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a millionaire of rough-and-ready-µÚ2ÕÂ

С˵£º a millionaire of rough-and-ready ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ3500×Ö

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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£º¡¡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¡¡himself£»¡¡had¡¡ever¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡the¡¡possibility
of¡¡a¡¡matrimonial¡¡connection¡¡between¡¡the¡¡families¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡doubted¡¡if¡¡he
would¡¡consent¡¡to¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡unfortunately¡¡it¡¡was¡¡this¡¡very¡¡doubt
that£»¡¡touching¡¡his¡¡own¡¡pride¡¡as¡¡a¡¡self¡­made¡¡man£»¡¡made¡¡him¡¡first
seriously¡¡consider¡¡his¡¡wife's¡¡proposition¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡as¡¡good¡¡as¡¡Don
Ramon£»¡¡any¡¡day£¡¡¡¡¡With¡¡this¡¡subtle¡¡feminine¡¡poison¡¡instilled¡¡in¡¡his
veins£»¡¡carried¡¡completely¡¡away¡¡by¡¡the¡¡logic¡¡of¡¡his¡¡wife's¡¡illogical
premises£»¡¡he¡¡almost¡¡hated¡¡his¡¡old¡¡benefactor¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡looked¡¡down¡¡upon
the¡¡little¡¡Garden¡¡of¡¡Eden£»¡¡where¡¡his¡¡Eve¡¡had¡¡just¡¡tempted¡¡him¡¡with
the¡¡fatal¡¡fruit£»¡¡and¡¡felt¡¡a¡¡curious¡¡consciousness¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was
losing¡¡its¡¡simple¡¡and¡¡innocent¡¡enjoyment¡¡forever¡£

Happily£»¡¡about¡¡this¡¡time¡¡Don¡¡Ramon¡¡died¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡not¡¡probable¡¡that
he¡¡ever¡¡knew¡¡the¡¡amiable¡¡intentions¡¡of¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Mulrady¡¡in¡¡regard¡¡to
his¡¡son£»¡¡who¡¡now¡¡succeeded¡¡to¡¡the¡¡paternal¡¡estate£»¡¡sadly
partitioned¡¡by¡¡relatives¡¡and¡¡lawsuits¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡feminine¡¡Mulradys
attended¡¡the¡¡funeral£»¡¡in¡¡expensive¡¡mourning¡¡from¡¡Sacramento£»¡¡even
the¡¡gentle¡¡Alvin¡¡was¡¡forced¡¡into¡¡ready¡­made¡¡broadcloth£»¡¡which
accented¡¡his¡¡good¡­natured¡¡but¡¡unmistakably¡¡common¡¡presence¡£¡¡¡¡Mrs¡£
Mulrady¡¡spoke¡¡openly¡¡of¡¡her¡¡¡¨loss¡¨£»¡¡declared¡¡that¡¡the¡¡old¡¡families
were¡¡dying¡¡out£»¡¡and¡¡impressed¡¡the¡¡wives¡¡of¡¡a¡¡few¡¡new¡¡arrivals¡¡at
Red¡¡Dog¡¡with¡¡the¡¡belief¡¡that¡¡her¡¡own¡¡family¡¡was¡¡contemporary¡¡with
the¡¡Alvarados£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡her¡¡husband's¡¡health¡¡was¡¡far¡¡from¡¡perfect¡£
She¡¡extended¡¡a¡¡motherly¡¡sympathy¡¡to¡¡the¡¡orphaned¡¡Don¡¡Caesar¡£
Reserved£»¡¡like¡¡his¡¡father£»¡¡in¡¡natural¡¡disposition£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡still
more¡¡gravely¡¡ceremonious¡¡from¡¡his¡¡loss£»¡¡and£»¡¡perhaps¡¡from¡¡the
shyness¡¡of¡¡an¡¡evident¡¡partiality¡¡for¡¡Mamie¡¡Mulrady£»¡¡he¡¡rarely
availed¡¡himself¡¡of¡¡her¡¡mother's¡¡sympathizing¡¡hospitality¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡he
carried¡¡out¡¡the¡¡intentions¡¡of¡¡his¡¡father¡¡by¡¡consenting¡¡to¡¡sell¡¡to
Mulrady£»¡¡for¡¡a¡¡small¡¡sum£»¡¡the¡¡property¡¡he¡¡had¡¡leased¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡idea¡¡of
purchasing¡¡had¡¡originated¡¡with¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Mulrady¡£

¡¨It'll¡¡be¡¡all¡¡in¡¡the¡¡family£»¡¨¡¡had¡¡observed¡¡that¡¡astute¡¡lady£»¡¡¡¨and
it's¡¡better¡¡for¡¡the¡¡looks¡¡of¡¡the¡¡things¡¡th

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