"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?"