joy of perfect anticipation that years of actual possession might
never bring。
The sun seemed to go down in a rosy dream of his own happiness； as
he still sat there。 Later； the shadows of the trees thickened and
surrounded him； and still later fell the calm of a quiet evening
sky with far…spaced passionless stars； that seemed as little
troubled by what they looked upon as he was by the stealthy
creeping life in the grasses and underbrush at his feet。 The dull
patter of soft little feet in the soft dust of the road； the gentle
gleam of moist and wondering little eyes on the branches and in the
mossy edges of the boulder； did not disturb him。 He sat patiently
through it all； as if he had not yet made up his mind。
But when the stage came with the flashing sun the next morning； and
the irresistible clamor of life and action； the driver suddenly
laid his four spirited horses on their haunches before the quiet
spot。 The express messenger clambered down from the box； and
approached what seemed to be a heap of cast…off clothes upon the
boulder。
〃He don't seem to be drunk；〃 he said； in reply to a querulous
interrogation from the passengers。 〃I can't make him out。 His
eyes are open； but he cannot speak or move。 Take a look at him；
Doc。〃
A rough unprofessional…looking man here descended from the inside
of the coach； and； carelessly thrusting aside the other curious
passengers； suddenly leant over the heap of clothes in a
professional attitude。
〃He is dead；〃 said one of the passengers。
The rough man let the passive head sink softly down again。 〃No
such luck for him；〃 he said curtly； but not unkindly。 〃It's a
stroke of paralysisand about as big as they make 'em。 It's a
toss…up if he ever speaks or moves again as long as he lives。〃
CHAPTER I
When Alvin Mulrady announced his intention of growing potatoes and
garden 〃truck〃 on the green slopes of Los Gatos； the mining
community of that region； and the adjacent hamlet of 〃Rough…and…
Ready；〃 regarded it with the contemptuous indifference usually
shown by those adventurers towards all bucolic pursuits。 There was
certainly no active objection to the occupation of two hillsides；
which gave so little promise to the prospector for gold that it was
currently reported that a single prospector； called 〃Slinn；〃 had
once gone mad or imbecile through repeated failures。 The only
opposition came； incongruously enough； from the original pastoral
owner of the soil； one Don Ramon Alvarado； whose claim for seven
leagues of hill and valley； including the now prosperous towns of
Rough…and…Ready and Red Dog； was met with simple derision from the
squatters and miners。 〃Looks ez ef we woz goin' to travel three
thousand miles to open up his dd old wilderness； and then pay for
the increased valoo we give itdon't it？ Oh； yes； certainly！〃 was
their ironical commentary。 Mulrady might have been pardoned for
adopting this popular opinion； but by an equally incongruous
sentiment； peculiar； however； to the man； he called upon Don Ramon；
and actually offered to purchase the land； or 〃go shares〃 with him
in the agricultural profits。 It was alleged that the Don was so
struck with this concession that he not only granted the land； but
struck up a quaint reserved friendship for the simple…minded
agriculturist and his family。 It is scarcely necessary to add that
this intimacy was viewed by the miners with the contempt that it
deserved。 They would have been more contemptuous； however； had
they known the opinion that Don Ramon entertained of their
particular vocation； and which he early confided to Mulrady。
〃They are savages who expect to reap where they have not sown； to
take out of the earth without returning anything to it but their
precious carcasses； heathens； who worship the mere stones they dig
up。〃 〃And was there no Spaniard who ever dug gold？〃 asked Mulrady；
simply。 〃Ah； there are Spaniards and Moors；〃 responded Don Ramon；
sententiously。 〃Gold has been dug； and by caballeros； but no good
ever came of it。 There were Alvarados in Sonora； look you； who had
mines of SILVER； and worked them with peons and mules； and lost
their moneya gold mine to work a silver onelike gentlemen！ But
this grubbing in the dirt with one's fingers； that a little gold
may stick to them； is not for caballeros。 And then； one says
nothing of the curse。〃
〃The curse！〃 echoed Mary Mulrady； with youthful feminine
superstition。 〃What is that？〃
〃You knew not； friend Mulrady； that when these lands were given to
my ancestors by Charles V。； the Bishop of Monterey laid a curse
upon any who should desecrate them。 Good！ Let us see！ Of the
three Americanos who founded yonder town； one was shot； another
died of a feverpoisoned； you understand； by the soiland the
last got himself crazy of aguardiente。 Even the scientifico；* who
came here years ago and spied into the trees and the herbs： he was
afterwards punished for his profanation； and died of an accident in
other lands。 But；〃 added Don Ramon； with grave courtesy； 〃this
touches not yourself。 Through me； YOU are of the soil。〃
* Don Ramon probably alluded to the eminent naturalist Douglas； who
visited California before the gold excitement； and died of an
accident in the Sandwich Islands。
Indeed； it would seem as if a secure if not a rapid prosperity was
the result of Don Ramon's manorial patronage。 The potato patch and
market garden flourished exceedingly； the rich soil responded with
magnificent vagaries of growth； the even sunshine set the seasons
at defiance with extraordinary and premature crops。 The salt pork
and biscuit consuming settlers did not allow their contempt of
Mulrady's occupation to prevent their profiting by this opportunity
for changing their diet。 The gold they had taken from the soil
presently began to flow into his pockets in exchange for his more
modest treasures。 The little cabin； which barely sheltered his
familya wife； son； and daughterwas enlarged； extended； and
refitted； but in turn abandoned for a more pretentious house on the
opposite hill。 A whitewashed fence replaced the rudely…split
rails； which had kept out the wilderness。 By degrees； the first
evidences of cultivationthe gashes of red soil； the piles of
brush and undergrowth； the bared boulders； and heaps of stone
melted away； and were lost under a carpet of lighter green； which
made an oasis in the tawny desert of wild oats on the hillside。
Water was the only free boon denied this Garden of Eden； what was
necessary for irrigation had to be brought from a mining ditch at
great expense； and was of insufficient quantity。 In this emergency
Mulrady thought of sinking an artesian well on the sunny slope
beside his house； not； however； without serious consultation and
much objection from his Spanish patron。 With great austerity Don
Ramon pointed out that this trifling with the entrails of the earth
was not only an indignity to Nature almost equal to shaft…sinking
and tunneling； but was a disturbance of vested interests。 〃I and
my fathers； San Diego rest them！〃 said Don Ramon； crossing himself；
〃were content with wells and cisterns； filled by Heaven at its
appointed seasons； the cattle； dumb brutes though they were； knew
where to find water when they wanted it。 But thou sayest truly；〃
he added； with a sigh； 〃that was before streams and rain were
choked with hellish engines； and poisoned with their spume。 Go on；
friend Mulrady； dig and bore if thou wilt； but in a seemly fashion；
and not with impious earthquakes of devilish gunpowder。〃
With this concession Alvin Mulrady began to sink his first artesian
shaft。 Being debarred the auxiliaries of steam and gunpowder； the
work went on slowly。 The market garden did not suffer meantime； as
Mulrady had employed two Chinamen to take charge of the ruder
tillage； while he superintended the engineering work of the well。
This trifling incident marked an epoch in the social condition of
the family。 Mrs。 Mulrady at once assumed a conscious importance
among her neighbors。 She spoke of her husband's 〃men〃； she alluded
to the well as 〃the works〃； she checked the easy frontier
familiarity of her customers with pretty Mary Mulrady； her
seventeen…year…old daughter。 Simple Alvin Mulrady looked with
astonishment at this sudden development of the germ planted in all
feminine nature to expand in the slightest sunshine of prosperity。
〃Look yer； Malviny； ain't ye rather puttin' on airs with the boys
that want to be civil to Mamie？ Like as not one of 'em may be
makin' up to her already。〃 〃You don't mean to say； Alvin Mulrady；〃
responded Mrs。 Mulrady； with sudden severity； 〃that you ever
thought of givin' your daughter to a common miner； or that I'm
goin' to allow her to marry out of our own set？〃 〃Our own set！〃
echoed Mulrady feebly； blinking at her in astonishment； and then
glancing hurriedly across at his freckle…faced son and the two
Chinamen at work in the cabbages。 〃Oh； you know what I mean；〃 said
Mrs。 Mulrady sharply； 〃the set that we move in。 The Alvarados and
their friends！ Doesn't the old Don come here every day； and ain't
his son the right age for Mamie？ And ain't they the real first
families hereall the same as if they were noblemen？ No； leave
Mamie to me； and keep to your shaft； there never was a man yet had
the least sabe about these things； or knew what was due to his
family。〃 Like most of his larger minded； but feebler equipped sex；
Mulrady was too glad to accept the truth of the latter proposition；
which left the meannesses of life to feminine manipulation； and
went off to his shaft on the hillside。 But during that afternoon
he was perplexed and troubled。 He was too loyal a husband not to
be pleased with this proof of an unexpected and superior foresight
in his wife； although he was； like all husbands； a little startled
by it。 He tried to dismiss it from his mind。 But looking down
from the hillside upon his little venture； where gradual increase
and prosperity had not been beyond his faculties to control and
understand； he found himself haunted by the more ambitious projects
of his helpmate。 From his own knowledge of men； he doubted if Don
Ramon； any more than himse