a millionaire of rough-and-ready-第5章

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sitting；　half　leaning；　against　the　stone；　began　to　draw　figures　in
the　sand　with　his　cane。

〃On　the　contrary；　Miss　Mulrady；　I　hope　to　make　some　money　here。
You　are　leaving　Rough…and…Ready　because　you　are　rich。　　We　are
coming　to　it　because　we　are　poor。〃

〃We？〃　echoed　Mamie；　lazily；　looking　up　the　road。

〃Yes。　　My　father　and　two　sisters。〃

〃I　am　sorry。　　I　might　have　known　them　if　I　hadn't　been　going　away。〃
At　the　same　moment；　it　flashed　across　her　mind　that；　if　they　were
like　the　man　before　her；　they　might　prove　disagreeably　independent
and　critical。　　〃Is　your　father　in　business？〃　she　asked。

He　shook　his　head。　　After　a　pause；　he　said；　punctuating　his
sentences　with　the　point　of　his　stick　in　the　soft　dust；　〃He　is
paralyzed；　and　out　of　his　mind；　Miss　Mulrady。　　I　came　to　California
to　seek　him；　as　all　news　of　him　ceased　three　years　since；　and　I
found　him　only　two　weeks　ago；　alone；　friendlessan　unrecognized
pauper　in　the　county　hospital。〃

〃Two　weeks　ago？　　That　was　when　I　went　to　Sacramento。〃

〃Very　probably。〃

〃It　must　have　been　very　shocking　to　you？〃

〃It　was。〃

〃I　should　think　you'd　feel　real　bad？〃

〃I　do；　at　times。〃　　He　smiled；　and　laid　his　stick　on　the　stone。
〃You　now　see；　Miss　Mulrady；　how　necessary　to　me　is　this　good
fortune　that　you　don't　think　me　worthy　of。　　Meantime　I　must　try　to
make　a　home　for　them　at　Rough…and…Ready。〃

Miss　Mulrady　put　down　her　knee　and　her　parasol。　　〃We　mustn't　stay
here　much　longer；　you　know。〃

〃Why？〃

〃Why；　the　stage…coach　comes　by　at　about　this　time。〃

〃And　you　think　the　passengers　will　observe　us　sitting　here？〃

〃Of　course　they　will。〃

〃Miss　Mulrady；　I　implore　you　to　stay。〃

He　was　leaning　over　her　with　such　apparent　earnestness　of　voice　and
gesture　that　the　color　came　into　her　cheek。　　For　a　moment　she
scarcely　dared　to　lift　her　conscious　eyes　to　his。　　When　she　did　so；
she　suddenly　glanced　her　own　aside　with　a　flash　of　anger。　　He　was
laughing。

〃If　you　have　any　pity　for　me；　do　not　leave　me　now；〃　he　repeated。
〃Stay　a　moment　longer；　and　my　fortune　is　made。　　The　passengers　will
report　us　all　over　Red　Dog　as　engaged。　　I　shall　be　supposed　to　be
in　your　father's　secrets；　and　shall　be　sought　after　as　a　director
of　all　the　new　companies。　　The　'Record'　will　double　its
circulation；　poetry　will　drop　out　of　its　columns；　advertising　rush
to　fill　its　place；　and　I　shall　receive　five　dollars　a　week　more
salary；　if　not　seven　and　a　half。　　Never　mind　the　consequences　to
yourself　at　such　a　moment。　　I　assure　you　there　will　be　none。　　You
can　deny　it　the　next　dayI　will　deny　itnay；　more；　the　'Record'
itself　will　deny　it　in　an　extra　edition　of　one　thousand　copies；　at
ten　cents　each。　　Linger　a　moment　longer；　Miss　Mulrady。　　Fly；　oh　fly
not　yet。　　They're　cominghark！　oh！　　By　Jove；　it's　only　Don
Caesar！〃

It　was；　indeed；　only　the　young　scion　of　the　house　of　Alvarado；
blue…eyed；　sallow…skinned；　and　high…shouldered；　coming　towards　them
on　a　fiery；　half…broken　mustang；　whose　very　spontaneous　lawlessness
seemed　to　accentuate　and　bring　out　the　grave　and　decorous　ease　of
his　rider。　　Even　in　his　burlesque　preoccupation　the　editor　of　the
〃Record〃　did　not　withhold　his　admiration　of　this　perfect
horsemanship。　　Mamie；　who；　in　her　wounded　amour　propre；　would　like
to　have　made　much　of　it　to　annoy　her　companion；　was　thus　estopped
any　ostentatious　compliment。

Don　Caesar　lifted　his　hat　with　sweet　seriousness　to　the　lady；　with
grave　courtesy　to　the　gentleman。　　While　the　lower　half　of　this
Centaur　was　apparently　quivering　with　fury；　and　stamping　the　ground
in　his　evident　desire　to　charge　upon　the　pair；　the　upper　half；　with
natural　dignity；　looked　from　the　one　to　the　other；　as　if　to　leave
the　privilege　of　an　explanation　with　them。　　But　Mamie　was　too　wise；
and　her　companion　too　indifferent；　to　offer　one。　　A　slight　shade
passed　over　Don　Caesar's　face。　　To　complicate　the　situation　at　that
moment；　the　expected　stagecoach　came　rattling　by。　　With　quick
feminine　intuition；　Mamie　caught　in　the　faces　of　the　driver　and　the
expressman；　and　reflected　in　the　mischievous　eyes　of　her　companion；
a　peculiar　interpretation　of　their　meeting；　that　was　not　removed　by
the　whispered　assurance　of　the　editor　that　the　passengers　were
anxiously　looking　back　〃to　see　the　shooting。〃

The　young　Spaniard；　equally　oblivious　of　humor　or　curiosity；
remained　impassive。

〃You　know　Mr。　Slinn；　of　the　'Record；〃　said　Mamie；　〃don't　you？〃

Don　Caesar　had　never　before　met　the　Senor　Esslinn。　　He　was　under
the　impression　that　it　was　a　Senor　Robinson　that　was　of　the
〃Record。〃

〃Oh；　HE　was　shot；〃　said　Slinn。　　〃I'm　taking　his　place。〃

〃Bueno！　　To　be　shot　too？　　I　trust　not。〃

Slinn　looked　quickly　and　sharply　into　Don　Caesar's　grave　face。　　He
seemed　to　be　incapable　of　any　double　meaning。　　However；　as　he　had
no　serious　reason　for　awakening　Don　Caesar's　jealousy；　and　very
little　desire　to　become　an　embarrassing　third　in　this　conversation；
and　possibly　a　burden　to　the　young　lady；　he　proceeded　to　take　his
leave　of　her。　　From　a　sudden　feminine　revulsion　of　sympathy；　or
from　some　unintelligible　instinct　of　diplomacy；　Mamie　said；　as　she
extended　her　hand；　〃I　hope　you'll　find　a　home　for　your　family　near
here。　　Mamma　wants　pa　to　let　our　old　house。　　Perhaps　it　might　suit
you；　if　not　too　far　from　your　work。　　You　might　speak　to　ma　about
it。〃

〃Thank　you；　I　will；〃　responded　the　young　man；　pressing　her　hand
with　unaffected　cordiality。

Don　Caesar　watched　him　until　he　had　disappeared　behind　the　wayside
buckeyes。

〃He　is　a　man　of　familythis　oneyour　countryman？〃

It　seemed　strange　to　her　to　have　a　mere　acquaintance　spoken　of　as
〃her　countryman〃not　the　first　time　nor　the　last　time　in　her
career。　　As　there　appeared　no　trace　or　sign　of　jealousy　in　her
questioner's　manner；　she　answered　briefly　but　vaguely：

〃Yes；　it's　a　shocking　story。　　His　father　disappeared　some　years
ago；　and　he　has　just　found　hima　helpless　paralyticin　the
Sacramento　Hospital。　　He'll　have　to　support　himand　they're　very
poor。〃

〃So；　then；　they　are　not　independent　of　each　other　alwaysthese
fathers　and　children　of　Americans！〃

〃No；〃　said　Mamie；　shortly。　　Without　knowing　why；　she　felt　inclined
to　resent　Don　Caesar's　manner。　　His　serious　gravitygentle　and
high…bred　as　it　was；　undoubtedlywas　somewhat　trying　to　her　at
times；　and　seemed　even　more　so　after　Slinn's　irreverent　humor。　　She
picked　up　her　parasol；　a　little　impatiently；　as　if　to　go。

But　Don　Caesar　had　already　dismounted；　and　tied　his　horse　to　a　tree
with　a　strong　lariat　that　hung　at　his　saddle…bow。

〃Let　us　walk　through　the　woods　towards　your　home。　　I　can　return
alone　for　the　horse　when　you　shall　dismiss　me。〃

They　turned　in　among　the　pines　that；　overcrowding　the　hollow；　crept
partly　up　the　side　of　the　hill　of　Mulrady's　shaft。　　A　disused
trail；　almost　hidden　by　the　waxen…hued　yerba　buena；　led　from　the
highway；　and　finally　lost　itself　in　the　undergrowth。　　It　was　a
lovers'　walk；　they　were　lovers；　evidently；　and　yet　the　man　was　too
self…poised　in　his　gravity；　the　young　woman　too　conscious　and
critical；　to　suggest　an　absorbing　or　oblivious　passion。

〃I　should　not　have　made　myself　so　obtrusive　to…day　before　your
friend；〃　said　Don　Caesar；　with　proud　humility；　〃but　I　could　not
understand　from　your　mother　whether　you　were　alone　or　whether　my
company　was　desirable。　　It　is　of　this　I　have　now　to　speak；　Mamie。
Lately　your　mother　has　seemed　strange　to　me；　avoiding　any　reference
to　our　affection；　treating　it　lightly；　and　even　as　to…day；　I　fancy；
putting　obstacles　in　the　way　of　our　meeting　alone。　　She　was
disappointed　at　your　return　from　Sacramento　where；　I　have　been
told；　she　intended　you　to　remain　until　you　left　the　country；　and
since　your　return　I　have　seen　you　but　twice。　　I　may　be　wrong。　
Perhaps　I　do　not　comprehend　the　American　mother；　I　havewho
knows？perhaps　offended　in　some　point　of　etiquette；　omitted　some
ceremony　that　was　her　due。　　But　when　you　told　me；　Mamie；　that　it
was　not　necessary　to　speak　to　HER　first；　that　it　was　not　the
American　fashion〃

Mamie　started；　and　blushed　slightly。

〃Yes；〃　she　said　hurriedly；　〃certainly；　but　ma　has　been　quite　queer
of　late；　and　she　may　thinkyou　knowthat　sincesince　there　has
been　so　much　property　to　dispose　of；　she　ought　to　have　been
consulted。〃

〃Then　let　us　consult　her　at　once；　dear　child！　　And　as　to　the
property；　in　Heaven's　name；　let　her　dispose　of　it　as　she　will。
Saints　forbid　that　an　Alvarado　should　ever　interfere。　　And　what　is
it　to　us；　my　little　one？　　Enough　that　Dona　Mameta　Alvarado　will
never　have　less　state　than　the　richest　bride　that　ever　came　to　Los
Gatos。〃

Mamie　had　not　forgotten　that；　scarcely　a　month　ago；　even　had　she
loved　the　man　before　her　no　more　than　she　did　at　present；　she　would
still　have　been　thrilled　with　delight　at　these　words！　　Even　now　she
was　movedconscious　as　she　had　become　that　the　〃state〃　of　a　bride
of　the　Alvarados　was　not　all　she　had　imagined；　and　that　the　bare
adobe　court　of　Los　Gatos　was　open　to　the　sky　and　the　free　criticism
of　Sacramento　capitalists！

〃Yes；　dear；〃　she　murmured　with　a　half　childlike　pleasure；　that　lit
up　her　face　and　eyes　so　innocently　that　it　stopped　any　minute
investigation　into　its　origin　and　real　meaning。　　〃Yes；　dear；　but　we
need　not　have　a　fuss　made　about　it　at　present；　and　perhaps　put　ma
against　us。　　She　wouldn't　hear　of　our　marrying　now；　and　she　might
forbid　our　engagement。〃

〃But　you　are　going　away。〃

〃I　should　have　to　go　to　New　York　or　Europe　FIRST；　you　know；〃　she
answered；　naively；　〃even　if　it　were　all　settled。　　I　should　have　to
get　things！　　One　couldn't　be　decent　here。〃

With　the　recollection　of　the　pink　cotton　gown；　in　which　she　had
first　pledged　her　troth　to　him；　before　his　eyes；　he　said；　〃But　you
are　charming　now。　　You　cannot　be　more　so　to　me。　　If　I　am　satisfied；
little　one；　with　you　as　you　are；　let　us　go　together；　and　then　you
can　get　dresses　to　please　others。〃

She　had　not　expected　this　importunity。　　Really；　if　it　came　to　this；
she　might　have　engaged　herself　to　some　one　like　Slinn；　he　at　least
would　have　understood　her。　　He　was　much　cleverer；　and　certainly
more　of　a　man　of　the　world。　　When　Slinn　had　treated　her　like　a
child；　it　was　with　the　humorous　tolerance　of　an　admiring　superior；
and　not　the　didactic　impulse　of　a　guardian。　　She　did　not　say　this；
nor　did　her　pretty　eyes　indicate　it；　as　in　the　instance　of　her
brief　anger　with　Slinn。　　She　only　said　gently；

〃I　should　have　thought　you；　of　all　men；　would　have　been　particular
about　your　wife　doing　the　proper　thing。　　But　never　mind！　　Don't　let
us　talk　any　more　about　it。　　Perhaps　as　it　seems　such　a　great　thing
to　you；　and　so　much　trouble；　there　may　be　no　necessity　for　it　at
all。〃

I　do　not　think　that　the　young　lady　deliberately　planned　this
charmingly　illogical　deduction　from　Don　Caesar's　speech；　or　that
she　calculated　its　effect　upon　him；　but　it　was　part　of　her　nature
to　say　it；　and　profit　by　it。　　Under　the　unjust　lash　of　it；　his
pride　gave　way。

〃Ah；　do　you　not　see　why　I　wish　to　go　with　you？〃　he　said；　with
sudden　and　unexpected　passion。　　〃You　are　beautiful；　you　are　good；
it　has　pleased　Heaven　to　make　you　rich　also；　but　you　are　a　child　in
experience；　and　know　not　your　own　heart。　　With　your　beauty；　your
goodness；　and　your　wealth