We are now
satisfied that one 'Elijah Curtis,' a former pioneer of Tasajara who
disappeared five years ago, and was supposed to be drowned, has not only
made no claim to the Tasajara property, as alleged, but has given no
sign of his equally alleged resuscitation and present existence, and
that on the minutest investigation there appears nothing either in his
disappearance, or the transfer of his property to Daniel Harcourt,
that could in any way disturb the uncontested title to Tasajara or the
unimpeachable character of its present owner. The whole story now seems
to have been the outcome of one of those stupid rural hoaxes too common
in California."
"Well," said Mrs. Ashwood, laying aside the 'Clarion' with a skeptical
shrug of her pretty shoulders, as she glanced up at her brother; "I
suppose this means that you are going to propose again to the young
lady?"
"I have," said Jack Shipley, "that's the worst of it--and got my answer
before this came out."
"Jack!" said Mrs. Ashwood, thoroughly surprised.
"Yes! You see, Conny, as I told you three weeks ago, she said she wanted
time to consider,--that she scarcely knew me, and all that! Well, I
thought it wasn't exactly a gentleman's business to seem to stand off
after that last attack on her father, and so, last week, I went down
to San Jose, where she was staying, and begged her not to keep me in
suspense.
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