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attendance upon chronic suffering and weakness； but to have
acquired an unconscious habit of turning it to account。 In his
present sensitive condition； he even fancied that they flirted
mildly over their parent's infirmity。
〃My brother Harry has gone to Red Dog；〃 continued Esther； 〃he'll be
right sorry to have missed you。 Mrs。 Mulrady spoke to him about
you； you seem to have been great friends。 I s'pose you knew her
daughter； Mamie； I hear she is very pretty。〃
Although Don Caesar was now satisfied that the Slinns knew nothing
of Mamie's singular behavior to him； he felt embarrassed by this
conversation。 〃Miss Mulrady is very pretty；〃 he said； with grave
courtesy； 〃it is a custom of her race。 She left suddenly；〃 he
added with affected calmness。
〃I reckon she did calculate to stay here longerso her mother
said； but the whole thing was settled a week ago。 I know my
brother was quite surprised to hear from Mr。 Mulrady that if we
were going to decide about this house we must do it at once； he had
an idea himself about moving out of the big one into this when they
left。〃
〃Mamie Mulrady hadn't much to keep her here； considerin' the money
and the good looks she has； I reckon；〃 said Vashti。 〃She isn't the
sort of girl to throw herself away in the wilderness； when she can
pick and choose elsewhere。 I only wonder she ever come back from
Sacramento。 They talk about papa Mulrady having BUSINESS at San
Francisco； and THAT hurrying them off！ Depend upon it； that
'business' was Mamie herself。 Her wish is gospel to them。 If
she'd wanted to stay and have a farewell party； old Mulrady's
business would have been nowhere。〃
〃Ain't you a little rough on Mamie；〃 said Esther； who had been
quietly watching the young man's face with her large languid eyes；
〃considering that we don't know her； and haven't even the right of
friends to criticise？〃
〃I don't call it rough；〃 returned Vashti； frankly； 〃for I'd do the
same if I were in her shoesand they're four…and…a…halves； for
Harry told me so。 Give me her money and her looks； and you
wouldn't catch me hanging round these diggingsgoin' to choir
meetings Saturdays； church Sundays； and buggy…riding once a month
for society！ NoMamie's head was levelyou bet！〃
Don Caesar rose hurriedly。 They would present his compliments to
their father； and he would endeavor to find their brother at Red
Dog。 He； alas！ had neither father； mother； nor sister； but if they
would receive his aunt； the Dona Inez Sepulvida； the next Sunday；
when she came from mass； she should be honored and he would be
delighted。 It required all his self…possession to deliver himself
of this formal courtesy before he could take his leave； and on the
back of his mustang give way to the rage； disgust and hatred of
everything connected with Mamie that filled his heart。 Conscious
of his disturbance； but not entirely appreciating their own share
in it； the two girls somewhat wickedly prolonged the interview by
following him into the garden。
〃Well； if you MUST leave now；〃 said Esther； at last； languidly； 〃it
ain't much out of your way to go down through the garden and take a
look at pa as you go。 He's somewhere down there； near the woods；
and we don't like to leave him alone too long。 You might pass the
time of day with him； see if he's right side up。 Vashti and I have
got a heap of things to fix here yet； but if anything's wrong with
him； you can call us。 So…long。〃
Don Caesar was about to excuse himself hurriedly； but that sudden
and acute perception of all kindred sorrow which belongs to refined
suffering； checked his speech。 The loneliness of the helpless old
man in this atmosphere of active and youthful selfishness touched
him。 He bowed assent； and turned aside into one of the long
perspectives of bean…poles。 The girls watched him until out of
sight。
〃Well；〃 said Vashti； 〃don't tell ME。 But if there wasn't something
between him and that Mamie Mulrady； I don't know a jilted man when
I see him。〃
〃Well； you needn't have let him SEE that you knew it； so that any
civility of ours would look as if we were ready to take up with her
leavings；〃 responded Esther； astutely； as the girls reentered the
house。
Meantime； the unconscious object of their criticism walked sadly
down the old market…garden； whose rude outlines and homely details
he once clothed with the poetry of a sensitive man's first love。
Well； it was a common cabbage field and potato patch after all。 In
his disgust he felt conscious of even the loss of that sense of
patronage and superiority which had invested his affection for a
girl of meaner condition。 His self…respect was humiliated with his
love。 The soil and dirt of those wretched cabbages had clung to
him； but not to her。 It was she who had gone higher； it was he who
was left in the vulgar ruins of his misplaced passion。
He reached the bottom of the garden without observing any sign of
the lonely invalid。 He looked up and down the cabbage rows； and
through the long perspective of pea…vines； without result。 There
was a newer trail leading from a gap in the pines to the wooded
hollow； which undoubtedly intersected the little path that he and
Mamie had once followed from the high road。 If the old man had
taken this trail he had possibly over…tasked his strength； and
there was the more reason why he should continue his search； and
render any assistance if required。 There was another idea that
occurred to him； which eventually decided him to go on。 It was
that both these trails led to the decayed sycamore stump； and that
the older Slinn might have something to do with the mysterious
letter。 Quickening his steps through the field； he entered the
hollow； and reached the intersecting trail as he expected。 To the
right it lost itself in the dense woods in the direction of the
ominous stump； to the left it descended in nearly a straight line
to the highway； now plainly visible； as was equally the boulder on
which he had last discovered Mamie sitting with young Slinn。 If he
were not mistaken； there was a figure sitting there now； it was
surely a man。 And by that half…bowed； helpless attitude； the
object of his search！
It did not take him long to descend the track to the highway and
approach the stranger。 He was seated with his hands upon his
knees； gazing in a vague； absorbed fashion upon the hillside； now
crowned with the engine…house and chimney that marked the site of
Mulrady's shaft。 He started slightly； and looked up； as Don Caesar
paused before him。 The young man was surprised to see that the
unfortunate man was not as old as he had expected； and that his
expression was one of quiet and beatified contentment。
〃Your daughters told me you were here；〃 said Don Caesar； with
gentle respect。 〃I am Caesar Alvarado； your not very far neighbor；
very happy to pay his respects to you as he has to them。〃
〃My daughters？〃 said the old man； vaguely。 〃Oh； yes！ nice little
girls。 And my boy Harry。 Did you see Harry？ Fine little fellow；
Harry。〃
〃I am glad to hear that you are better；〃 said Don Caesar； hastily；
〃and that the air of our country does you no harm。 God benefit
you；