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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。〃
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A MILLIONAIRE OF ROUGH…AND…READY
〃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
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A MILLIONAIRE OF ROUGH…AND…READY
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