Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-12-27
A MONTE-rLAT PASTORAL.
How Old Man Plunkett Went Home
BRET HARrE.s LAST STORY.
IProm !Scribner's for January.

Der that the blacksmith went 90 far as to say
that Them chaps as put that responsibility on
the old man oughter to be lynched." But the
blacksmith wa- not q stakeholder, and the ex
preston was looked upon as the excusable ex-
t ,ss OF large sympAthizins nature,
Was unworthy of notice. At least that was tue
way they put 1t. Yet think there was a gene
raj feeling of regret that this misfortune would
of
"eoINe HOME"
Indeed, for the last ten years he had been
going home" He was going home after six
months sojourn at Monte Flat. He was going
home after the first rains. He was going home
when the rains were over. He was going home
when there vas pasture on Qows Fiat, when be
struck pay dirt On Eureka Hill, when the Amity
Company paid its first dividend, when the cleo
ton was over, when he lad received an answer
from his vie. And 30 the years rolled by, the
spring rains came and went, the woods of Buck
eye Hill were level with the ground, the pasture
on Dow's Flat grew sere and dry, Eureka Hill
first dividends Of the Amity Company were
made from the Assessments of stockholders
there were new county officers at Monte Flat,
question, and still old man Plunkett remained
1t is only fair to say that he had made
eRvERAL DISTINCT ESSAYS TOWARDS GOING.
Five years before he had hidden goodbye to
Monte Hill with much effusion and hand
shaking. But he never got any further than
the next town. Here he was induced to trade
the sorrel colt he was riding for a bay mare-s
transaction that at once opened to his lively
fancy q vista of vast and successful future spec
ulations. A few days after, Abner Dean of
Angels received letter from him stating that
he was going to Visalia to buy horses. 81 am
satisfied" wrote Plunkett, with that elevated
rhetoric for which his correspondence was re-
markable, 81 am satisfied that we are at last
developing the real resources of California. The
world will yet look to Dow's Flat as the great
stock raising center. In view of the interests
involved, have deferred my departure for
49, t..Go- =
to us, penniless. Six months later he was again
enabled to start for the eastern states, and this
time got as far as San Francisco. have before
me letter which received few days after
know, my dear boy, that 1 have always be-
lieyed that gambling, as 1t Is absurdly called, is
still in Its infancy in California. have always
vented by which the game Of poker may be
made to yield certain per centage to the In.
telligent player. am not at liberty at present
city intend to perfect it." He seems to have
done so, and returned to Monte Fiat with two
d liars and thirty-seve cents, the absolute re-
J. Under Of his capital after such perfection.
Itwas not till 1868 that he appeared to
HAVE FINALLY SUCCEEDED
in going home. He left US by the overland
route-a route which he declared would give
great opportunity for the discovery of undevel-
oped resources. His last letter was dated Vir.
Rinia City. He was absent three years. At the
close Of very hot day in midsummer he alghted
from the Wingdsm stage with hair and beard
powdered with dust and age. There was a GER
tain shyness about his greeting, quite different
from his usual frank .volubility that did not,
however, impress us as any accession OF charac-
his recent visit, contenting himself with assert,
ing, with more or less aggressivenes that he
had "always said he was going home and now
ne mao eeen tnere:n Later he grew more com
the manners and customs of New York and Bos-
ton, commented on the social changes in the
years OF his absence, and, remember, was very
hard upon what he deemed the follies inciden-
tai to high state of civilization. Still later he
darkly alluded to the moral laxity OF the higher
planes OF Eastern society, but it was not long be-
vealed the naked wickedness of New York So
cial life in way l even now shudier to recall.
Ninous intoxlcation, it appeared, was a common
habit of the first ladies OF the CITY, immoraIities
which he scarcely dared name were daily prac-
ticed by the refined of both sexes niggardness
and greed were the common vices of the rich.
81 have always asserted" he continued 18th,
corruption must exist where luxury and riches
are rampant, and capital is not used to develop
the natural resources of the country. Thank
you
WILL TAKE MINE WITHOUT SUGAR"
1t is possible that some of these painful de-
tails crept Into the local journals. 1 remember
an editorial in the Monte Flat Monitor, entitled
80 The Effete East" in which the fatal deca.
deAce of New York and New England was
deliberately stated, and California offered as a
means Of natural salvation. Perhaps" said
county offers superior Inducements to the east
ern visitor with capital"
Later he spoke of his family. The daughter
he had left y child had grown into beautiful
womanho0d; the son was already taller and
larger than his father, and, in playful trial OF
strength, /" the young rascal" added Plunkett,
with voice broken with paternal pride and
humorous objurgation, had twice thrown his
dOting parent to the ground. Bat it was of his
daughter he chiefly spoke. Perhaps emboldened
by the evident interest which masculine Monte
at haI in mil lima hoon ~ ha Aal
some length on her various charms and accom-
plishments, and finally
PRODUCED HER PHoroGRAPH,-
peru Blu. bis q bis 1s. %setina %itS
her vas 50 peculiar that must fain give it after
his own methods, which were, perhaps, some
shades less precise and elegant than his written
"YOu see, boys, it's always been my opinion
that man oughter be able to tell his own flesh
and blood by instinct: It's ten years since I'd
abo.. .. high. SO, when 1 went to New York,
what did do? Did 1 60 straight " my house
and AK for my wife and daughter, like Othsr
der, as a peddler, sir, and rung the bell.
When the servant came to the door, wanted
don't you see-to show the ladies some trinkets.
Don't want anything-send him away Some
nice lsces. ma'am, smuggled,' l says, looking
up. SECT out, you wretch, says she. knew
the voice, boys, 1t was my wife, sure as gun
ladies want somethin', said. ibid you hear
mel says she, and with that she jumps for ward
AND LEFT.
It's ten years, boys, since I've seen the old wo-
man, but somehow, when she fetched that leap,
l materially left"
He had been standing beside the bar-his
usual attitude-when he made this speech, but
at this point he halffaced his auditors with a
look that was very effective. Indeed, a few
who had exhibited some signs of skepticism and
lack OF interest at once assumed an appear
ance Of intense qualification and curiosity as he
went on.
"well, by hangin' round there for day or
two, found out at last it was to be Melindy's
birthday next week, and that she was goin' to
have big party. tell ye what, boys, it weren't
no SLOUGH OF q reception. The whole house was
bloomin' with flowers, and blszn' with lights,
and there was no end of servants and plate and
refreshments and hxin's-"
"Uncle joe"
''Well?"
"where did they get the money!"
Plunkett faced his interlecutor with severe
glance. al always said," he replied slewly,
"that when l went home I'd send on ahead Of
me
A DRAFT FOR $4,000.
always said that, didn't I? Eli? And said
1 was goin' homeland I've been home-haven't
1? Well?
Either there was something irresistibiy con-
elusive in this logic or else the desire to hear
the remainder of Plunkett's story was stronger;
but there was no more interruption. His ready
good humor quickly returned, and, with q
aliUhf chnckla bQ want