a millionaire of rough-and-ready(粗犷的百万富翁)-第6章
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A MILLIONAIRE OF ROUGH…AND…READY
better than this place。〃
〃I suppose I was fired by your father's example； and wished to find a
gold mine。〃
〃Men like you never do；〃 she said； simply。
〃Is that a compliment； Miss Mulrady？〃
〃I don't know。 But I think that you think that it is。〃
He gave her the pleased look of one who had unexpectedly found a
sympathetic intelligence。 〃Do I？ This is interesting。 Let's sit down。〃
In their desultory rambling they had reached； quite unconsciously； the
large boulder at the roadside。 Mamie hesitated a moment； looked up and
down the road； and then； with an already opulent indifference to the
damaging of her spotless skirt； sat herself upon it； with her furled parasol
held by her two little hands thrown over her half…drawn…up knee。 The
young editor； half 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？〃
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〃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 coming
hark！ 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
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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
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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
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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； 〃ce
