a millionaire of rough-and-ready(粗犷的百万富翁)-第21章
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suthin' that won't run away from you； that is always there before you and
won't wear out； and will last after you're gone。 That's land！ And if it
wasn't that I have sworn never to sell or give away this house and that
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garden； if it wasn't that I've held out agin the old woman and Mamie on
that point； you should have THIS house and THAT garden。 But； mebbee；
for the same reason that I've told you； I want that land to keep for myself。
But I've selected four acres of the hill this side of my shaft； and here's the
deed of it。 As soon as you're ready； I'll put you up a house as big as this
that shall be yours； with the land； as long as you live； old man； and after
that your children's。〃
〃No； not theirs！〃 broke in the old man； passionately。 〃Never！〃
Mulrady recoiled for an instant in alarm at the sudden and unexpected
vehemence of his manner； 〃Go slow； old man； go slow；〃 he said；
soothingly。 〃Of course； you'll do with your own as you like。〃 Then； as
if changing the subject； he went on cheerfully： 〃Perhaps you'll wonder
why I picked out that spot on the hillside。 Well； first； because I reserved it
after my strike in case the lead should run that way； but it didn't。 Next；
because when you first came here you seemed to like the prospect。 You
used to sit there looking at it； as if it reminded you of something。 You
never said it did。 They say you was sitting on that boulder there when
you had that last attack； you know； but；〃 he added； gently； 〃you've
forgotten all about it。〃
〃I have forgotten nothing；〃 said Slinn； rising； with a choking voice。
〃I wish to God I had； I wish to God I could！〃
He was on his feet now； supporting himself by the table。 The subtle
generous liquor he had drunk had evidently shaken his self… control； and
burst those voluntary bonds he had put upon himself for the last six
months； the insidious stimulant had also put a strange vigor into his blood
and nerves。 His face was flushed； but not distorted； his eyes were
brilliant； but not fixed； he looked as he might have looked to Masters in
his strength three years before on that very hillside。
〃Listen to me； Alvin Mulrady；〃 he said； leaning over him with burning
eyes。 〃Listen； while I have brain to think and strength to utter； why I
have learnt to distrust； fear； and hate them！ You think you know my story。
Well； hear the truth from ME to…night； Alvin Mulrady； and do not wonder
if I have cause。〃
He stopped； and； with pathetic inefficiency； passed the fingers and
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inward…turned thumb of his paralyzed hand across his mouth； as if to calm
himself。 〃Three years ago I was a miner； but not a miner like you！ I
had experience； I had scientific knowledge； I had a theory； and the
patience and energy to carry it out。 I selected a spot that had all the
indications； made a tunnel； and； without aid； counsel or assistance of any
kind； worked it for six months； without rest or cessation； and with scarcely
food enough to sustain my body。 Well； I made a strike； not like you；
Mulrady； not a blunder of good luck； a fool's fortunethere； I don't blame
you for itbut in perfect demonstration of my theory； the reward of my
labor。 It was no pocket； but a vein； a lead； that I had regularly hunted
down and founda fortune！
〃I never knew how hard I had worked until that morning； I never knew
what privations I had undergone until that moment of my success； when I
found I could scarcely think or move！ I staggered out into the open air。
The only human soul near me was a disappointed prospector； a man
named Masters； who had a tunnel not far away。 I managed to conceal
from him my good fortune and my feeble state； for I was suspicious of
himof any one； and as he was going away that day I thought I could keep
my secret until he was gone。 I was dizzy and confused； but I remember
that I managed to write a letter to my wife； telling her of my good fortune；
and begging her to come to me； and I remember that I saw Masters go。 I
don't remember anything else。 They picked me up on the road； near that
boulder； as you know。〃
〃I know；〃 said Mulrady； with a swift recollection of the stage… driver's
account of his discovery。
〃They say；〃 continued Slinn； tremblingly； 〃that I never recovered my
senses or consciousness for nearly three years； they say I lost my memory
completely during my illness； and that by God's mercy； while I lay in that
hospital； I knew no more than a babe； they say； because I could not speak
or move； and only had my food as nature required it； that I was an
imbecile； and that I never really came to my senses until after my son
found me in the hospital。 They SAY thatbut I tell you to…night； Alvin
Mulrady；〃 he said； raising his voice to a hoarse outcry； 〃I tell you that it is
a lie！ I came to my senses a week after I lay on that hospital cot； I kept
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my senses and memory ever after during the three years that I was there；
until Harry brought his cold； hypocritical face to my bedside and
recognized me。 Do you understand？ I； the possessor of millions； lay
there a pauper。 Deserted by wife and childrena spectacle for the
curious； a sport for the doctorsAND I KNEW IT！ I heard them
speculate on the cause of my helplessness。 I heard them talk of excesses
and indulgencesI； that never knew wine or woman！ I heard a preacher
speak of the finger of God； and point to me。 May God curse him！〃
〃Go slow； old man； go slow；〃 said Mulrady； gently。
〃I heard them speak of me as a friendless man； an outcast； a criminal
a being whom no one would claim。 They were right； no one claimed me。
The friends of others visited them； relations came and took away their
kindred； a few lucky ones got well； a few； equally lucky； died！ I alone
lived on； uncared for； deserted。
〃The first year；〃 he went on more rapidly； 〃I prayed for their coming。
I looked for them every day。 I never lost hope。 I said to myself； 'She
has not got my letter； but when the time passes she will be alarmed by my
silence； and then she will come or send some one to seek me。' A young
student got interested in my case； and； by studying my eyes； thought that I
was not entirely imbecile and unconscious。 With the aid of an alphabet；
he got me to spell my name and town in Illinois； and promised by signs to
write to my family。 But in an evil moment I told him of my cursed
fortune； and in that moment I saw that he thought me a fool and an idiot。
He went away； and I saw him no more。 Yet I still hoped。 I dreamed of
