〃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： 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
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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。〃
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〃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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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 expens