"I don't think, my dear," said Mr. Mallory, as the anxious Rose flew
into his arms on his return to San Jose, a few hours later, "that it
will be necessary for you to go back again to Major Randolph's before we
leave. I have said 'Good-by' for you and thanked them, and your trunks
are packed and will be sent here. The fact is, my dear, you see this
affair of the earthquake and the disaster to the artesian well have
upset all their arrangements, and I am afraid that my little girl would
be only in their way just now."
"And you have seen Mr. Dawson--and you know why he sent for you?" asked
the young girl, with nervous eagerness.
"Ah, yes," said Mr. Mallory thoughtfully, "THAT was really important.
You see, my child," he continued, taking her hand in one of his own and
patting the back of it gently with the other, "we think, Dawson and I,
of taking over the major's ranch and incorporating it with the Excelsior
in one, to be worked on shares like the Excelsior; and as Mrs.
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