Hespokefortenminuteswithafluencyandcomprehensivebusiness-
likedirectnessthatsurprisedGrant.Hewasnotthere,hesaid,toglorifywhathadbeendonebyhimself,hisfamily,orhisfriendsinTasajara.Otherswhoweretofollowhimmightdothat,oratleastmightbebetterabletoexplainandexpatiateupontheadvantagesoftheinstitutiontheyhadjustopened,anditssocial,moral,andreligiouseffectuponthecommunity.Hewasthereasabusinessmantodemonstratetothem——ashehadalwaysdoneandalwayshopedtodo——themoneyvalueofimprovement;theprofit——iftheymightchoosetocallit——ofwell-regulatedandproperlycalculatedspeculation.Theplotoflanduponwhichtheystood,ofwhichthebuildingoccupiedonlyoneeighth,wasboughttwoyearsbeforefortenthousanddollars.Whentheplansofthebuildingwerecompletedamonthafterwards,thevalueoftheremainingseveneighthshadrisenenoughtodefraythecostoftheentireconstruction.Hewasinapositiontotellthemthatonlythatmorningtheadjacentproperty,subdividedandlaidoutinstreetsandbuilding-plots,hadbeenadmittedintothecorporatelimitsofthecity;andthatonthenextanniversaryofthebuildingtheywouldapproachitthroughanavenueoffinisheddwellings!Anoutburstofapplausefollowedthespeaker\'spracticalclimax;thefreshyoungfacesofhisauditorsglowedwithinvincibleenthusiasm;theafternoontrade-winds,fresheningoverthelimitlessplainbeyond,tossedthebrightbannersatthewindowsaswithsympatheticrejoicing,andafewodorouspineshavings,overlookedinacornerinthehurryofpreparation,touchedbyaneddyingzephyr,creptoutandrolledinyellowringletsacrossthefloor.
TheReverendDoctorPilsburyaroseinamoredecoroussilence.Hehadlistenedapprovingly,admiringly,hemightsayevenreverently,totheprecedingspeaker.Butalthoughhisdistinguishedfriendhad,withhisusualmodesty,madelightofhisownservicesandthoseofhischarmingfamily,he,thespeaker,hadnotrisentosinghispraises.No;itwasnotinthisHall,projectedbyhisforesightandraisedbyhisliberality;inthistown,calledintoexistencebyhisenergyandstampedbyhisattributes;inthiscounty,developedbyhisgeniusandsustainedbyhiscapital;ay,inthisveryStatewhosegrandeurwasmadepossiblebysuchgiantsashe,——itwasnotinanyoftheseplacesthatitwasnecessarytopraiseDanielHarcourt,orthatapanegyricofhimwouldbemorethanidlerepetition.Norwouldhe,asthatdistinguishedmanhadsuggested,enlargeuponthesocial,moral,andreligiousbenefitsoftheimprovementtheywerenowcelebrating.Itwaswrittenonthehappy,innocentfaces,inthefestivegarb,inthedecorousdemeanor,intheintelligenteyesthatsparkledaroundhim,inthepresenceofthoseofhisparishionerswhomhecouldmeetasfreelyhereto-dayasinhisownchurchonSunday.Whatthencouldhesay?Whatthenwastheretosay?Perhapsheshouldsaynothingifitwerenotforthepresenceoftheyoungbeforehim——HestoppedandfixedhiseyespaternallyontheyouthfulJohnnyBillings,whowithahalfdozenotherSunday-schoolscholarshadbeenmarshaledbeforethereverendspeaker——AndwhatwastobethelessonTHEY
weretolearnfromit?Theyhadheardwhathadbeenachievedbylabor,enterprise,anddiligence.Perhapstheywouldbelieve,andnaturallytoo,thatwhatlabor,enterprise,anddiligencehaddonecouldbedoneagain.Butwasthatall?Wastherenothingbehindthesequalities——which,afterall,werewithinthereachofeveryonehere?Hadtheyeverthoughtthatbackofeverypioneer,everyexplorer,everypathfinder,everyfounderandcreator,therewasstillanother?Therewasnoterraincognitasorareastobeunknowntoone;nowildernesssoremoteastobebeyondagreaterkenthantheirs;nowastesotracklessbutthatonehadalreadypassedthatway!Didtheyeverreflectthatwhenthedullseaebbedandflowedinthetulesovertheveryspotwheretheywerenowstanding,whoitwasthatalsoforesaw,conceived,andordainedthemightychangethatwouldtakeplace;whoevenguidedanddirectedthefeeblemeansemployedtoworkit;whosespiritmoved,asinstillolderdaysofwhichtheyhadread,overthefaceofthestagnantwaters?Perhapstheyhad.WhothenwastherealpioneerofTasajara,——backoftheHarcourts,thePeterses,theBillingses,andWingates?Thereverendgentlemangentlypausedforareply.
Itwasgivenintheclearbutstartledaccentsofthehalffrightened,half-fascinatedJohnnyBillings,inthreewords:——
\"\'LigeCurtis,sir!\"
CHAPTERVI
Thetradewind,that,blowingdirectlyfromtheGoldenGate,seemedtoconcentrateitsfullforceuponthewesternslopeofRussianHill,mighthavedismayedanyclimberlesshopefulandsanguinethanthatmostimaginativeofnewspaperreportersandmostyouthfulofhusbands,JohnMiltonHarcourt.Butforallthatitwasanhonestwind,anditsdry,practicalenergyandsalt-pervadingbreathonlyseemedtostinghimtogreaterandmoreenthusiasticexertions,until,quiteatthesummitofthehillandlastofastragglinglineoflittlecottageshalfsubmergedindriftingsand,hestooduponhisownhumbleporch.
\"Iwasthinking,comingupthehill,Loo,\"hesaid,burstingintothesitting-room,pantingly,\"ofwritingsomethingaboutthefutureofthehill!Howitwilllookfiftyyearsfromnow,allterracedwithhousesandgardens!——andrightuphereakindofAcropolis,don\'tyouknow.Ihadquiteapictureofitinmymindjustnow.\"
Aplainly-dressedyoungwomanwithaprettyface,that,however,lookedasifithadbeenprematurelysappedofcolorandvitality,herelaidasidesomewhitesewingshehadinherlap,andsaid:——
\"Butyoudidthatoncebefore,Milty,andyouknowthe\"Herald\"
wouldn\'ttakeitbecausetheysaiditwasafreenoticeofMr.
Boorem\'sbuildinglots,andhedidn\'tadvertiseinthe\"Herald.\"I
alwaystoldyouthatyououghttohaveseenBooremfirst.\"
Theyoungfellowblinkedhiseyeswithamomentaryarrestofthatbuoyanthopefulnesswhichwastheirpeculiarcharacteristic,butneverthelessrepliedwithundauntedcheerfulness,\"Iforgot.
Anyhow,it\'sallthesame,forIworkeditintothat\'SundayWalk.\'
Andit\'sjustaseasytowriteittheotherway,yousee,——lookingback,DOWNTHEHILL,youknow.SomethingabouttheoldPadrestoilingthroughthesandjustbeforetheAngelus;orasfarbackasSirFrancisDrake\'stime,andhavearunawayboat\'screw,comingashoretolookforgoldthattheMexicanshadtalkedof.Lord!
that\'seasyenough!Itellyouwhat,Loo,it\'sworthlivingupherejustfortheinspiration.\"Evenwhileboyishlyexhalingthisenthusiasmhewasalsodivestinghimselfofcertainbundleswhosecontentsseemedtoimplythathehadbroughthisdinnerwithhim,——
theyouthfulMrs.Harcourtsettingthetableinaperfunctory,listlesswaythatcontrastedoddlywithherhusband\'scheerfulenergy.
\"Youhaven\'theardofanyregularsituationyet?\"sheaskedabstractedly.
\"No,——notexactly,\"hereplied.\"But[buoyantly]it\'sagreatdealbetterformenottotakeanythinginahurryandtiemyselftoanyparticularline.Now,I\'mquitefree.\"
\"AndIsupposeyouhaven\'tseenthatMr.Fletcheragain?\"shecontinued.
\"No.Heonlywantedtoknowsomethingaboutme.That\'sthewaywiththemall,Loo.WheneverIapplyforworkanywhereit\'salways:\'Soyou\'reDan\'lHarcourt\'sson,eh?Quarreledwiththeoldman?Badjob;bettermakeitup!You\'llmakemorestickin\'tohim.He\'sworthmillions!\'EverybodyseemstothinkeverythingofHIM,asifIhadnoindividualitybeyondthat,I\'veagoodmindtochangemyname.\"
\"Andpraywhatwouldminebethen?\"
Therewassomuchirritationinhervoicethathedrewnearerherandgentlyputhisarmaroundherwaist.\"Why,whateverminewas,darling,\"hesaidwithatendersmile.\"Youdidn\'tfallinlovewithanyparticularname,didyou,Loo?\"
\"No,butImarriedaparticularone,\"shesaidquickly.
Hiseyelidsquiveredagain,asifhewasavoidingsomeunpleasantlystaringsuggestion,andshestopped.
\"YouknowwhatImean,dear,\"shesaid,withaquicklittlelaugh.
\"Justbecauseyourfather\'sanoldcrosspatch,YOUhaven\'tlostyourrightstohisnameandproperty.Andthosepeoplewhosayyououghttomakeitupperhapsknowwhat\'sforthebest.\"
\"Butyourememberwhathesaidofyou,Loo?\"saidtheyoungmanwithaflashingeye.\"DoyouthinkIcaneverforgetthat?\"
\"ButyouDOforgetit,dear;youforgetitwhenyougointownamongfreshfacesandpeople;whenyouarelookingforwork.Youforgetitwhenyou\'reatworkwritingyourcopy,——forI\'veseenyousmileasyouwrote.Youforgetitclimbingupthedreadfulsand,foryouwerethinkingjustnowofwhathappenedyearsago,oristohappenyearstocome.AndIwanttoforgetittoo,Milty.Idon\'twanttosithereallday,thinkingofit,withthewinddrivingthesandagainstthewindow,andnothingtolookatbutthosewhitetombsinLoneMountainCemetery,andthosewhitecapsthatmightbegravestonestoo,andnotasoultotalktoorevenseepassbyuntilIfeelasifIweredeadandburiedalso.Ifyouwereme——
you——you——you——couldn\'thelpcryingtoo!\"
Indeedhewasverynearitnow.Forashecaughtherinhisarms,suddenlyseeingwithalover\'ssympathyandthepoet\'sswifterimaginationallthatshehadseenandevenmore,hewasaghastatthevisionconjured.Inherdelicatehealthandlonelinesshowdreadfulmusthavebeenthesemonotonousdays,andthisglittering,cruelsea!Whataselfishbrutehewas!Yetashestoodthereholdingher,silentlyandrhythmicallymarkinghistendernessandremorsefulfeelingsbyrockingherfromsidetosidelikealanguidmetronome,shequietlydisengagedherwetlashesfromhisshoulderandsaidinquiteanothertone:——
\"SotheywereallatTasajaralastweek?\"
\"Who,dear?\"
\"Yourfatherandsisters.\"
\"Yes,\"saidJohnMilton,hesitatingly.
\"Andthey\'vetakenbackyoursisterafterherdivorce?\"
Thestaringobtrusivenessofthisfactapparentlymadeherhusband\'sbrightsympatheticeyeblinkasbefore.
\"Andifyouweretodivorceme,YOUwouldbetakenbacktoo,\"sheaddedquickly,suddenlywithdrawingherselfwithapettishmovementandwalkingtothewindow.
Buthefollowed.\"Don\'ttalkinthatway,Loo!Don\'tlookinthatway,dear!\"hesaid,takingherhandgently,yetnotwithoutasenseofsomeinconsistencyinherconductthatjarreduponhisownsimpledirectness.\"Youknowthatnothingcanpartusnow.Iwaswrongtoletmylittlegirlworryherselfallalonehere,butI——I——
thoughtitwasallso——sobrightandfreeoutonthishill,——
lookingfarawaybeyondtheGoldenGate,——asfarasCathay,youknow,andsuchachangefromthosedismalflatsofTasajaraandthatawfulstretchoftules.Butit\'sallrightnow.AndnowthatIknowhowyoufeel,we\'llgoelsewhere.\"
Shedidnotreply.Perhapsshefounditdifficulttokeepupherinjuredattitudeinthefaceofherhusband\'sgentleness.Perhapsherattentionhadbeenattractedbytheunusualspectacleofastranger,whohadjustmountedthehillandwasnowslowlypassingalongthelineofcottageswithahesitatingairofinquiry.\"Hemaybelookingforthishouse,——foryou,\"shesaidinanentirelynewtoneofinterest.\"Runoutandsee.Itmaybesomeonewhowants\"——
\"Anarticle,\"saidMiltoncheerfully.\"ByJove!heIScominghere.\"
Thestrangerwasindeedapproachingthelittlecottage,andwithapparentlysomeconfidence.Hewasawell-dressed,well-mademan,whoseagelookeduncertainfromthecontrastbetweenhisheavybrownmoustacheandhishair,that,curlingunderthebrimofhishat,wasalmostwhiteincolor.Theyoungmanstarted,andsaid,hurriedly:\"IreallybelieveitisFletcher,——theysayhishairturnedwhitefromthePanamafever.\"
ItwasindeedMr.Fletcherwhoenteredandintroducedhimself,——
agentlereservedman,withsomethingofthatcolorlessnessofprematureageinhisspeechwhichwasobservableinhishair.HehadheardofMr.Harcourtfromafriendwhohadrecommendedhimhighly.AsMr.Harcourthadprobablybeentold,he,thespeaker,wasabouttoembarksomecapitalinafirst-classnewspaperinSanFrancisco,andshouldselectthestaffhimself.Hewantedtosecureonlyfirst-ratetalent,——butaboveall,youthfulness,directness,andoriginality.The\"Clarion,\"forthatwastobeitsname,wastohavenothing\"oldfogy\"aboutit.No.ItwasdistinctlytobetheorganofYoungCalifornia!Thisandmuchmorefromthegravelipsoftheelderlyyoungman,whosespeechseemedtobedividedbetweenthepretty,butequallyfaded,youngwife,andtheonepersonificationofinvincibleyouthpresent,——herhusband.
\"ButIfearIhaveinterruptedyourhouseholdduties,\"hesaidpleasantly.\"Youwerepreparingdinner.Praygoon.Andletmehelpyou,——I\'mnotabadcook,——andyoucangivememyrewardbylettingmeshareitwithyou,fortheclimbupherehassharpenedmyappetite.Wecantalkaswegoon.\"
Itwasinvaintoprotest;therewassomethingpaternalaswellaspracticalinthecamaraderieofthisactualcapitalistandpossibleMaecenasandpatronashequietlyhunguphishatandovercoat,andhelpedtosetthetablewithapracticedhand.Nor,ashesuggested,didtheconversationfalter,andbeforetheyhadtakentheirseatsatthefrugalboardhehadalreadyengagedJohnMiltonHarcourtasassistanteditorofthe\"Clarion\"atasalarythatseemedprincelytothissonofamillionaire!Theyoungwifemeantimehadtakenactivepartinthediscussion;whetheritwasvaguelyunderstoodthatthepossessionofpoeticalandimaginativefacultiesprecludedanycapacityforbusiness,orwhetheritwasowingtotheapparentsuperiormaturityofMrs.Harcourtandthestranger,itwascertainthatTHEYarrangedthepracticaldetailsoftheengagement,andthattheyouthfulhusbandsatsilent,merelyofferinghisalwayshopefulandsanguineconsent.
\"You\'lltakeahousenearertotown,Isuppose?\"continuedMr.
Fletchertothelady,\"thoughyou\'veacharmingviewhere.I
supposeitwasquiteachangefromTasajaraandyourfather-in-
law\'shouse?Idaresayhehadasfineaplacethere——onhisownhomestead——ashehashere?\"
YoungHarcourtdroppedhissensitiveeyelidsagain.Itseemedhardthathecouldnevergetawayfromtheseallusionstohisfather!
Perhapsitwasonlytothatrelationshipthathewasindebtedforhisvisitor\'skindness.Inhissimplehonestyhecouldnotbearthethoughtofsuchamisapprehension.\"Perhaps,Mr.Fletcher,youdonotknow,\"hesaid,\"thatmyfatherisnotontermswithme,andthatweneitherexpectanythingnorcouldweevertakeanythingfromhim.Couldwe,Loo?\"Headdedtheuselessquestionpartlybecausehesawthathiswife\'sfacebetrayedlittlesympathywithhim,andpartlythatFletcherwaslookingathercuriously,asifforconfirmation.ButthiswasanotherofJohnMilton\'strialsasanimaginativereporter;nobodyeverseemedtocareforhispracticalopinionsorfacts!
\"Mr.Fletcherisnotinterestedinourlittlefamilydifferences,Milty,\"shesaid,lookingatMr.Fletcher,however,insteadofhim.
\"You\'reDanielHarcourt\'sSONwhateverhappens.\"
Thecloudthathadpassedovertheyoungman\'sfaceandeyesdidnot,however,escapeMr.Fletcher\'sattention,forhesmiled,andaddedgayly,\"AndIhopemyvaluedlieutenantinanycase.\"
NeverthelessJohnMiltonwasquitereadytoavailhimselfofaninspirationtofetchsomecigarsforhisguestfromthebaroftheSea-ViewHouseontheslopeofthehillbeyond,andtherebyavoidafatefulsubject.Onceinthefreshairagainhepromptlyrecoveredhisboyishspirits.Thelightflyingscudhadalreadyeffacedthefirstrisingstars;thelowercreepingsea-foghadalreadyblottedoutthewesternshoreandsea;butbelowhimtotheeasttheglitteringlightsofthecityseemedtostartupwithanew,mysterious,anddazzlingbrilliancy.ItwasthevalleyofdiamondsthatSindbadsawlyingalmostathisfeet!Perhapssomewheretherethelightofhisownfameandfortunewasalreadybeginningtotwinkle!
Hereturnedtohishumbleroofjoyousandinspired.Asheenteredthehallheheardhiswife\'svoiceandhisownnamementioned,followedbythatawkward,meaninglesssilenceonhisentrancewhichsoplainlyindicatedeitherthathehadbeenthesubjectofconversationorthatitwasnotforhisears.ItwasadismalreminderofhisboyhoodatSidonandTasajara.Buthewastoofullofhopeandambitiontoheeditto-night,andlater,whenMr.
Fletcherhadtakenhisdeparture,hispent-upenthusiasmburstoutbeforehisyouthfulpartner.Hadsherealizedthattheirstruggleswereovernow,thattheirfuturewassecure?Theyneednolongerfeareverbeingforcedtotakebountyfromthefamily;theywereindependentofthemall!Hewouldmakeanameforhimselfthatshouldbedistinctfromhisfather\'sasheshouldmakeafortunethatwouldbetheirsalone.Theyoungwifesmiled.\"Butallthatneednotpreventyou,dear,fromclaimingyourRIGHTSwhenthetimecomes.\"
\"ButifIscorntomaketheclaimortakeapennyofhis,Loo?\"
\"Yousayyouscorntotakethemoneyyouthinkyourfathergotbyameretrick,——atthebest,——anddidn\'tearn.Andnowyouwillbeabletoshowyoucanlivewithoutit,andearnyourownfortune.
Well,dear,forthatveryreasonwhyshouldyouletyourfatherandothersenjoyandwastewhatisfairlyyourshare?ForitisYOUR
sharewhetheritcametoyourfatherfairlyornot;andifnot,itisstillyourduty,believingasyoudo,toclaimitfromhim,thatatleastYOUmaydowithitwhatyouchoose.Youmightwanttorestoreit——to——to——somebody.\"
Theyoungmanlaughed.\"But,mydearLoo!supposethatIwereweakenoughtoclaimit,doyouthinkmyfatherwouldgiveitup?Hehastheright,andnolawcouldforcehimtoyieldtomemorethanhechooses.\"
\"Notthelaw,butYOUcould.\"
\"Idon\'tunderstandyou,\"hesaidquickly.
\"Youcouldforcehimbysimplytellinghimwhatyouoncetoldme.\"
JohnMiltondrewback,andhishanddroppedlooselyfromhiswife\'s.Thecolorlefthisfreshyoungface;thelightquiveredforamomentandthenbecamefixedandsetinhiseyes.Forthatmomenthelookedtenyearshersenior.\"Iwaswrongevertotellevenyouthat,Loo,\"hesaidinalowvoice.\"Youarewrongtoeverremindmeofit.Forgetitfromthismoment,asyouvalueourloveandwantittoliveandberemembered.Andforget,Loo,asI
do,——andevershall,——thatyoueversuggestedtometousemysecretinthewayyoudidjustnow.\"
ButhereMrs.Harcourtburstintotears,moretouchedbythealterationinherhusband\'smanner,Ifear,thanbyanycontritionforwrongdoing.Ofcourseifhewishedtowithdrawhisconfidencesfromher,justashehadalmostconfessedhewishedtowithdrawhisNAME,shecouldn\'thelpit,butitwashardthatwhenshesattherealldaylongtryingtothinkwhatwasbestforthem,sheshouldbeblamed!AtwhichthequietandforgivingJohnMiltonsmiledremorsefullyandtriedtocomforther.Neverthelessanoccasionalodd,indefinablechillseemedtocreepacrossthefeverishenthusiasmwithwhichhewascelebratingthisdayoffortune.Andyetheneitherknewnorsuspecteduntillongafterthathisfoolishwifehadthatnighthalfbetrayedhissecrettothestranger!
ThenextdayhepresentedanoteofintroductionfromMr.Fletchertothebusinessmanagerofthe\"Clarion,\"andthefollowingmorningwasdulyinstalledinoffice.Hedidnotseehisbenefactoragain;
thatsinglevisitwasleftinthemysteryandisolationofanangelicepisode.ItlaterappearedthatotherandlargerinterestsintheSanJosevalleyclaimedhispatron\'sresidenceandattendance;
onlythecapitalandgeneralpurposeofthepaper——todevelopintoapartyorganintheinterestofhispossiblesenatorialaspirationsindueseason——wasfurnishedbyhim.GratefulasJohnMiltonfelttowardshim,hewasrelieved;itseemedprobablethatMr.FletcherHADselectedhimonhisindividualmerits,andnotasthesonofamillionaire.
Hethrewhimselfintohisworkwithhisoldhopefulenthusiasm,andperhapsanoriginalityofmethodthatwaspartofhissingularindependence.Withoutthestudent\'strainingorrestraint,——forhistwoyears\'schoolingatTasajaraduringhisparents\'prosperitycametoolatetoactasadiscipline,——hewasunfetteredbyanyrules,andguidedonlybyanunerringinstinctivetastethatbecamenearbeinggenius.Hewasabrilliantandoriginal,ifnotalwaysaprofoundandaccurate,reporter.Bydegreeshebecameanaccustomedinteresttothereadersofthe\"Clarion;\"thenaninfluence.Actorsthemselvesinmanyafiercedrama,livinglivesofdevotion,emotion,andpicturesqueincident,theyhadsatisfiedthemselveswithonlythebriefestandmostpracticaldailyrecordoftheiradventure,andevenatfirstweredazedandstartledtofindthatmanyofthemhadbeenheroesandsomepoets.ThestealthyboyishreaderofromanticchronicleatSidonhadlearnedbyheartthechivalrousstoryoftheemigration.Thesecondcolumnofthe\"Clarion\"becamefamousevenwhilethefigureofitsyouthfulwriter,unknownandunrecognized,wasstillnightlyclimbingthesandsofRussianHill,andevenlookingdownasbeforeonthelightsofthegrowingcity,withoutathoughtthathehadaddedtothatglitteringconstellation.
Cheerfulandcontentedwiththeexerciseofwork,hewouldhavebeenhappybutforthegradualhauntingofanotherdreadwhichpresentlybegantodraghimatearlierhoursupthesteeppathtohislittlehome;tohalthimbeforethedoorwiththequickenedbreathofananxietyhewouldscarcelyconfesstohimself,andsometimesholdhimaimlesslyawholedaybeneathhisroof.FortheprettybutdelicateMrs.Harcourt,likeothersofherclass,hadaddedaweakandineffectivematernitytotheirotherconjugaltrials,andoneearlydawnababywasbornthatlingeredwiththemscarcelylongerthanthemorningmistandexhaledwiththerisingsun.Theyoungwiferegainedherstrengthslowly,——soslowlythattheyouthfulhusbandbroughthisworkattimestothehousetokeephercompany.Andasingularchangehadcomeoverher.Shenolongertalkedofthepast,norofhisfamily.Asifthelittlelifethathadpassedwiththatmorningmisthadrepresentedsomeascendingexpiatorysacrifice,itseemedtohavebroughtthemintoclosercommunion.
Yetherweakconditionmadehimconcealanothertroublethathadcomeuponhim.Itwasinthethirdmonthofhisemploymentonthe\"Clarion\"thatoneafternoon,whilecorrectingsomeproofsonhischief\'sdesk,hecameuponthefollowingeditorialparagraph:——
\"Theplayed-outcantof\'pioneergenius\'and\'pioneerdiscovery\'
appearstohavereacheditsclimaxintheattemptofsomeofourcontemporariestoapplyittoDanHarcourt\'snewTasajaraJobbeforethelegislature.ItisperfectlywellknowninHarcourt\'sowndistrictthat,farfrombeingapioneerandsettlerHIMSELFhesimplysucceededafterafashiontothegenuineworkofoneElijahCurtis,anactualpioneeranddiscoverer,yearsbefore,whileHarcourt,webelieve,waskeepingafrontierdoggeryinSidon,anddispensing\'tanglefoot\'andsaltjunktothehayfootedPikeCountiansofhisprecinct.Thiswouldmakehimasmuchofthe\'pioneerdiscoverer\'astherattlesnakewhofirsttakesupboardandlodgingsandthenpossessioninaprairiedog\'sburrow.Andifthetraveler\'staleistruethattherattlesnakesometimesmakesamealofhislandlord,thestorytoldatSidonmaybeequallycrediblethattheoriginalpioneermysteriouslydisappearedaboutthetimethatDanHarcourtcameintotheproperty.FromwhichitwouldseemthatHarcourtisnotinapositionforhisfriendstoinviteverydeepscrutinyintohis\'pioneer\'achievements.\"
Stupefaction,avagueterror,andrisinganger,rapidlysucceededeachotherintheyoungman\'smindashestoodmechanicallyholdingthepaperinhishand.Itwasthewritingofhischiefeditor,whoseeasybrutalityhehadsometimesevenboyishlyadmired.
Withoutstoppingtoconsidertheirrelativepositionshesoughthimindignantlyandlaidtheproofbeforehim.Theeditorlaughed.
\"Butwhat\'sthattoYOU?YOU\'REnotontermswiththeoldman.\"
\"Butheismyfather!\"saidJohnMiltonhotly.
\"Lookhere,\"saidtheeditorgood-naturedly,\"I\'dliketoobligeyou,butitisn\'tBUSINESS,youknow,——andthisIS,youunderstand,——PROPRIETOR\'SBUSINESStoo!OfcourseIseeitmightstandinthewayofyourmakinguptotheoldmanafterwardsandcominginforamillion.Well!youcantellhimit\'sME.SayI
WOULDputitin.SayI\'mnasty——andIAM!\"
\"Thenitmustgoin?\"saidJohnMiltonwithawhiteface.
\"Youbet.\"
\"ThenImustgoout!\"Andwritingouthisresignation,helaiditbeforehischiefandleft.
