstonesrisingbeforemealltheway.Ipushedopenalittlegateandpassedin.
　　Onceamongthesefunerealshrubsandcoldstatuesquelilieseverythingwaschanged;Isawthestaringtombstonesnolonger,for,likethem,Iseemedtobealwaysfacingthesea.Theroadhadvanished;everythinghadvanishedbuttheendlesswasteofoceanbelowme,andthelastslopeofrockandsand.Itseemedtobethefittestplaceforacemetery,——thisendofthecrumblingearth,——
　　thisbeginningoftheeternalsea.There!don'tthinkthatideamyown,orthatIthoughtofitthen.No,——Ireaditallafterwards,andthat'swhyI'mtellingyouthis."
　　Shecouldnothelpsmilingathisnowattentiveface,andwenton:
　　"SomedaysafterwardsIgotholdofanewspaperfourorsixmonthsold,andtherewasadescriptionofallthatIthoughtIhadseenandfelt,——onlyfarmorebeautifulandtouching,asyoushallsee,forIcutitoutofthepaperandhavekeptit.Itseemedtomethatitmustbesomepersonalexperience,——asifthewriterhadfollowedsomedearfriendthere,——althoughitwaswiththeunostentationandindefinitenessoftrueanddelicatefeeling.ItimpressedmesomuchthatIwentbacktheretwiceorthrice,andalwaysseemedtomovetotherhythmofthatbeautifulfuneralmarch——andIamafraid,beingawoman,thatIwanderedaroundamongthegravesasthoughIcouldfindoutwhoitwasthathadbeensungsosweetly,andifitweremanorwoman.I'vegotithere,"shesaid,takingadaintyivoryporte-monnaiefromherpocketandpickingoutwithtwoslimfinger-tipsafoldedslipofnewspaper;
　　"andIthoughtthatmaybeyoumightrecognizethestyleofthewriter,andperhapsknowsomethingofhishistory.ForIbelievehehasone.There!thatisonlyapartofthearticle,ofcourse,butitisthepartthatinterestedme.Justreadfromthere,"shepointed,leaningpartlyoverhisshouldersothathersoftbreathstirredhishair,"totheend;itisn'tlong."
　　Inthefilmthatseemedtocomeacrosshiseyes,suddenlytheprintappearedblurredandindistinct.Butheknewthatshehadputintohishandsomethinghehadwrittenafterthedeathofhiswife;
　　somethingspontaneousandimpulsive,whenherlossstillfilledhisdaysandnightsandalmostunconsciouslyswayedhispen.Herememberedthathiseyeshadbeenasdimwhenhewroteit——andnow——
　　handedtohimbythissmiling,well-to-dowoman,hewasasshockedatfirstasifhehadsuddenlyfoundherreadinghisprivateletters.Thiswasfollowedbyasuddensenseofshamethathehadeverthuspubliclybaredhisfeelings,andthenbytheillogicalbutirresistibleconvictionthatitwasfalseandstupid.Thefewphrasesshehadpointedoutappearedascheapandhollowrhetoricamidthesurroundingsoftheirsocialtete-a-teteovertheluncheon-table.Therewassmalldangerthatthisheadywineofwoman'spraisewouldmakehimbetrayhimself;therewasnosignofgratifiedauthorshipinhisvoiceashequietlylaiddownthepaperandsaiddryly:"IamafraidIcan'thelpyou.Youknowitmaybepurelyfanciful."
　　"Idon'tthinkso,"saidMrs.Ashwoodthoughtfully."Atthesametimeitdoesn'tstrikemeasaveryabidinggriefforthatveryreason.It'sTOOsympathetic.Itstrikesmethatitmightbethefirstgriefofsomeonetooyoungtobeinuredtosorroworexperiencedenoughtoacceptitasthecommonlot.Butlikeallyouthfulimpressionsitisverysincereandtruewhileitlasts.I
　　don'tknowwhetheronegetsanythingmorerealwhenonegetsolder."
　　Withaninsincerityhecouldnotaccountfor,henowfeltinclinedtodefendhisprevioussentiment,althoughallthewhileconsciousofacertaincharminhiscompanion'sgracefulskepticism.Hehadinhistruthfulnessandindependencehithertoalwaysbeenquitefreefromthatfeebleadmirationofcynicismwhichattackstheintellectuallyweakandimmature,andhispresentpredilectionmayhavebeenduemoretohercharmingpersonality.Shewasnotatalllikehissisters;shehadnoneofClementina'scoldabstraction,andnoneofEuphemia'ssharpanddemonstrativeeffusiveness.Andinhissecretconsciousnessofherflatteringforeknowledgeofhim,withherassurancethatbeforetheyhadevermethehadunwittinglyinfluencedher,hebegantofeelmoreathisease.Hisfaircompanionalso,intheequallysecretknowledgeshehadacquiredofhishistory,feltassecureasifshehadbeenformallyintroduced.
　　Nobodycouldfindfaultwithherforshowingcivilitytotheostensiblesonofherhost;itwasnotnecessarythatsheshouldbeawareoftheirfamilydifferences.Therewasacharmtoointheirenforcedisolation,inwhatwastheexceptionalsolitudeofthelittlehotelthatday,andtheseclusionoftheirtablebythewindowofthedining-room,whichgaveacharmingdomesticitytotheirrepast.Fromtimetotimetheyglanceddownthelonelycanyon,losingitselfintheafternoonshadow.NeverthelessMrs.
　　Ashwood'spreoccupationwithNaturedidnotprecludeahumancuriositytohearsomethingmoreofJohnMilton'squarrelwithhisfather.Therewascertainlynothingoftheprodigalsonabouthim;
　　therewasnoprecociousevilknowledgeinhisfrankeyes;norecordofexcessesinhishealthy,freshcomplexion;nounwholesomeordisturbedtastesinwhatshehadseenofhisruralpreferencesandunderstandingofnaturalbeauty.Tohaveattemptedanydirectquestioningthatwouldhaverevealedhisnameandidentitywouldhaveobligedhertospeakofherselfashisfather'sguest.Shebeganindirectly;hehadsaidhehadbeenareporter,andhewasstillachroniclerofthisstrangelife.Hehadofcourseheardofmanycasesoffamilyfeudsandestrangements?HerbrotherhadtoldherofsomedreadfulvendettashehadknownintheSouthwest,andhowwholefamilieshadbeendivided.Sinceshehadbeenhereshehadheardofoddcasesofbrothersmeetingaccidentallyafterlongandunaccountedseparations;ofhusbandssuddenlyconfrontedwithwivestheyhaddeserted;offathersencounteringdiscardedsons!
　　JohnMilton'sfacebetrayednouneasyconsciousness.Ifanythingitwasbeginningtoglowwithaboyishadmirationofthegraceandintelligenceofthefairspeaker,thatwasperhapsheightenedbyanassumptionofhalfcoquettishdiscomfiture.
　　"Youarelaughingatme!"shesaidfinally."Butinhumanandselfishasthesestoriesmayseem,andsometimesare,Ibelievethatthesecuriousestrangementsandseparationsoftencomefromsomefatalweaknessoftemperamentthatmightbestrengthened,orsometrivialmisunderstandingthatcouldbeexplained.Itisseparationthatmakesthemseemirrevocableonlybecausetheyareinexplicable,andavaguememoryalwaysseemsmoreterriblethanadefiniteone.Factsmaybeforgivenandforgotten,butmysterieshauntonealways.Ibelievethereareweak,sensitivepeoplewhodreadtoputtheirwrongsintoshape;thosearethekindwhosulk,andwhenyouaddseparationtosulking,reconciliationbecomesimpossible.Iknewaverysingularcaseofthatkindonce.Ifyoulike,I'lltellittoyou.Maybeyouwillbeable,someday,toweaveitintooneofyourwritings.Andit'squitetrue."
　　ItishardlynecessarytosaythatJohnMiltonhadnotbeentouchedbyanypersonalsignificanceinhiscompanion'sspeech,whatevershemayhaveintended;anditisequallytruethatwhethershehadpresentlyforgottenherpurpose,orhadbecomesuddenlyinterestedinherownconversation,herfacegrewmoreanimated,hermannermoreconfidential,andsomethingoftheyouthfulenthusiasmshehadshowninthemountainseemedtocomebacktoher.
　　"ImightsayithappenedanywhereandcallthepeopleM.orN.,butitreallydidoccurinmyownfamily,andalthoughIwasmuchyoungeratthetimeitimpressedmeverystrongly.Mycousin,whohadbeenmyplaymate,wasanorphan,andhadbeenintrustedtothecareofmyfather,whowashisguardian.Hewasalwaysacleverboy,butsingularlysensitiveandquicktotakeoffense.Perhapsitwasbecausethelittlepropertyhisfatherhadleftmadehimpartlydependentonmyfather,andthatIwasrich,butheseemedtofeelthedisparityinourpositions.Iwastooyoungtounderstandit;Ithinkitexistedonlyinhisimagination,forI
　　believeweweretreatedalike.ButIrememberthathewasfullofvaguethreatsofrunningawayandgoingtosea,andthatitwaspartofhisweaktemperamenttoterrifymewithhisextravagantconfidences.Iwasalwaysfrightenedwhen,afteroneofthosescenes,hewouldpackhisvaliseorperhapsonlytieupafewthingsinahandkerchief,asintheadvertisementpicturesoftherunawayslaves,anddeclarethatwewouldneverlayeyesuponhimagain.AtfirstIneversawtheridiculousnessofallthis,——forI
　　oughttohavetoldyouthathewasaratherdelicateandtimidboy,andquiteunfittedforaroughlifeoranyexposure,——butothersdid,andonedayIlaughedathimandtoldhimhewasafraid.I
　　shallneverforgettheexpressionofhisfaceandneverforgivemyselfforit.Hewentaway,——buthereturnedthenextday!Hethreatenedoncetocommitsuicide,lefthisclothesonthebankoftheriver,andcamehomeinanothersuitofclotheshehadtakenwithhim.WhenIwassentabroadtoschoolIlostsightofhim;
　　whenIreturnedhewasatcollege,apparentlyunchanged.Whenhecamehomeforvacation,farfromhavingbeensubduedbycontactwithstrangers,itseemedthathisunhappysensitivenesshadbeenonlyintensifiedbytheridiculeofhisfellows.Hehadevenacquiredamostridiculoustheoryaboutthedegradingeffectsofcivilization,andwantedtogobacktoastateofbarbarism.Hesaidthewildernesswastheonlytruehomeofman.Myfather,insteadofbearingwithwhatIbelievewashisinfirmity,drylyofferedhimthemeanstotryhisexperiment.HestartedforsomeplaceinTexas,sayingwewouldneverhearfromhimagain.Amonthafterhewroteformoremoney.Myfatherrepliedratherimpatiently,Isuppose,——Ineverknewexactlywhathewrote.Thatwassomeyearsago.Hehadtoldthetruthatlast,forweneverheardfromhimagain."
　　ItistobefearedthatJohnMiltonwasfollowingtheanimatedlipsandeyesofthefairspeakerratherthanherstory.Perhapsthatwasthereasonwhyhesaid,"Mayhenothavebeenadisappointedman?"
　　"Idon'tunderstand,"shesaidsimply.
　　"Perhaps,"saidJohnMiltonwithaboyishblush,"youmayhaveunconsciouslyraisedhopesinhisheart——and"——
　　"Ishouldhardlyattempttointerestachroniclerofadventurelikeyouinsuchaverycommonplace,every-daystyleofromance,"shesaid,withalittleimpatience,"evenifmyvanitycompelledmetomakesuchconfidencestoastranger.No,——itwasnothingquiteasvulgarasthat.And,"sheaddedquickly,withaplayfullyamusedsmileasshesawtheyoungfellow'sevidentdistress,"Ishouldhaveprobablyheardfromhimagain.Thosestoriesalwaysendinthatway."
　　"Andyouthink?"——saidJohnMilton.
　　"Ithink,"saidMrs.Ashwoodslowly,"thatheactuallydidcommitsuicide——oreffacedhimselfinsomeway,justasfirmlyasI
　　believehemighthavebeensavedbyjudicioustreatment.Otherwiseweshouldhaveheardfromhim.You'llsaythat'sonlyawoman'sreasoning——butIthinkourperceptionsareofteninstinctive,andI
　　knewhischaracter."
　　Stillfollowingtheplayofherdelicatefeaturesintoaromanceofhisownweaving,theimaginativeyoungreporterwhohadseensomuchfromtheheightsofRussianHillsaidearnestly,"ThenIhaveyourpermissiontousethismaterialatanyfuturetime?"
　　"Yes,"saidtheladysmilingly.
　　"AndyouwillnotmindifIshouldtakesomelibertieswiththetext?"
　　"Imustofcourseleavesomethingtoyourartistictaste.Butyouwillletmeseeit?"
　　Therewerevoicesoutsidenow,breakingthesilenceoftheveranda.
　　Theyhadbeensopreoccupiedasnottonoticethearrivalofahorseman.Stepscamealongthepassage;thelandlordreturned.
　　Mrs.Ashwoodturnedquicklytowardshim.
　　"Mr.Grant,ofyourparty,ma'am,tofetchyou."
　　Shesawanunmistakablechangeinheryoungfriend'smobileface.
　　"Iwillbereadyinamoment,"shesaidtothelandlord.Then,turningtoJohnMilton,thearch-hypocritesaidsweetly:"MybrothermusthaveknowninstinctivelythatIwasingoodhands,ashedidn'tcome.ButIamsorry,forIshouldhavesolikedtointroducehimtoyou——althoughbytheway,"withabrightsmile,"I
　　don'tthinkyouhaveyettoldmeyourname.IknowIcouldn'thaveFORGOTTENit."
　　"Harcourt,"saidJohnMilton,withahalf-embarrassedlaugh.
　　"Butyoumustcomeandseeme,Mr——Mr.Harcourt,"shesaid,producingacardfromacasealreadyinherfingers,"atmyhotel,andletmybrotherthankyouthereforyourkindnessandgallantrytoastranger.Ishallbehereafewweekslongerbeforewegosouthtolookforaplacewheremybrothercanwinter.DOcomeandseeme,althoughIcannotintroduceyoutoanythingasrealandbeautifulaswhatYOUhaveshownmeto-day.Good-by,Mr.Harcourt;
　　Iwon'ttroubleyoutocomedownandboreyourselfwithmyescort'squestionsandcongratulations."
　　Shebentherheadandallowedhersofteyestorestuponhiswithagraciousnessthatwasbeyondherspeech,pulledherveiloverhereyesagain,withaprettysuggestionthatshehadnofurtheruseforthem,andtakingherriding-skirtlightlyinherhandseemedtoglidefromtheroom.
　　OnherwaytoSanMateo,whereitappearedthedisorganizedpartyhadprolongedtheirvisittoacceptaninvitationtodinewithalocalmagnate,shewaspleasantlyconversationalwiththeslightlyabstractedGrant.Shewassosorrytohavegiventhemallthistroubleandanxiety!Ofcoursesheoughttohavewaitedattheforkoftheroad,butshehadneverdoubtedbutshecouldrejointhempresentlyonthemainroad.ShewasgladthatMissEuphemia'srunawayhorsehadbeenstoppedwithoutaccident;itwouldhavebeendreadfulifanythinghadhappenedtoHER;Mr.Harcourtseemedsowrappedupinhisgirls.Itwasapitytheyneverhadason——Ah?
　　Indeed!Thentherewasason?So——andfatherandsonhadquarreled?Thatwassosad.Andforsometriflingcause,nodoubt?
　　"Ibelievehemarriedthehousemaid,"saidGrantgrimly."Becareful!——Allowme."
　　"It'snouse!"saidMrs.Ashwood,flushingwithpinkimpatience,assherecoveredherseat,whichasuddenboltofhermustanghadimperiled,"Ireallycan'tmakeoutthetricksofthisbeast!
　　Thankyou,"sheadded,withasweetsmile,"butIthinkIcanmanagehimnow.Ican'tseewhyhestopped.I'llbemorecareful.
　　Youweresayingthesonwasmarried——surelynotthatboy!"
　　"Boy!"echoedGrant."Thenyouknow?"——
　　"Imeanofcoursehemustbeaboy——theyallgrewuphere——anditwasonlyfiveorsixyearsagothattheirparentsemigrated,"sheretortedalittleimpatiently."Andwhataboutthiscreature?"
　　"Yourhorse?"
　　"YouknowImeanthewomanhemarried.Ofcourseshewasolderthanhe——andcaughthim?"
　　"Ithinktherewasayearortwodifference,"saidGrantquietly.
　　"Yes,butyourgallantrykeepsyoufromtellingthetruth;whichisthatthewomen,incasesofthiskind,aremucholderandmoreexperienced."
　　"Arethey?Well,perhapssheis,NOW.Sheisdead."
　　Mrs.Ashwoodwalkedherhorse."Poorthing,"shesaid.Thenasuddenideatookpossessionofherandbroughtafilmtohereyes.
　　"Howlongago?"sheaskedinalowvoice.
　　"Aboutsixorsevenmonths,Ithink.Ibelievetherewasababywhodiedtoo."
　　Shecontinuedtowalkherhorseslowly,strokingitscurvedneck.
　　"Ithinkit'sperfectlyshameful!"shesaidsuddenly.
　　"Notsobadasthat,Mrs.Ashwood,surely.Thegirlmayhavelovedhim——andhe"——
　　"YouknowperfectlywhatImean,Mr.Grant.Ispeakoftheconductofthemotherandfatherandthosetwosisters!"
　　Grantslightlyelevatedhiseyebrows."Butyouforget,Mrs.
　　Ashwood.ItwasyoungHarcourtandhiswife'sownact.Theypreferredtotaketheirownpathandkeepit."
　　"Ithink,"saidMrs.Ashwoodauthoritatively,"thattheideaofleavingthosetwounfortunatechildrentosufferandstruggleonalone——outthere——onthesandhillsofSanFrancisco——wassimplydisgraceful!"
　　Laterthateveningshewasunreasonablyannoyedtofindthatherbrother,Mr.JohnShipley,hadtakenadvantageoftheabsenceofGranttopaymarkedattentiontoClementina,andhadevenprevaileduponthatimperiousgoddesstoaccompanyhimafterdinneronamoonlightstrollupontheverandaandterracesofLosPajaros.
　　NeverthelesssheseemedtorecoverherspiritsenoughtotalkvolublyofthebeautifulsceneryshehaddiscoveredinherlateperilousabandonmentinthewildsoftheCoastRange;toaverherintentiontovisititagain;tospeakofitinaseverelypracticalwayasofferingafarbettersiteforthecottagesoftheyoungmarriedcouplesjustbeginninglifethantheoutskirtsoftownsorthebleaksandhillsofSanFrancisco;andthencebygracefuldegreesintoadissertationuponpopularfallaciesinregardtohastymarriages,andthemistakenideaofsomeparentsinnotacceptingtheinevitableandmakingthebestofit.ShestillfoundtimetoenterintoanappreciativeandexhaustivecriticismupontheliteratureandjournalisticenterpriseofthePacificCoastwiththeproprietorofthe"Pioneer,"andtocausethatgentlemantodeclarethatwhateverpeoplemightsayaboutrichandfashionableEasternwomen,thatMrs.Ashwood'sheadwasaboutaslevelasitwaspretty.
　　Thenextmorningfoundhermorethoughtfulandsubdued,andwhenherbrothercameuponhersittingontheveranda,whilethepartywerepreparingtoreturn,shewasreadinganewspaperslipthatshehadtakenfromherporte-monnaie,withafacethatwaspartlyshadowed.
　　"Whathaveyoustruckthere,Conny?"saidherbrothergayly."Itlookstooseriousforarecipe."
　　"SomethingIshouldlikeyoutoreadsometime,Jack,"shesaid,liftingherlasheswithaslighttimidity,"ifyouwouldtakethetrouble.Ireallywonderhowitwouldimpressyou."
　　"Passitover,"saidJackShipleygood-humoredly,withhiscigarbetweenhislips."I'lltakeitnow."
　　Shehandedhimtheslipandturnedpartlyaway;hetookit,glancedatitsideways,turneditover,andsuddenlyhislookgrewconcentrated,andhetookthecigarfromhislips.