a millionaire of rough-and-ready-第7章
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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
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 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； 〃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 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 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
