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A¡¡Millionaire¡¡of¡¡Rough¡­and¡­Ready

by¡¡Bret¡¡Harte





PROLOGUE


There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡mistake¡¡this¡¡time£º¡¡he¡¡had¡¡struck¡¡gold¡¡at¡¡last£¡

It¡¡had¡¡lain¡¡there¡¡before¡¡him¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡agoa¡¡misshapen¡¡piece¡¡of
brown¡­stained¡¡quartz£»¡¡interspersed¡¡with¡¡dull¡¡yellow¡¡metal£»¡¡yielding
enough¡¡to¡¡have¡¡allowed¡¡the¡¡points¡¡of¡¡his¡¡pick¡¡to¡¡penetrate¡¡its
honeycombed¡¡recesses£»¡¡yet¡¡heavy¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡drop¡¡from¡¡the¡¡point¡¡of
his¡¡pick¡¡as¡¡he¡¡endeavored¡¡to¡¡lift¡¡it¡¡from¡¡the¡¡red¡¡earth¡£

He¡¡was¡¡seeing¡¡all¡¡this¡¡plainly£»¡¡although¡¡he¡¡found¡¡himself£»¡¡he¡¡knew
not¡¡why£»¡¡at¡¡some¡¡distance¡¡from¡¡the¡¡scene¡¡of¡¡his¡¡discovery£»¡¡his
heart¡¡foolishly¡¡beating£»¡¡his¡¡breath¡¡impotently¡¡hurried¡£¡¡¡¡Yet¡¡he¡¡was
walking¡¡slowly¡¡and¡¡vaguely£»¡¡conscious¡¡of¡¡stopping¡¡and¡¡staring¡¡at
the¡¡landscape£»¡¡which¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡looked¡¡familiar¡¡to¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was
hoping¡¡for¡¡some¡¡instinct¡¡or¡¡force¡¡of¡¡habit¡¡to¡¡recall¡¡him¡¡to
himself£»¡¡yet¡¡when¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡neighbor¡¡at¡¡work¡¡in¡¡an¡¡adjacent¡¡claim£»
he¡¡hesitated£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡turned¡¡his¡¡back¡¡upon¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡Yet¡¡only¡¡a¡¡moment
before¡¡he¡¡had¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡running¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡saying£»¡¡¡¨By¡¡Jingo£¡¡¡¡¡I've
struck¡¡it£»¡¨¡¡or¡¡¡¨Dn¡¡it£»¡¡old¡¡man£»¡¡I've¡¡got¡¡it¡¨£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡moment¡¡had
passed£»¡¡and¡¡now¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡him¡¡that¡¡he¡¡could¡¡scarce¡¡raise¡¡his
voice£»¡¡or£»¡¡if¡¡he¡¡did£»¡¡the¡¡ejaculation¡¡would¡¡appear¡¡forced¡¡and
artificial¡£¡¡¡¡Neither¡¡could¡¡he¡¡go¡¡over¡¡to¡¡him¡¡coolly¡¡and¡¡tell¡¡his
good¡¡fortune£»¡¡and£»¡¡partly¡¡from¡¡this¡¡strange¡¡shyness£»¡¡and¡¡partly
with¡¡a¡¡hope¡¡that¡¡another¡¡survey¡¡of¡¡the¡¡treasure¡¡might¡¡restore¡¡him
to¡¡natural¡¡expression£»¡¡he¡¡walked¡¡back¡¡to¡¡his¡¡tunnel¡£

Yes£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡there£¡¡¡¡¡No¡¡mere¡¡¡¨pocket¡¨¡¡or¡¡¡¨deposit£»¡¨¡¡but¡¡a¡¡part¡¡of
the¡¡actual¡¡vein¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡so¡¡long¡¡seeking¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡there£»¡¡sure
enough£»¡¡lying¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡pick¡¡and¡¡the¡¡debris¡¡of¡¡the¡¡¡¨face¡¨¡¡of¡¡the
vein¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡exposed¡¡sufficiently£»¡¡after¡¡the¡¡first¡¡shock¡¡of
discovery£»¡¡to¡¡assure¡¡himself¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡and¡¡the¡¡permanence¡¡of¡¡his
fortune¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡there£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡it¡¡the¡¡refutation¡¡of¡¡his¡¡enemies'
sneers£»¡¡the¡¡corroboration¡¡of¡¡his¡¡friends'¡¡belief£»¡¡the¡¡practical
demonstration¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own¡¡theories£»¡¡the¡¡reward¡¡of¡¡his¡¡patient
labors¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡there£»¡¡sure¡¡enough¡£¡¡¡¡But£»¡¡somehow£»¡¡he¡¡not¡¡only
failed¡¡to¡¡recall¡¡the¡¡first¡¡joy¡¡of¡¡discovery£»¡¡but¡¡was¡¡conscious¡¡of¡¡a
vague¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡responsibility¡¡and¡¡unrest¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was£»¡¡no¡¡doubt£»¡¡an
enormous¡¡fortune¡¡to¡¡a¡¡man¡¡in¡¡his¡¡circumstances£º¡¡perhaps¡¡it¡¡meant¡¡a
couple¡¡of¡¡hundred¡¡thousand¡¡dollars£»¡¡or¡¡more£»¡¡judging¡¡from¡¡the¡¡value
of¡¡the¡¡old¡¡Martin¡¡lead£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡not¡¡as¡¡rich¡¡as¡¡this£»¡¡but¡¡it
required¡¡to¡¡be¡¡worked¡¡constantly¡¡and¡¡judiciously¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡with¡¡a
decided¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡uneasiness¡¡that¡¡he¡¡again¡¡sought¡¡the¡¡open¡¡sunlight
of¡¡the¡¡hillside¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡neighbor¡¡was¡¡still¡¡visible¡¡on¡¡the¡¡adjacent
claim£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡had¡¡apparently¡¡stopped¡¡working£»¡¡and¡¡was
contemplatively¡¡smoking¡¡a¡¡pipe¡¡under¡¡a¡¡large¡¡pine¡­tree¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡an
instant¡¡he¡¡envied¡¡him¡¡his¡¡apparent¡¡contentment¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡a¡¡sudden
fierce¡¡and¡¡inexplicable¡¡desire¡¡to¡¡go¡¡over¡¡to¡¡him¡¡and¡¡exasperate¡¡his
easy¡¡poverty¡¡by¡¡a¡¡revelation¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own¡¡new¡­found¡¡treasure¡£¡¡¡¡But
even¡¡that¡¡sensation¡¡quickly¡¡passed£»¡¡and¡¡left¡¡him¡¡staring¡¡blankly¡¡at
the¡¡landscape¡¡again¡£

As¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡he¡¡had¡¡made¡¡his¡¡discovery¡¡known£»¡¡and¡¡settled¡¡its¡¡value£»
he¡¡would¡¡send¡¡for¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡and¡¡her¡¡children¡¡in¡¡the¡¡States¡£¡¡¡¡He
would¡¡build¡¡a¡¡fine¡¡house¡¡on¡¡the¡¡opposite¡¡hillside£»¡¡if¡¡she¡¡would
consent¡¡to¡¡it£»¡¡unless¡¡she¡¡preferred£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡children's¡¡sake£»¡¡to
live¡¡in¡¡San¡¡Francisco¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡a¡¡loss¡¡of¡¡independenceof¡¡a
change¡¡of¡¡circumstances¡¡that¡¡left¡¡him¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡his¡¡own¡¡master
began¡¡to¡¡perplex¡¡him£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡midst¡¡of¡¡his¡¡brightest¡¡projects¡£
Certain¡¡other¡¡relations¡¡with¡¡other¡¡members¡¡of¡¡his¡¡family£»¡¡which¡¡had
lapsed¡¡by¡¡absence¡¡and¡¡his¡¡insignificance£»¡¡must¡¡now¡¡be¡¡taken¡¡up
anew¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡must¡¡do¡¡something¡¡for¡¡his¡¡sister¡¡Jane£»¡¡for¡¡his¡¡brother
William£»¡¡for¡¡his¡¡wife's¡¡poor¡¡connections¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡would¡¡be¡¡unfair¡¡to
him¡¡to¡¡say¡¡that¡¡he¡¡contemplated¡¡those¡¡things¡¡with¡¡any¡¡other
instinct¡¡than¡¡that¡¡of¡¡generosity£»¡¡yet¡¡he¡¡was¡¡conscious¡¡of¡¡being
already¡¡perplexed¡¡and¡¡puzzled¡£

Meantime£»¡¡however£»¡¡the¡¡neighbor¡¡had¡¡apparently¡¡finished¡¡his¡¡pipe£»
and£»¡¡knocking¡¡the¡¡ashes¡¡out¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡rose¡¡suddenly£»¡¡and¡¡ended¡¡any
further¡¡uncertainty¡¡of¡¡their¡¡meeting¡¡by¡¡walking¡¡over¡¡directly
towards¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡treasure¡­finder¡¡advanced¡¡a¡¡few¡¡steps¡¡on¡¡his¡¡side£»
and¡¡then¡¡stopped¡¡irresolutely¡£

¡¨Hollo£»¡¡Slinn£¡¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡neighbor£»¡¡confidently¡£

¡¨Hollo£»¡¡Masters£»¡¨¡¡responded¡¡Slinn£»¡¡faintly¡£¡¡¡¡From¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡the
two¡¡voices¡¡a¡¡stranger¡¡might¡¡have¡¡mistaken¡¡their¡¡relative¡¡condition¡£
¡¨What¡¡in¡¡thunder¡¡are¡¡you¡¡mooning¡¡about¡¡for£¿¡¡¡¡What's¡¡up£¿¡¨¡¡¡¡Then£»
catching¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡Slinn's¡¡pale¡¡and¡¡anxious¡¡face£»¡¡he¡¡added¡¡abruptly£»
¡¨Are¡¡you¡¡sick£¿¡¨

Slinn¡¡was¡¡on¡¡the¡¡point¡¡of¡¡telling¡¡him¡¡his¡¡good¡¡fortune£»¡¡but
stopped¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡unlucky¡¡question¡¡confirmed¡¡his¡¡consciousness¡¡of¡¡his
physical¡¡and¡¡mental¡¡disturbance£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡dreaded¡¡the¡¡ready¡¡ridicule
of¡¡his¡¡companion¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡would¡¡tell¡¡him¡¡later£»¡¡Masters¡¡need¡¡not¡¡know
WHEN¡¡he¡¡had¡¡made¡¡the¡¡strike¡£¡¡¡¡Besides£»¡¡in¡¡his¡¡present¡¡vagueness£»¡¡he
shrank¡¡from¡¡the¡¡brusque£»¡¡practical¡¡questioning¡¡that¡¡would¡¡be¡¡sure
to¡¡follow¡¡the¡¡revelation¡¡to¡¡a¡¡man¡¡of¡¡Masters'¡¡temperament¡£

¡¨I'm¡¡a¡¡little¡¡giddy¡¡here£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡answered£»¡¡putting¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡to¡¡his
head£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡I'd¡¡knock¡¡off¡¡until¡¡I¡¡was¡¡better¡£¡¨

Masters¡¡examined¡¡him¡¡with¡¡two¡¡very¡¡critical¡¡gray¡¡eyes¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Tell¡¡ye
what£»¡¡old¡¡man£¡if¡¡you¡¡don't¡¡quit¡¡this¡¡dog¡­goned¡¡foolin'¡¡of¡¡yours
in¡¡that¡¡God¡­forsaken¡¡tunnel¡¡you'll¡¡get¡¡loony£¡¡¡¡¡Times¡¡you¡¡get¡¡so
tangled¡¡up¡¡in¡¡follerin'¡¡that¡¡blind¡¡lead¡¡o'¡¡yours¡¡you¡¡ain't
sensible£¡¡¨

Here¡¡was¡¡the¡¡opportunity¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡him¡¡all£»¡¡and¡¡vindicate¡¡the¡¡justice
of¡¡his¡¡theories£¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡he¡¡shrank¡¡from¡¡it¡¡again£»¡¡and¡¡now£»¡¡adding¡¡to
the¡¡confusion£»¡¡was¡¡a¡¡singular¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡dread¡¡at¡¡the¡¡mental¡¡labor¡¡of
explanation¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡only¡¡smiled¡¡painfully£»¡¡and¡¡began¡¡to¡¡move¡¡away¡£
¡¨Look¡¡you£¡¡¨¡¡said¡¡Masters£»¡¡peremptorily£»¡¡¡¨ye¡¡want¡¡about¡¡three
fingers¡¡of¡¡straight¡¡whiskey¡¡to¡¡set¡¡you¡¡right£»¡¡and¡¡you've¡¡got¡¡to
take¡¡it¡¡with¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡Dn¡¡it£»¡¡man£»¡¡it¡¡may¡¡be¡¡the¡¡last¡¡drink¡¡we¡¡take
together£¡¡¡¡¡Don't¡¡look¡¡so¡¡skeered£¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡meanI¡¡made¡¡up¡¡my¡¡mind¡¡about
ten¡¡minutes¡¡ago¡¡to¡¡cut¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡dd¡¡thing£»¡¡and¡¡light¡¡out¡¡for
fresh¡¡diggings¡£¡¡¡¡I'm¡¡sick¡¡of¡¡getting¡¡only¡¡grub¡¡wages¡¡out¡¡o'¡¡this
bill¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡that's¡¡what¡¡I¡¡mean¡¡by¡¡saying¡¡it's¡¡the¡¡last¡¡drink¡¡you¡¡and
me'll¡¡take¡¡together¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡know¡¡my¡¡ways£º¡¡sayin'¡¡and¡¡doin'¡¡with¡¡me's
the¡¡same¡¡thing¡£¡¨

It¡¡was¡¡true¡£¡¡¡¡Slinn¡¡had¡¡often¡¡envied¡¡Masters'¡¡promptness¡¡of
decision¡¡and¡¡resolution¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡he¡¡only¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡the¡¡grim¡¡face¡¡of
his¡¡interlocutor¡¡with¡¡a¡¡feeble¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡relief¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡GOING¡£¡¡¡¡And
he£»¡¡Slinn£»¡¡would¡¡not¡¡have¡¡to¡¡explain¡¡anything£¡

He¡¡murmured¡¡something¡¡about¡¡having¡¡to¡¡go¡¡over¡¡to¡¡the¡¡settlement¡¡on
business¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡dreaded¡¡lest¡¡Masters¡¡should¡¡insist¡¡upon¡¡going¡¡into
the¡¡tunnel¡£

¡¨I¡¡suppose¡¡you¡¡want¡¡to¡¡mail¡¡that¡¡letter£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Masters£»¡¡drily¡£
¡¨The¡¡mail¡¡don't¡¡go¡¡till¡¡to¡­morrow£»¡¡so¡¡you've¡¡got¡¡time¡¡to¡¡finish¡¡it£»
and¡¡put¡¡it¡¡in¡¡an¡¡envelope¡£¡¨

Following¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡of¡¡Masters'¡¡eyes£»¡¡Slinn¡¡looked¡¡down¡¡and
saw£»¡¡to¡¡his¡¡utter¡¡surprise£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡holding¡¡an¡¡unfinished
pencilled¡¡note¡¡in¡¡his¡¡hand¡£¡¡¡¡How¡¡it¡¡came¡¡there£»¡¡when¡¡he¡¡had¡¡written
it£»¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡tell£»¡¡he¡¡dimly¡¡remembered¡¡that¡¡one¡¡of¡¡his¡¡first
impulses¡¡was¡¡to¡¡write¡¡to¡¡his¡¡wife£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡already¡¡done¡¡so
he¡¡had¡¡forgotten¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡hastily¡¡concealed¡¡the¡¡note¡¡in¡¡his¡¡breast¡­
pocket£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡vacant¡¡smile¡£¡¡¡¡Masters¡¡eyed¡¡him¡¡half¡¡contemptuously£»
half¡¡compassionately¡£

¡¨Don't¡¡forget¡¡yourself¡¡and¡¡drop¡¡it¡¡in¡¡some¡¡hollow¡¡tree¡¡for¡¡a
letter¡­box£»¡¨¡¡be¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Wellso¡¡long£¡since¡¡you¡¡won't¡¡drink¡£
Take¡¡care¡¡of¡¡yourself£»¡¨¡¡and£»¡¡turning¡¡on¡¡his¡¡heel£»¡¡Masters¡¡walked
away¡£

Slinn¡¡watched¡¡him¡¡as¡¡he¡¡crossed¡¡over¡¡to¡¡his¡¡abandoned¡¡claim£»¡¡saw
him¡¡gather¡¡his¡¡few¡¡mining¡¡utensils£»¡¡strap¡¡his¡¡blanket¡¡over¡¡his
back£»¡¡lift¡¡his¡¡hat¡¡on¡¡his¡¡long¡­handled¡¡shovel¡¡as¡¡a¡¡token¡¡of
farewell£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡stride¡¡light¡­heartedly¡¡over¡¡the¡¡ridge¡£

He¡¡was¡¡alone¡¡now¡¡with¡¡his¡¡secret¡¡and¡¡his¡¡treasure¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡only¡¡man¡¡in
the¡¡world¡¡who¡¡knew¡¡of¡¡the¡¡exact¡¡position¡¡of¡¡his¡¡tunnel¡¡had¡¡gone
away¡¡forever¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡not¡¡likely¡¡that¡¡this¡¡chance¡¡companion¡¡of¡¡a
few¡¡weeks¡¡would¡¡ever¡¡remember¡¡him¡¡or¡¡the¡¡locality¡¡again£»¡¡he¡¡would
now¡¡leave¡¡his¡¡treasure¡¡alonefor¡¡even¡¡a¡¡day¡¡perhapsuntil¡¡he¡¡had
thought¡¡out¡¡some¡¡plan¡¡and¡¡sought¡¡out¡¡some¡¡friend¡¡in¡¡whom¡¡to
confide¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡secluded¡¡life£»¡¡the¡¡singular¡¡habits¡¡of¡¡concentration
which¡¡had¡¡at¡¡last¡¡proved¡¡so¡¡successful¡¡had£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time£»¡¡left
him¡¡few¡¡acquaintances¡¡and¡¡no¡¡associates¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡in¡¡all¡¡his¡¡well¡­laid
plans¡¡and¡¡patiently¡­digested¡¡theories¡¡for¡¡finding¡¡the¡¡treasure£»¡¡the
means¡¡and¡¡methods¡¡of¡¡working¡¡it¡¡and¡¡disposing¡¡of¡¡it¡¡had¡¡never
entered¡£

And¡¡now£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡hour¡¡when¡¡he¡¡most¡¡needed¡¡his¡¡faculties£»¡¡what¡¡was
the¡¡meaning¡¡of¡¡this¡¡strange¡¡benumbing¡¡of¡¡them£¡

Patience£¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡only¡¡wanted¡¡a¡¡little¡¡resta¡¡little¡¡time¡¡to¡¡recover
himself¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡large¡¡boulder¡¡under¡¡a¡¡tree¡¡in¡¡the¡¡highway¡¡of
the¡¡settlementa¡¡sheltered¡¡spot¡¡where¡¡he¡¡had¡¡often¡¡waited¡¡for¡¡the
coming¡¡of¡¡the¡¡stage¡­coach¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡would¡¡go¡¡there£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡he¡¡was
sufficiently¡¡rested¡¡and¡¡composed¡¡he¡¡would¡¡go¡¡on¡£

Nevertheless£»¡¡on¡¡his¡¡way¡¡he¡¡diverged¡¡and¡¡turned¡¡into¡¡the¡¡woods£»¡¡for
no¡¡other¡¡apparent¡¡purpose¡¡than¡¡to¡¡find¡¡a¡¡hollow¡¡tree¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨A¡¡hollow
tree¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡Yes£¡¡¡that¡¡was¡¡what¡¡Masters¡¡had¡¡said£»¡¡he¡¡remembered¡¡it
distinctly£»¡¡and¡¡something¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡done¡¡there£»¡¡but¡¡what¡¡it¡¡was£»¡¡or
why¡¡it¡¡should¡¡be¡¡done£»¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡tell¡£¡¡¡¡However£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡done£»
and¡¡very¡¡luckily£»¡¡for¡¡his¡¡limbs¡¡could¡¡scarcely¡¡support¡¡him¡¡further£»
and¡¡reaching¡¡that¡¡boulder¡¡he¡¡dropped¡¡upon¡¡it¡¡like¡¡another¡¡stone¡£

And¡¡now£»¡¡strange¡¡to¡¡say£»¡¡the¡¡uneasiness¡¡and¡¡perplexity¡¡which¡¡had
possessed¡¡him¡¡ever¡¡since¡¡he¡¡had¡¡stood¡¡before¡¡his¡¡revealed¡¡wealth
dropped¡¡from¡¡him¡¡like¡¡a¡¡burden¡¡laid¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡wayside¡£¡¡¡¡A
measureless¡¡peace¡¡stole¡¡over¡¡him£»¡¡in¡¡which¡¡visions¡¡of¡¡his¡¡new¡­found
fortune£»¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡a¡¡trouble¡¡and¡¡perplexity£»¡¡but¡¡crowned¡¡with
happiness¡¡and¡¡blessing¡¡to¡¡all¡¡around¡¡him£»¡¡assumed¡¡proportions¡¡far
beyond¡¡his¡¡own¡¡weak£»¡¡selfish¡¡plans¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡its¡¡even¡­handed
benefaction£»¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡and¡¡children£»¡¡his¡¡friends¡¡and¡¡relations£»¡¡even
his¡¡late¡¡poor¡¡companion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hillside£»¡¡met¡¡and¡¡moved¡¡harmoniously
together£»¡¡in¡¡its¡¡far¡­reaching¡¡consequences¡¡there¡¡was¡¡only¡¡the
influence¡¡of¡¡good¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡not¡¡strange¡¡that¡¡this¡¡poor¡¡finite¡¡mind
should¡¡never¡¡have¡¡conceived¡¡the¡¡meaning¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wealth¡¡extended¡¡to
him£»¡¡or¡¡that¡¡conceiving¡¡it¡¡he¡¡should¡¡faint¡¡and¡¡falter¡¡under¡¡the
revelation¡£¡¡¡¡Enough¡¡that¡¡for¡¡a¡¡few¡¡minutes¡¡he¡¡must¡¡have¡¡tasted¡¡a
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¡£

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