"Readers of the 'Clarion'will have noticed that allusion has been frequently made in these columns to certain rumors concerning the early history of Tasajara which were supposed to affect the pioneer record of Daniel Harcourt.It was deemed by the conductors of this journal to be only consistent with the fearless and independent duty undertaken by the 'Clarion'that these rumors should be fully chronicled as part of the information required by the readers of a first-class newspaper,unbiased by any consideration of the social position of the parties,but simply as a matter of news.For this the 'Clarion'does not deem it necessary to utter a word of apology.But for that editorial comment or attitude which the proprietors felt was justified by the reliable sources of their information they now consider it only due in honor to themselves,their readers,and Mr.Harcourt to fully and freely apologize.Apatient and laborious investigation enables them to state that the alleged facts published by the 'Clarion'and copied by other journals are utterly unsupported by testimony,and the charges--although more or less vague--which were based upon them are equally untenable.We are now satisfied that one 'Elijah Curtis,'a former pioneer of Tasajara who disappeared five years ago,and was supposed to be drowned,has not only made no claim to the Tasajara property,as alleged,but has given no sign of his equally alleged resuscitation and present existence,and that on the minutest investigation there appears nothing either in his disappearance,or the transfer of his property to Daniel Harcourt,that could in any way disturb the uncontested title to Tasajara or the unimpeachable character of its present owner.The whole story now seems to have been the outcome of one of those stupid rural hoaxes too common in California.""Well,"said Mrs.Ashwood,laying aside the 'Clarion'with a skeptical shrug of her pretty shoulders,as she glanced up at her brother;"I suppose this means that you are going to propose again to the young lady?""I have,"said Jack Shipley,"that's the worst of it--and got my answer before this came out.""Jack!"said Mrs.Ashwood,thoroughly surprised.
"Yes!You see,Conny,as I told you three weeks ago,she said she wanted time to consider,--that she scarcely knew me,and all that!
Well,I thought it wasn't exactly a gentleman's business to seem to stand off after that last attack on her father,and so,last week,I went down to San Jose,where she was staying,and begged her not to keep me in suspense.And,by Jove!she froze me with a look,and said that with these aspersions on her father's character,she preferred not to be under obligations to any one.""And you believed her?"
"Oh,hang it all!Look here,Conny,--I wish you'd just try for once to find out some good in that family,besides what that sentimental young widower John Milton may have.You seem to think because they've quarreled with HIM there isn't a virtue left among them."Far from seeming to offer any suggestion of feminine retaliation,Mrs.Ashwood smiled sweetly."My dear Jack,I have no desire to keep you from trying your luck again with Miss Clementina,if that's what you mean,and indeed I shouldn't be surprised if a family who felt a mesalliance as sensitively as the Harcourts felt that affair of their son's,would be as keenly alive to the advantages of a good match for their daughter.As to young Mr.
Harcourt,he never talked to me of the vices of his family,nor has he lately troubled me much with the presence of his own virtues.
I haven't heard from him since we came here.""I suppose he is satisfied with the government berth you got for him,"returned her brother dryly.
"He was very grateful to Senator Flynn,who appreciates his talents,but who offered it to him as a mere question of fitness,"replied Mrs.Ashwood with great precision of statement."But you don't seem to know he declined it on account of his other work.""Preferred his old Bohemian ways,eh?You can't change those fellows,Conny.They can't get over the fascinations of vagabondage.Sorry your lady-patroness scheme didn't work.Pity you couldn't have promoted him in the line of his profession,as the Grand Duchess of Girolstein did Fritz.""For Heaven's sake,Jack,go to Clementina!You may not be successful,but there at least the perfect gentlemanliness and good taste of your illustrations will not be thrown away.""I think of going to San Francisco tomorrow,anyway,"returned Jack with affected carelessness."I'm getting rather bored with this wild seaside watering place and its glitter of ocean and hopeless background of mountain.It's nothing to me that 'there's no land nearer than Japan'out there.It may be very healthful to the tissues,but it's weariness to the spirit,and I don't see why we can't wait at San Francisco till the rains send us further south,as well as here."He had walked to the balcony of their sitting-room in the little seaside hotel where this conversation took place,and gazed discontentedly over the curving bay and sandy shore before him.
After a slight pause Mrs.Ashwood stepped out beside him.
"Very likely I may go with you,"she said,with a perceptible tone of weariness."We will see after the post arrives.""By the way,there is a little package for you in my room,that came this morning.I brought it up,but forgot to give it to you.
You'll find it on my table."
Mrs.Ashwood abstractedly turned away and entered her brother's room from the same balcony.The forgotten parcel,which looked like a roll of manuscript,was lying on his dressing-table.She gazed attentively at the handwriting on the wrapper and then gave a quick glance around her.A sudden and subtle change came over her.