a millionaire of rough-and-ready(粗犷的百万富翁)-第10章
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of the big one into this when they left。〃
〃Mamie Mulrady hadn't much to keep her here； considerin' the money
and the good looks she has； I reckon；〃 said Vashti。 〃She isn't the sort of
girl to throw herself away in the wilderness； when she can pick and choose
elsewhere。 I only wonder she ever come back from Sacramento。 They
talk about papa Mulrady having BUSINESS at San Francisco； and THAT
hurrying them off！ Depend upon it； that 'business' was Mamie herself。
Her wish is gospel to them。 If she'd wanted to stay and have a farewell
party； old Mulrady's business would have been nowhere。〃
〃Ain't you a little rough on Mamie；〃 said Esther； who had been quietly
watching the young man's face with her large languid eyes； 〃considering
that we don't know her； and haven't even the right of friends to criticise？〃
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〃I don't call it rough；〃 returned Vashti； frankly； 〃for I'd do the same if I
were in her shoesand they're four…and…a…halves； for Harry told me so。
Give me her money and her looks； and you wouldn't catch me hanging
round these diggingsgoin' to choir meetings Saturdays； church Sundays；
and buggy…riding once a month for society！ NoMamie's head was
levelyou bet！〃
Don Caesar rose hurriedly。 They would present his compliments to
their father； and he would endeavor to find their brother at Red Dog。 He；
alas！ had neither father； mother； nor sister； but if they would receive his
aunt； the Dona Inez Sepulvida； the next Sunday； when she came from
mass； she should be honored and he would be delighted。 It required all
his self…possession to deliver himself of this formal courtesy before he
could take his leave； and on the back of his mustang give way to the rage；
disgust and hatred of everything connected with Mamie that filled his
heart。 Conscious of his disturbance； but not entirely appreciating their
own share in it； the two girls somewhat wickedly prolonged the interview
by following him into the garden。
〃Well； if you MUST leave now；〃 said Esther； at last； languidly； 〃it ain't
much out of your way to go down through the garden and take a look at pa
as you go。 He's somewhere down there； near the woods； and we don't
like to leave him alone too long。 You might pass the time of day with
him； see if he's right side up。 Vashti and I have got a heap of things to fix
here yet； but if anything's wrong with him； you can call us。 So…long。〃
Don Caesar was about to excuse himself hurriedly； but that sudden and
acute perception of all kindred sorrow which belongs to refined suffering；
checked his speech。 The loneliness of the helpless old man in this
atmosphere of active and youthful selfishness touched him。 He bowed
assent； and turned aside into one of the long perspectives of bean…poles。
The girls watched him until out of sight。
〃Well；〃 said Vashti； 〃don't tell ME。 But if there wasn't something
between him and that Mamie Mulrady； I don't know a jilted man when I
see him。〃
〃Well； you needn't have let him SEE that you knew it； so that any
civility of ours would look as if we were ready to take up with her
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leavings；〃 responded Esther； astutely； as the girls reentered the house。
Meantime； the unconscious object of their criticism walked sadly
down the old market…garden； whose rude outlines and homely details he
once clothed with the poetry of a sensitive man's first love。 Well； it was a
common cabbage field and potato patch after all。 In his disgust he felt
conscious of even the loss of that sense of patronage and superiority which
had invested his affection for a girl of meaner condition。 His self…respect
was humiliated with his love。 The soil and dirt of those wretched
cabbages had clung to him； but not to her。 It was she who had gone
higher； it was he who was left in the vulgar ruins of his misplaced passion。
He reached the bottom of the garden without observing any sign of the
lonely invalid。 He looked up and down the cabbage rows； and through
the long perspective of pea…vines； without result。 There was a newer trail
leading from a gap in the pines to the wooded hollow； which undoubtedly
intersected the little path that he and Mamie had once followed from the
high road。 If the old man had taken this trail he had possibly over…tasked
his strength； and there was the more reason why he should continue his
search； and render any assistance if required。 There was another idea that
occurred to him； which eventually decided him to go on。 It was that both
these trails led to the decayed sycamore stump； and that the older Slinn
might have something to do with the mysterious letter。 Quickening his
steps through the field； he entered the hollow； and reached the intersecting
trail as he expected。 To the right it lost itself in the dense woods in the
direction of the ominous stump； to the left it descended in nearly a straight
line to the highway； now plainly visible； as was equally the boulder on
which he had last discovered Mamie sitting with young Slinn。 If he were
not mistaken； there was a figure sitting there now； it was surely a man。
And by that half…bowed； helpless attitude； the object of his search！
It did not take him long to descend the track to the highway and
approach the stranger。 He was seated with his hands upon his knees；
gazing in a vague； absorbed fashion upon the hillside； now crowned with
the engine…house and chimney that marked the site of Mulrady's shaft。
He started slightly； and looked up； as Don Caesar paused before him。
The young man was surprised to see that the unfortunate man was not as
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old as he had expected； and that his expression was one of quiet and
beatified contentment。
〃Your daughters told me you were here；〃 said Don Caesar； with gentle
respect。 〃I am Caesar Alvarado； your not very far neighbor； very happy
to pay his respects to you as he has to them。〃
〃My daughters？〃 said the old man； vaguely。 〃Oh； yes！ nice little girls。
And my boy Harry。 Did you see Harry？ Fine little fellow； Harry。〃
〃I am glad to hear that you are better；〃 said Don Caesar； hastily； 〃and
that the air of our country does you no harm。 God benefit you； senor；〃 he
added； with a profoundly reverential gesture； dropping unconsciously into
the religious habit of his youth。 〃May he protect you； and bring you back
to health and happiness！〃
〃Happiness？〃 said Slinn； amazedly。 〃I am happyvery happy！ I
have everything I want： good air； good food； good clothes； pretty little
children； kind friends〃 He smiled benignantly at Don Caesar。 〃God is
very good to me！〃
Indeed； he seemed very happy； and his face； albeit crowned with white
hair； unmarked by care and any disturbing impression； had so much of
satisfied youth in it that the grave features of his questioner made him
appear the elder。 Nevertheless； Don Caesar noticed that his eyes； when
withdrawn from him； sought the hillside with the same visionary
abstraction。
〃It is a fine view； Senor Esslinn；〃 said Don Caesar。
〃It is a beautiful view； sir；〃 said Slinn； turning his happy eyes upon
him for a moment； only to rest them again on the green slope opposite。
〃Beyond that hill which you are looking atnot far； Senor Esslinn I
live。 You shall come and see me thereyou and your family。〃
〃Youyoulive there？〃 stammered the invalid； with a troubled
expressionthe first and only change to the complete happiness that had
hitherto suffused his face。 〃Youand your name isis Ma〃
〃Alvarado；〃 said Don Caesar； gently。 Caesar Alvarado。〃
〃You said Masters；〃 said the old man； with sudden querulousness。
〃No； good friend。 I said Alvarado；〃 returned Don Caesar； gravely。
〃If you didn't say Masters； how could I say it？ I don't know any
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Masters。〃
Don Caesar was silent。 In another moment the happy tranquillity
returned to Slinn's face； and Don Caesar continued：
〃It is not a long walk over the hill； though it is far by the road。 When
you are better you shall try it。 Yonder little trail leads to the top of the
hill； and then〃
He stopped； for the invalid's face had again assumed its troubled
expression。 Partly to change his thoughts； and partly for some
inexplicable idea that had suddenly seized him； Don Caesar continued：
〃There is a strange old stump near the trail； and in it a hole。 In the
hole I found this letter。〃 He stopped againthis time in alarm。 Slinn
had staggered to his feet with ashen and distorted features； and was
glancing at the letter which Don Caesar had drawn from his pocket。 The
muscles of his throat swelled as if he was swallowing； his lips moved； but
no sound issued from them。 At last； with a convulsive effort； he regained
a disjointed speech； in a voice scarcely audible。
〃My letter！ my letter！ It's mine！ Give it me！ It's my fortune all
mine！ In the tunnelhill！ Masters stole itstole my fortune！ Stole it
all！ See； see！〃
He seized the letter from Don Caesar with trembling hands； and tore it
