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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 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。〃 〃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 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 Sac