a millionaire of rough-and-ready-第7章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


those　capitals。　　Considerable　disappointment　is　felt　that　a　more
extended　leave…taking　was　not　possible；　and　that；　under　the
circumstances；　no　opportunity　was　offered　for　a　'send　off'　suitable
to　the　condition　of　the　parties　and　the　esteem　in　which　they　are
held　in　Rough…and…Ready。〃

The　paper　dropped　from　his　hands。　　Gone！　and　without　a　word！　　No；
that　was　impossible！　　There　must　be　some　mistake；　she　had　written；
the　letter　had　miscarried；　she　must　have　sent　word　to　Los　Gatos；
and　the　stupid　messenger　had　blundered；　she　had　probably　appointed
another　meeting；　or　expected　him　to　follow　to　San　Francisco。　　〃The
day　before　yesterday！〃　　It　was　the　morning's　papershe　had　been
gone　scarcely　two　daysit　was　not　too　late　yet　to　receive　a
delayed　message　by　post；　by　some　forgetful　handbyahthe　tree！

Of　course　it　was　in　the　tree；　and　he　had　not　been　there　for　a　week！
Why　had　he　not　thought　of　it　before？　　The　fault　was　his；　not　hers。
Perhaps　she　had　gone　away；　believing　him　faithless；　or　a　country
boor。

〃In　the　name　of　the　Devil；　will　you　keep　me　here　till　eternity！〃

The　blacksmith　stared　at　him。　　Don　Caesar　suddenly　remembered　that
he　was　speaking；　as　he　was　thinkingin　Spanish。

〃Ten　dollars；　my　friend；　if　you　have　done　in　five　minutes！〃

The　man　laughed。　　〃That's　good　enough　American；〃　he　said；　beginning
to　quicken　his　efforts。　　Don　Caesar　again　took　up　the　paper。　　There
was　another　paragraph　that　recalled　his　last　interview　with　Mamie：

〃Mr。　Harry　Slinn；　Jr。；　the　editor　of　this　paper；　has　just　moved
into　the　pioneer　house　formerly　occupied　by　Alvin　Mulrady；　Esq。；
which　has　already　become　historic　in　the　annals　of　the　county。　　Mr。
Slinn　brings　with　him　his　fatherH。　J。　Slinn；　Esq。；and　his　two
sisters。　　Mr。　Slinn；　Sen。；　who　has　been　suffering　for　many　years
from　complete　paralysis；　we　understand　is　slowly　improving；　and　it
is　by　the　advice　of　his　physicians　that　he　has　chosen　the
invigorating　air　of　the　foothills　as　a　change　to　the　debilitating
heat　of　Sacramento。〃

The　affair　had　been　quickly　settled；　certainly；　reflected　Don
Caesar；　with　a　slight　chill　of　jealousy；　as　he　thought　of　Mamie's
interest　in　the　young　editor。　　But　the　next　moment　he　dismissed　it
from　his　mind；　all　except　a　dull　consciousness　that；　if　she　really
loved　himDon　Caesaras　he　loved　her；　she　could　not　have　assisted
in　throwing　into　his　society　the　young　sisters　of　the　editor；　who
she　expected　might　be　so　attractive。

Within　the　five　minutes　the　horse　was　ready；　and　Don　Caesar　in　the
saddle　again。　　In　less　than　half　an　hour　he　was　at　the　wayside
boulder。　　Here　he　picketed　his　horse；　and　took　the　narrow　foot…
trail　through　the　hollow。　　It　did　not　take　him　long　to　reach　their
old　trysting…place。　　With　a　beating　heart　he　approached　the
decaying　trunk　and　looked　into　the　cavity。　　There　was　no　letter
there！

A　few　blackened　nuts　and　some　of　the　dry　moss　he　had　put　there　were
lying　on　the　ground　at　its　roots。　　He　could　not　remember　whether
they　were　there　when　he　had　last　visited　the　spot。　　He　began　to
grope　in　the　cavity　with　both　hands。　　His　fingers　struck　against
the　sharp　angles　of　a　flat　paper　packet：　a　thrill　of　joy　ran
through　them　and　stopped　his　beating　heart；　he　drew　out　the　hidden
object；　and　was　chilled　with　disappointment。

It　was　an　ordinary…sized　envelope　of　yellowish…brown　paper；
bearing；　besides　the　usual　government　stamp；　the　official　legend　of
an　express　company；　and　showing　its　age　as　much　by　this　record　of　a
now　obsolete　carrying　service　as　by　the　discoloration　of　time　and
atmosphere。　　Its　weight；　which　was　heavier　than　that　of　any
ordinary　letter　of　the　same　size　and　thickness；　was　evidently　due
to　some　loose　enclosures；　that　slightly　rustled　and　could　be　felt
by　the　fingers；　like　minute　pieces　of　metal　or　grains　of　gravel。
It　was　within　Don　Caesar's　experience　that　gold　specimens　were
often　sent　in　that　manner。　　It　was　in　a　state　of　singular
preservation；　except　the　address；　which；　being　written　in　pencil；
was　scarcely　discernible；　and　even　when　deciphered　appeared　to　be
incoherent　and　unfinished。　　The　unknown　correspondent　had　written
〃dear　Mary；〃　and　then　〃Mrs。　Mary　Slinn；〃　with　an　unintelligible
scrawl　following　for　the　direction。　　If　Don　Caesar's　mind　had　not
been　lately　preoccupied　with　the　name　of　the　editor；　he　would
hardly　have　guessed　the　superscription。

In　his　cruel　disappointment　and　fully　aroused　indignation；　he　at
once　began　to　suspect　a　connection　of　circumstances　which　at　any
other　moment　he　would　have　thought　purely　accidental；　or　perhaps
not　have　considered　at　all。　　The　cavity　in　the　tree　had　evidently
been　used　as　a　secret　receptacle　for　letters　before；　did　Mamie　know
it　at　the　time；　and　how　did　she　know　it？　　The　apparent　age　of　the
letter　made　it　preposterous　to　suppose　that　it　pointed　to　any
secret　correspondence　of　hers　with　young　Mr。　Slinn；　and　the　address
was　not　in　her　handwriting。　　Was　there　any　secret　previous　intimacy
between　the　families？　　There　was　but　one　way　in　which　he　could
connect　this　letter　with　Mamie's　faithlessness。　　It　was　an
infamous；　a　grotesquely　horrible　idea；　a　thought　which　sprang　as
much　from　his　inexperience　of　the　world　and　his　habitual
suspiciousness　of　all　humor　as　anything　else！　　It　was　that　the
letter　was　a　brutal　joke　of　Slinn'sa　joke　perhaps　concocted　by
Mamie　and　himselfa　parting　insult　that　should　at　the　last　moment
proclaim　their　treachery　and　his　own　credulity。　　Doubtless　it
contained　a　declaration　of　their　shame；　and　the　reason　why　she　had
fled　from　him　without　a　word　of　explanation。　　And　the　enclosure；　of
course；　was　some　significant　and　degrading　illustration。　　Those
Americans　are　full　of　those　low　conceits；　it　was　their　national
vulgarity。

He　had　the　letter　in　his　angry　hand。　　He　could　break　it　open　if　he
wished　and　satisfy　himself；　but　it　was　not　addressed　to　HIM；　and
the　instinct　of　honor；　strong　even　in　his　rage；　was　the　instinct　of
an　adversary　as　well。　　No；　Slinn　should　open　the　letter　before　him。
Slinn　should　explain　everything；　and　answer　for　it。　　If　it　was
nothinga　mere　accidentit　would　lead　to　some　general
explanation；　and　perhaps　even　news　of　Mamie。　　But　he　would　arraign
Slinn；　and　at　once。　　He　put　the　letter　in　his　pocket；　quickly
retraced　his　steps　to　his　horse；　and；　putting　spurs　to　the　animal；
followed　the　high　road　to　the　gate　of　Mulrady's　pioneer　cabin。

He　remembered　it　well　enough。　　To　a　cultivated　taste；　it　was
superior　to　the　more　pretentious　〃new　house。〃　　During　the　first
year　of　Mulrady's　tenancy；　the　plain　square　log…cabin　had　received
those　additions　and　attractions　which　only　a　tenant　can　conceive
and　actual　experience　suggest；　and　in　this　way　the　hideous　right
angles　were　broken　with　sheds；　〃lean…to〃　extensions；　until　a
certain　picturesqueness　was　given　to　the　irregularity　of　outline；
and　a　home…like　security　and　companionship　to　the　congregated
buildings。　　It　typified　the　former　life　of　the　great　capitalist；　as
the　tall　new　house　illustrated　the　loneliness　and　isolation　that
wealth　had　given　him。　　But　the　real　points　of　vantage　were　the
years　of　cultivation　and　habitation　that　had　warmed　and　enriched
the　soil；　and　evoked　the　climbing　vines　and　roses　that　already　hid
its　unpainted　boards；　rounded　its　hard　outlines；　and　gave
projection　and　shadow　from　the　pitiless　glare　of　a　summer's　long
sun；　or　broke　the　steady　beating　of　the　winter　rains。　　It　was　true
that　pea　and　bean　poles　surrounded　it　on　one　side；　and　the　only
access　to　the　house　was　through　the　cabbage　rows　that　once　were　the
pride　and　sustenance　of　the　Mulradys。　　It　was　this　fact；　more　than
any　other；　that　had　impelled　Mrs。　Mulrady　to　abandon　its　site；　she
did　not　like　to　read　the　history　of　their　humble　origin　reflected
in　the　faces　of　their　visitors　as　they　entered。

Don　Caesar　tied　his　horse　to　the　fence；　and　hurriedly　approached
the　house。　　The　door；　however；　hospitably　opened　when　he　was　a　few
paces　from　it；　and　when　he　reached　the　threshold　he　found　himself
unexpectedly　in　the　presence　of　two　pretty　girls。　　They　were
evidently　Slinn's　sisters；　whom　he　had　neither　thought　of　nor
included　in　the　meeting　he　had　prepared。　　In　spite　of　his
preoccupation；　he　felt　himself　suddenly　embarrassed；　not　only　by
the　actual　distinction　of　their　beauty；　but　by　a　kind　of　likeness
that　they　seemed　to　bear　to　Mamie。

〃We　saw　you　coming；〃　said　the　elder；　unaffectedly。　　〃You　are　Don
Caesar　Alvarado。　　My　brother　has　spoken　of　you。〃

The　words　recalled　Don　Caesar　to　himself　and　a　sense　of　courtesy。
He　was　not　here　to　quarrel　with　these　fair　strangers　at　their　first
meeting；　he　must　seek　Slinn　elsewhere；　and　at　another　time。　　The
frankness　of　his　reception　and　the　allusion　to　their　brother　made
it　appear　impossible　that　they　should　be　either　a　party　to　his
disappointment；　or　even　aware　of　it。　　His　excitement　melted　away
before　a　certain　lazy　ease；　which　the　consciousness　of　their　beauty
seemed　to　give　them。　　He　was　able　to　put　a　few　courteous　inquiries；
and；　thanks　to　the　paragraph　in　the　〃Record；〃　to　congratulate　them
upon　their　father's　improvement。

〃Oh；　pa　is　a　great　deal　better　in　his　health；　and　has　picked　up
even　in　the　last　few　days；　so　that　he　is　able　to　walk　round　with
crutches；〃　said　the　elder　sister。　　〃The　air　here　seems　to
invigorate　him　wonderfully。〃

〃And　you　know；　Esther；〃　said　the　younger；　〃I　think　he　begins　to
take　more　notice　of　things；　especially　when　he　is　out…of…doors。　　He
looks　around　on　the　scenery；　and　his　eye　brightens；　as　if　he　knew
all　about　it；　and　sometimes　he　knits　his　brows；　and　looks　down　so；
as　if　he　was　trying　to　remember。〃

〃You　know；　I　suppose；〃　exclaimed　Esther；　〃that　since　his　seizure
his　memory　has　been　a　blankthat　is；　three　or　four　years　of　his
life　seem　to　have　been　dropped　out　of　his　recollection。〃

〃It　might　be　a　mercy　sometimes；　Senora；〃　said　Don　Caesar；　with　a
grave　sigh；　as　he　looked　at　the　delicate　features　before　him；　which
recalled　the　face　of　the　absent　Mamie。

〃That's　not　very　complimentary；〃　said　the　younger　girl；　laughingly；
〃for　pa　didn't　recognize　us；　and　only　remembered　us　as　little
girls。〃

〃Vashti！〃　interrupted　Esther；　rebukingly；　then；　turning　to　Don
Caesar；　she　added；　〃My　sister；　Vashti；　means　that　father　remembers
more　what　happened　before　he　came　to　California；　when　we　were　quite
young；　than　he　does　of　the　interval　that　elapsed。　　Dr。　Duchesne
says　it's　a　singular　case。　　He　thinks　that；　with　his　present
progress；　he　will　recover　the　perfect　use　of　his　limbs；　though　his
memory　may　never　come　back　again。〃

〃Unless　　You　forget　what　the　doctor　told　us　this　morning；〃
interrupted　Vashti　again；　briskly。

〃I　was　going　to　say　it；〃　said　Esther；　a　little　curtly。　　〃UNLESS　he
has　another　stroke。　　Then　he　will　either　die　or　recover　his　mind
entirely。〃

Don　Caesar　glanced　at　the　bright　faces；　a　trifle　heightened　in
color　by　their　eager　recital　and　the　slight　rivalry　of　narration；
and　looked　grave。　　He　was　a　little　shocked　at　a　certain　lack　of
sympathy　and　tenderness　towards　their　unhappy　parent。　　They　seemed
to　him　not　only　to　have　caught　that　dry；　curious　toleration　of
helplessness　which　characterizes　even　relationship　in　its
attendance　upon　chronic　suffering　and　weakness；　but　to　have
acqu