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weave it into one of your writings。 And it's quite true。〃
It is hardly necessary to say that John Milton had not been touched
by any personal significance in his companion's speech； whatever
she may have intended； and it is equally true that whether she had
presently forgotten her purpose； or had become suddenly interested
in her own conversation； her face grew more animated； her manner
more confidential； and something of the youthful enthusiasm she had
shown in the mountain seemed to come back to her。
〃I might say it happened anywhere and call the people M。 or N。；
but it really did occur in my own family； and although I was much
younger at the time it impressed me very strongly。 My cousin； who
had been my playmate； was an orphan； and had been intrusted to the
care of my father； who was his guardian。 He was always a clever
boy； but singularly sensitive and quick to take offense。 Perhaps
it was because the little property his father had left made him
partly dependent on my father； and that I was rich； but he seemed
to feel the disparity in our positions。 I was too young to
understand it； I think it existed only in his imagination； for I
believe we were treated alike。 But I remember that he was full of
vague threats of running away and going to sea； and that it was
part of his weak temperament to terrify me with his extravagant
confidences。 I was always frightened when； after one of those
scenes； he would pack his valise or perhaps only tie up a few
things in a handkerchief； as in the advertisement pictures of the
runaway slaves； and declare that we would never lay eyes upon him
again。 At first I never saw the ridiculousness of all this；for I
ought to have told you that he was a rather delicate and timid boy；
and quite unfitted for a rough life or any exposure；but others
did； and one day I laughed at him and told him he was afraid。 I
shall never forget the expression of his face and never forgive
myself for it。 He went away；but he returned the next day！ He
threatened once to commit suicide； left his clothes on the bank of
the river； and came home in another suit of clothes he had taken
with him。 When I was sent abroad to school I lost sight of him；
when I returned he was at college； apparently unchanged。 When he
came home for vacation； far from having been subdued by contact
with strangers； it seemed that his unhappy sensitiveness had been
only intensified by the ridicule of his fellows。 He had even
acquired a most ridiculous theory about the degrading effects of
civilization； and wanted to go back to a state of barbarism。 He
said the wilderness was the only true home of man。 My father；
instead of bearing with what I believe was his infirmity； dryly
offered him the means to try his experiment。 He started for some
place in Texas； saying we would never hear from him again。 A month
after he wrote for more money。 My father replied rather impatiently；
I suppose；I never knew exactly what he wrote。 That was some years
ago。 He had told the truth at last； for we never heard from him
again。〃
It is to be feared that John Milton was following the animated lips
and eyes of the fair speaker rather than her story。 Perhaps that
was the reason why he said； 〃May he not have been a disappointed
man？〃
〃I don't understand；〃 she said simply。
〃Perhaps；〃 said John Milton with a boyish blush； 〃you may have
unconsciously raised hopes in his heartand〃
〃I should hardly attempt to interest a chronicler of adventure like
you in such a very commonplace； every…day style of romance；〃 she
said； with a little impatience； 〃even if my vanity compelled me to
make such confidences to a stranger。 No；it was nothing quite as
vulgar as that。 And；〃 she added quickly； with a playfully amused
smile as she saw the young fellow's evident distress； 〃I should
have probably heard from him again。 Those stories always end in
that way。〃
〃And you think？〃said John Milton。
〃I think；〃 said Mrs。 Ashwood slowly； 〃that he actually did commit
suicideor effaced himself in some way； just as firmly as I
believe he might have been saved by judicious treatment。 Otherwise
we should have heard from him。 You'll say that's only a woman's
reasoningbut I think our perceptions are often instinctive； and I
knew his character。〃
Still following the play of her delicate features into a romance of
his own weaving； the imaginative young reporter who had seen so
much from the heights of Russian Hill said earnestly； 〃Then I have
your permission to use this material at any future time？〃
〃Yes；〃 said the lady smilingly。
〃And you will not mind if I should take some liberties with the
text？〃
〃I must of course leave something to your artistic taste。 But you
will let me see it？〃
There were voices outside now； breaking the silence of the veranda。
They had been so preoccupied as not to notice the arrival of a
horseman。 Steps came along the passage； the landlord returned。
Mrs。 Ashwood turned quickly towards him。
〃Mr。 Grant； of your party； ma'am； to fetch you。〃
She saw an unmistakable change in her young friend's mobile face。
〃I will be ready in a moment；〃 she said to the landlord。 Then；
turning to John Milton； the arch…hypocrite said sweetly： 〃My
brother must have known instinctively that I was in good hands； as
he didn't come。 But I am sorry； for I should have so liked to
introduce him to youalthough by the way；〃 with a bright smile； 〃I
don't think you have yet told me your name。 I know I couldn't have
FORGOTTEN it。〃
〃Harcourt；〃 said John Milton； with a half…embarrassed laugh。
〃But you must come and see me； Mr。Mr。 Harcourt；〃 she said；
producing a card from a case already in her fingers； 〃at my hotel；
and let my brother thank you there for your kindness and gallantry
to a stranger。 I shall be here a few weeks longer before we go
south to look for a place where my brother can winter。 DO come and
see me； although I cannot introduce you to anything as real and
beautiful as what YOU have shown me to…day。 Good…by； Mr。 Harcourt；
I won't trouble you to come down and bore yourself with my escort's
questions and congratulations。〃
She bent her head and allowed her soft eyes to rest upon his with a
graciousness that was beyond her speech； pulled her veil over her
eyes again； with a pretty suggestion that she had no further use
for them； and taking her riding…skirt lightly in her hand seemed to
glide from the room。
On her way to San Mateo； where it appeared the disorganized party
had prolonged their visit to accept an invitation to dine with a
local magnate； she was pleasantly conversational with the slightly
abstracted Grant。 She was so sorry to have given them all this
trouble and anxiety！ Of course she ought to have waited at the
fork of the road； but she had never doubted but she could rejoin
them presently on the main road。 She was glad that Miss Euphemia's
runaway horse had been stopped without accident； it would have been
dreadful if anything had happened to HER； Mr。 Harcourt seemed so
wrapped up in his girls。 It was a pity they never had a sonAh？
Indeed！ Then there was a son？ Soand father and son had
quarreled？ That was so sad。 And for some trifling cause； no
doubt？
〃I believe he married the housemaid；〃 said Grant grimly。 〃Be
careful！Allow me。〃
〃It's no use！〃 said Mrs。 Ashwood； flushing with pink impatience； as
she recovered her seat； which a sudden bolt of her mustang had
imperiled； 〃I really can't make out the tricks of this beast！
Thank you；〃 she added； with a sweet smile； 〃but I think I can
manage him now。 I can't see why he stopped。 I'll be more careful。
You were saying the son was marriedsurely not that boy！〃
〃Boy！〃 echoed Grant。 〃Then you know？〃
〃I mean of course he must be a boythey all grew up hereand it
was only five or six years ago that their parents emigrated；〃 she
retorted a little impatiently。 〃And what about this creature？〃
〃Your horse？〃
〃You know I mean the woman he married。 Of course she was older
than heand caught him？〃
〃I think there was a year or two difference；〃 said Grant quietly。
〃Yes； but your gallantry keeps you from telling the truth； which is
that the women； in cases of this kind； are much older and more
experienced。〃
〃Are they？ Well； perhaps she is； NOW。 She is dead。〃
Mrs。 Ashwood walked her horse。 〃Poor thing；〃 she said。 Then a
sudden idea took possession of her and brought a film to her eyes。
〃How long ago？〃 she asked in a low voice。
〃About six or seven months； I think。 I believe there was a baby
who died too。〃
She continued to walk her horse slowly； stroking its curved neck。
〃I think it's perfectly shameful！〃 she said suddenly。
〃Not so bad as that； Mrs。 Ashwood； surely。 The girl may have loved
himand he〃
〃You know perfectly what I mean； Mr。 Grant。 I speak of the conduct
of th