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.And now that I know how you feel, we'll go elsewhere."She did not reply.Perhaps she found it difficult to keep up her injured attitude in the face of her husband's gentleness.Perhaps her attention had been attracted by the unusual spectacle of a stranger, who had just mounted the hill and was now slowly passing along the line of cottages with a hesitating air of inquiry."He may be looking for this house,-for you," she said in an entirely new tone of interest."Run out and see.It may be some one who wants"-"An article," said Milton cheerfully."By Jove! he IS coming here."It was indeed Mr.Fletcher who entered and introduced himself,- a gentle reserved man, with something of that colorlessness of premature age in his speech which was observable in his hair.He had heard of Mr.Harcourt from a friend who had recommended him highly.As Mr.Harcourt had probably been told, he, the speaker, was about to embark some capital in a first-class newspaper in San Francisco, and should select the staff himself.He wanted to secure only first-rate talent,-but above all, youthfulness, directness, and originality.The "Clarion," for that was to be its name, was to have nothing "old fogy" about it.No.It was distinctly to be the organ of Young California! This and much more from the grave lips of the elderly young man, whose speech seemed to be divided between the pretty, but equally faded, young wife, and the one personification of invincible youth present,-her husband."But I fear I have interrupted your household duties," he said pleasantly."You were preparing dinner.Pray go on.And let me help you,-I'm not a bad cook,-and you can give me my reward by letting me share it with you, for the climb up here has sharpened my appetite.We can talk as we go on.""Mr.Fletcher is not interested in our little family differences, Milty," she said, looking at Mr.Fletcher, however, instead of him."You're Daniel Harcourt's SON whatever happens.""But if I scorn to make the claim or take a penny of his, Loo?""You could force him by simply telling him what you once told me."But here Mrs.Harcourt burst into tears, more touched by the alteration in her husband's manner, I fear, than by any contrition for wrongdoing.Of course if he wished to withdraw his confidences from her, just as he had almost confessed he wished to withdraw his NAME, she couldn't help it, but it was hard that when she sat there all day long trying to think what was best for them, she should be blamed! At which the quiet and forgiving John Milton smiled remorsefully and tried to comfort her.Nevertheless an occasional odd, indefinable chill seemed to creep across the feverish enthusiasm with which he was celebrating this day of fortune.And yet he neither knew nor suspected until long after that his foolish wife had that night half betrayed his secret to the stranger!The next day he presented a note of introduction from Mr.Fletcher to the business manager of the "Clarion," and the following morning was duly installed in office.He did not see his benefactor again; that single visit was left in the mystery and isolation of an angelic episode.It later appeared that other and larger interests in the San Jose valley claimed his patron's residence and attendance; only the capital and general purpose of the paper-to develop into a party organ in the interest of his possible senatorial aspirations in due season-was furnished by him.Grateful as John Milton felt towards him, he was relieved; it seemed probable that Mr.Fletcher HAD selected him on his individual merits, and not as the son of a millionaire.Stupefaction, a vague terror, and rising anger, rapidly succeeded each other in the young man's mind as he stood mechanically holding the paper in his hand.It was the writing of his chief editor, whose easy brutality he had sometimes even boyishly admired.Without stopping to consider their relative positions he sought him indignantly and laid the proof before him.The editor laughed."But what's that to YOU? YOU'RE not on terms with the old man.""Then it must go in?" said John Milton with a white face.But he could not bear to tell this to his wife when he climbed the hill that night, and he invented some excuse for bringing his work home
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