a millionaire of rough-and-ready(粗犷的百万富翁)-第3章
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filled by Heaven at its appointed seasons； the cattle； dumb brutes though
they were； knew where to find water when they wanted it。 But thou
sayest truly；〃 he added； with a sigh； 〃that was before streams and rain were
choked with hellish engines； and poisoned with their spume。 Go on；
friend Mulrady； dig and bore if thou wilt； but in a seemly fashion； and not
with impious earthquakes of devilish gunpowder。〃
With this concession Alvin Mulrady began to sink his first artesian
shaft。 Being debarred the auxiliaries of steam and gunpowder； the work
went on slowly。 The market garden did not suffer meantime； as Mulrady
had employed two Chinamen to take charge of the ruder tillage； while he
superintended the engineering work of the well。 This trifling incident
marked an epoch in the social condition of the family。 Mrs。 Mulrady at
once assumed a conscious importance among her neighbors。 She spoke
of her husband's 〃men〃； she alluded to the well as 〃the works〃； she
checked the easy frontier familiarity of her customers with pretty Mary
Mulrady； her seventeen…year…old daughter。 Simple Alvin Mulrady looked
with astonishment at this sudden development of the germ planted in all
feminine nature to expand in the slightest sunshine of prosperity。 〃Look
yer； Malviny； ain't ye rather puttin' on airs with the boys that want to be
civil to Mamie？ Like as not one of 'em may be makin' up to her already。〃
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〃You don't mean to say； Alvin Mulrady；〃 responded Mrs。 Mulrady； with
sudden severity； 〃that you ever thought of givin' your daughter to a
common miner； or that I'm goin' to allow her to marry out of our own set？〃
〃Our own set！〃 echoed Mulrady feebly； blinking at her in astonishment；
and then glancing hurriedly across at his freckle…faced son and the two
Chinamen at work in the cabbages。 〃Oh； you know what I mean；〃 said
Mrs。 Mulrady sharply； 〃the set that we move in。 The Alvarados and their
friends！ Doesn't the old Don come here every day； and ain't his son the
right age for Mamie？ And ain't they the real first families hereall the
same as if they were noblemen？ No； leave Mamie to me； and keep to
your shaft； there never was a man yet had the least sabe about these things；
or knew what was due to his family。〃 Like most of his larger minded； but
feebler equipped sex； Mulrady was too glad to accept the truth of the latter
proposition； which left the meannesses of life to feminine manipulation；
and went off to his shaft on the hillside。 But during that afternoon he was
perplexed and troubled。 He was too loyal a husband not to be pleased
with this proof of an unexpected and superior foresight in his wife；
although he was； like all husbands； a little startled by it。 He tried to
dismiss it from his mind。 But looking down from the hillside upon his
little venture； where gradual increase and prosperity had not been beyond
his faculties to control and understand； he found himself haunted by the
more ambitious projects of his helpmate。 From his own knowledge of
men； he doubted if Don Ramon； any more than himself； had ever thought
of the possibility of a matrimonial connection between the families。 He
doubted if he would consent to it。 And unfortunately it was this very
doubt that； touching his own pride as a self…made man； made him first
seriously consider his wife's proposition。 He was as good as Don Ramon；
any day！ With this subtle feminine poison instilled in his veins； carried
completely away by the logic of his wife's illogical premises； he almost
hated his old benefactor。 He looked down upon the little Garden of Eden；
where his Eve had just tempted him with the fatal fruit； and felt a curious
consciousness that he was losing its simple and innocent enjoyment
forever。
Happily； about this time Don Ramon died。 It is not probable that he
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ever knew the amiable intentions of Mrs。 Mulrady in regard to his son；
who now succeeded to the paternal estate； sadly partitioned by relatives
and lawsuits。 The feminine Mulradys attended the funeral； in expensive
mourning from Sacramento； even the gentle Alvin was forced into ready…
made broadcloth； which accented his good…natured but unmistakably
common presence。 Mrs。 Mulrady spoke openly of her 〃loss〃； declared
that the old families were dying out； and impressed the wives of a few new
arrivals at Red Dog with the belief that her own family was contemporary
with the Alvarados； and that her husband's health was far from perfect。
She extended a motherly sympathy to the orphaned Don Caesar。 Reserved；
like his father； in natural disposition； he was still more gravely
ceremonious from his loss； and； perhaps from the shyness of an evident
partiality for Mamie Mulrady； he rarely availed himself of her mother's
sympathizing hospitality。 But he carried out the intentions of his father
by consenting to sell to Mulrady； for a small sum； the property he had
leased。 The idea of purchasing had originated with Mrs。 Mulrady。
〃It'll be all in the family；〃 had observed that astute lady； 〃and it's better
for the looks of the things that we shouldn't he his tenants。〃
It was only a few weeks later that she was startled by hearing her
husband's voice calling her from the hillside as he rapidly approached the
house。 Mamie was in her room putting on a new pink cotton gown； in
honor of an expected visit from young Don Caesar； and Mrs。 Mulrady was
tidying the house in view of the same event。 Something in the tone of her
good man's voice； and the unusual circumstance of his return to the house
before work was done； caused her； however； to drop her dusting cloth； and
run to the kitchen door to meet him。 She saw him running through the
rows of cabbages； his face shining with perspiration and excitement； a
light in his eyes which she had not seen for years。 She recalled； without
sentiment； that he looked like that when she had called hima poor farm
hand of her father'sout of the brush heap at the back of their former
home； in Illinois； to learn the consent of her parents。 The recollection
was the more embarrassing as he threw his arms around her； and pressed a
resounding kiss upon her sallow cheek。 〃Sakes alive！ Mulrady！〃 she
said； exorcising the ghost of a blush that had also been recalled from the
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past with her housewife's apron； 〃what are you doin'； and company
expected every minit？〃
〃Malviny； I've struck it； and struck it rich！〃
She disengaged herself from his arms； without excitement； and looked
at him with bright but shrewdly observant eyes。
〃I've struck it in the wellthe regular vein that the boys have been
looking fer。 There's a fortin' fer you and Mamie： thousands and tens of
thousands！〃
〃Wait a minit。〃
She left him quickly； and went to the foot of the stairs。 He could hear
her wonderingly and distinctly。 〃Ye can take off that new frock； Mamie；〃
she called out。
There was a sound of undisguised expostulation from Mamie。
〃I'm speaking；〃 said Mrs。 Mulrady； emphatically。
The murmuring ceased。 Mrs。 Mulrady returned to her husband。
The interruption seemed to have taken off the keen edge of his enjoyment。
He at once abdicated his momentary elevation as a discoverer； and waited
for her to speak。
〃Ye haven't told any one yet？〃 she asked。
〃No。 I was alone； down in the shaft。 Ye see； Malviny； I wasn't
expectin' of anything。〃 He began； with an attempt at fresh enjoyment； 〃I
was just clearin' out； and hadn't reckoned on anythin'。〃
〃You see； I was right when I advised you taking the land；〃 she said；
without heeding him。
Mulrady's face fell。 〃I hope Don Caesar won't think〃he began；
hesitatingly。 〃I reckon； perhaps； I oughter make some sorter
compensationyou know。〃
〃Stuff！〃 said Mrs。 Mulrady； decidedly。 〃Don't be a fool。 Any gold
discovery； anyhow； would have been yoursthat's the law。 And you
bought the land without any restrictions。 Besides； you never had any
idea of this！〃she stopped； and looked him suddenly in the face〃had
you？〃
Mulrady opened his honest； pale…gray eyes widely。
〃Why； Malviny！ You know I hadn't。 I could swear！〃
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〃Don't swear； and don't let on to anybody but what you DID know it
was there。 Now； Alvin Mulrady； listen to me。〃 Her voice here took the
strident form of action。 〃Knock off work at the shaft； and send your man
away at once。 Put on your things； catch the next stage to Sacramento at
four o'clock； and take Mamie with you。〃
〃Mamie！〃 echoed Mulrady； feebly。
〃You want to see Lawyer Cole and my brother Jim at once；〃 she went
on； without heeding him； 〃and Mamie wants a change and some proper。
clothes。 Leave the rest to me and Abner。 I'll break it to Mamie； and get
her ready。〃
Mulrady passed his hands through his tangled hair； wet with
perspiration。 He was proud of his wife's energy and action； he did not
dream of opposing her； but somehow he was disappointed。
