a millionaire of rough-and-ready(粗犷的百万富翁)-第7章
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〃
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
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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；
you will attract all to youas you do herebecause you cannot help it。
But you will be equally helpless； little one； if THEY should attract YOU；
and you had no tie to fall back upon。〃
It was an unfortunate speech。 The words were Don Caesar's； but the
thought she had heard before from her mother； although the deduction had
been of a very different kind。 Mamie followed the speaker with bright
but visionary eyes。 There must be some truth in all this。 Her mother
had said it； Mr。 Slinn had laughingly admitted it。 She HAD a brilliant
future before her！ Was she right in making it impossible by a rash and
foolish tie？ He himself had said she was inexperienced。 She knew it；
and yet； what was he doing now but taking advantage of that inexperience？
If he really loved her； he would be willing to submit to the test。 She did
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not ask a similar one from him； and was willing； if she came out of it free；
to marry him just the same。 There was something so noble in this
thought that she felt for a moment carried away by an impulse of
compassionate unselfishness； and smiled tenderly as she looked up in his
face。
〃Then you consent； Mamie？〃 he said； eagerly； passing his arm around
her waist。
〃Not now； Caesar；〃 she said； gently disengaging herself。 〃I must
think it over； we are both too young to act upon it rashly； it would be
unfair to you； who are so quiet and have seen so few girlsI mean
Americansto tie yourself to the first one you have known。 When I am
gone you will go more into the world。 There are Mr。 Slinn's two sisters
coming hereI shouldn't wonder if they were far cleverer and talked far
better than I doand think how I should feel if I knew that only a wretched
pledge to me kept you from loving them！〃 She stopped； and cast down
her eyes。
It was her first attempt at coquetry； for； in her usual charming
selfishness； she was perfectly frank and open； and it might not have been
her last； but she had gone too far at first； and was not prepared for a recoil
of her own argument。
〃If you admit that it is possiblethat it is possible to you！〃 he said；
quickly。
She saw her mistake。 〃We may not have many opportunities to meet
alone；〃 she answered； quietly； 〃and I am sure we would be happier when
we meet not to accuse each other of impossibilities。 Let us rather see
how we can communicate together； if anything should prevent our meeting。
Remember； it was only by chance that you were able to see me now。 If
ma has believed that she ought to have been consulted； our meeting
together in this secret way will only make matters worse。 She is even
now wondering where I am； and may be suspicious。 I must go back at
once。 At any moment some one may come here looking for me。〃
〃But I have so much to say；〃 he pleaded。 〃Our time has been so
short。〃
〃You can write。〃
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〃But what will your mother think of that？〃 he said； in grave
astonishment。
She colored again as she returned； quickly； 〃Of course； you must not
write to the house。 You can leave a letter somewhere for me say；
somewhere about here。 Stop！〃 she added； with a sudden girlish gayety；
〃see； here's the very place。 Look there！〃
She pointed to the decayed trunk of a blasted sycamore； a few feet
from the trail。 A cavity； breast high； half filled with skeleton leaves and
pine…nuts； showed that it had formerly been a squirrel's hoard； but for
some reason had been deserted。
〃Look！ it's a regular letter…box；〃 she continued； gayly； rising on tip…toe
to peep into its recesses。 Don Caesar looked at her admiringly； it seemed
like a return to their first idyllic love… making in the old days； when she
used to steal out of the cabbage rows in her brown linen apron and sun…
bonnet to walk with him in the woods。 He recalled the fact to her with
the fatality of a lover already seeking to restore in past recollections
something that was wanting in the present。 She received it with the
impatience of youth； to whom the present is all sufficient。
〃I wonder how you could ever have cared for me in that holland
apron；〃 she said； looking down upon her new dress。
〃Shall I tell you why？〃 he said； fondly； passing his arm around her
waist； and drawing her pretty head nearer his shoulder。
〃Nonot now！〃 she said； laughingly； but struggling to free herself。
〃There's not time。 Write it； and put it in the box。 There；〃 she added；
hastily； 〃listen！what's that？〃
〃It's only a squirrel；〃 he whispered reassuringly in her ear。
〃No； it's somebody coming！ I must go！ Please！ Caesar； dear！
There； then〃
She met his kiss half…way； released herself with a lithe movement of
her wrist and shoulder； and the next moment seemed to slip into the woods；
and was gone。
Don Caesar listened with a sigh as the last rustling ceased； cast a look
at the decayed tree as if to fix it in his memory； and then slowly retraced
his steps towards his tethered mustang。
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He was right； however； in his surmise of the cause of that interruption。
A pair of bright eyes had been watching them from the bough of an
adjacent tree。 It was a squirrel； who； having had serious and prior
intentions of making use of the cavity they had discovered； had only
withheld examination by an apparent courteous discretion towards the
intruding pair。 Now that they were gone he slipped down the tree and ran
towards the decayed stump。
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CHAPTER III
Apparently dissatisfied with the result of an investigation； which
proved that the cavity was unfi
