a millionaire of rough-and-ready-第8章

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attendance　upon　chronic　suffering　and　weakness；　but　to　have
acquired　an　unconscious　habit　of　turning　it　to　account。　　In　his
present　sensitive　condition；　he　even　fancied　that　they　flirted
mildly　over　their　parent's　infirmity。

〃My　brother　Harry　has　gone　to　Red　Dog；〃　continued　Esther；　〃he'll　be
right　sorry　to　have　missed　you。　　Mrs。　Mulrady　spoke　to　him　about
you；　you　seem　to　have　been　great　friends。　　I　s'pose　you　knew　her
daughter；　Mamie；　I　hear　she　is　very　pretty。〃

Although　Don　Caesar　was　now　satisfied　that　the　Slinns　knew　nothing
of　Mamie's　singular　behavior　to　him；　he　felt　embarrassed　by　this
conversation。　　〃Miss　Mulrady　is　very　pretty；〃　he　said；　with　grave
courtesy；　〃it　is　a　custom　of　her　race。　　She　left　suddenly；〃　he
added　with　affected　calmness。

〃I　reckon　she　did　calculate　to　stay　here　longerso　her　mother
said；　but　the　whole　thing　was　settled　a　week　ago。　　I　know　my
brother　was　quite　surprised　to　hear　from　Mr。　Mulrady　that　if　we
were　going　to　decide　about　this　house　we　must　do　it　at　once；　he　had
an　idea　himself　about　moving　out　of　the　big　one　into　this　when　they
left。〃

〃Mamie　Mulrady　hadn't　much　to　keep　her　here；　considerin'　the　money
and　the　good　looks　she　has；　I　reckon；〃　said　Vashti。　　〃She　isn't　the
sort　of　girl　to　throw　herself　away　in　the　wilderness；　when　she　can
pick　and　choose　elsewhere。　　I　only　wonder　she　ever　come　back　from
Sacramento。　　They　talk　about　papa　Mulrady　having　BUSINESS　at　San
Francisco；　and　THAT　hurrying　them　off！　　Depend　upon　it；　that
'business'　was　Mamie　herself。　　Her　wish　is　gospel　to　them。　　If
she'd　wanted　to　stay　and　have　a　farewell　party；　old　Mulrady's
business　would　have　been　nowhere。〃

〃Ain't　you　a　little　rough　on　Mamie；〃　said　Esther；　who　had　been
quietly　watching　the　young　man's　face　with　her　large　languid　eyes；
〃considering　that　we　don't　know　her；　and　haven't　even　the　right　of
friends　to　criticise？〃

〃I　don't　call　it　rough；〃　returned　Vashti；　frankly；　〃for　I'd　do　the
same　if　I　were　in　her　shoesand　they're　four…and…a…halves；　for
Harry　told　me　so。　　Give　me　her　money　and　her　looks；　and　you
wouldn't　catch　me　hanging　round　these　diggingsgoin'　to　choir
meetings　Saturdays；　church　Sundays；　and　buggy…riding　once　a　month
for　society！　　NoMamie's　head　was　levelyou　bet！〃

Don　Caesar　rose　hurriedly。　　They　would　present　his　compliments　to
their　father；　and　he　would　endeavor　to　find　their　brother　at　Red
Dog。　　He；　alas！　had　neither　father；　mother；　nor　sister；　but　if　they
would　receive　his　aunt；　the　Dona　Inez　Sepulvida；　the　next　Sunday；
when　she　came　from　mass；　she　should　be　honored　and　he　would　be
delighted。　　It　required　all　his　self…possession　to　deliver　himself
of　this　formal　courtesy　before　he　could　take　his　leave；　and　on　the
back　of　his　mustang　give　way　to　the　rage；　disgust　and　hatred　of
everything　connected　with　Mamie　that　filled　his　heart。　　Conscious
of　his　disturbance；　but　not　entirely　appreciating　their　own　share
in　it；　the　two　girls　somewhat　wickedly　prolonged　the　interview　by
following　him　into　the　garden。

〃Well；　if　you　MUST　leave　now；〃　said　Esther；　at　last；　languidly；　〃it
ain't　much　out　of　your　way　to　go　down　through　the　garden　and　take　a
look　at　pa　as　you　go。　　He's　somewhere　down　there；　near　the　woods；
and　we　don't　like　to　leave　him　alone　too　long。　　You　might　pass　the
time　of　day　with　him；　see　if　he's　right　side　up。　　Vashti　and　I　have
got　a　heap　of　things　to　fix　here　yet；　but　if　anything's　wrong　with
him；　you　can　call　us。　　So…long。〃

Don　Caesar　was　about　to　excuse　himself　hurriedly；　but　that　sudden
and　acute　perception　of　all　kindred　sorrow　which　belongs　to　refined
suffering；　checked　his　speech。　　The　loneliness　of　the　helpless　old
man　in　this　atmosphere　of　active　and　youthful　selfishness　touched
him。　　He　bowed　assent；　and　turned　aside　into　one　of　the　long
perspectives　of　bean…poles。　　The　girls　watched　him　until　out　of
sight。

〃Well；〃　said　Vashti；　〃don't　tell　ME。　　But　if　there　wasn't　something
between　him　and　that　Mamie　Mulrady；　I　don't　know　a　jilted　man　when
I　see　him。〃

〃Well；　you　needn't　have　let　him　SEE　that　you　knew　it；　so　that　any
civility　of　ours　would　look　as　if　we　were　ready　to　take　up　with　her
leavings；〃　responded　Esther；　astutely；　as　the　girls　reentered　the
house。

Meantime；　the　unconscious　object　of　their　criticism　walked　sadly
down　the　old　market…garden；　whose　rude　outlines　and　homely　details
he　once　clothed　with　the　poetry　of　a　sensitive　man's　first　love。
Well；　it　was　a　common　cabbage　field　and　potato　patch　after　all。　　In
his　disgust　he　felt　conscious　of　even　the　loss　of　that　sense　of
patronage　and　superiority　which　had　invested　his　affection　for　a
girl　of　meaner　condition。　　His　self…respect　was　humiliated　with　his
love。　　The　soil　and　dirt　of　those　wretched　cabbages　had　clung　to
him；　but　not　to　her。　　It　was　she　who　had　gone　higher；　it　was　he　who
was　left　in　the　vulgar　ruins　of　his　misplaced　passion。

He　reached　the　bottom　of　the　garden　without　observing　any　sign　of
the　lonely　invalid。　　He　looked　up　and　down　the　cabbage　rows；　and
through　the　long　perspective　of　pea…vines；　without　result。　　There
was　a　newer　trail　leading　from　a　gap　in　the　pines　to　the　wooded
hollow；　which　undoubtedly　intersected　the　little　path　that　he　and
Mamie　had　once　followed　from　the　high　road。　　If　the　old　man　had
taken　this　trail　he　had　possibly　over…tasked　his　strength；　and
there　was　the　more　reason　why　he　should　continue　his　search；　and
render　any　assistance　if　required。　　There　was　another　idea　that
occurred　to　him；　which　eventually　decided　him　to　go　on。　　It　was
that　both　these　trails　led　to　the　decayed　sycamore　stump；　and　that
the　older　Slinn　might　have　something　to　do　with　the　mysterious
letter。　　Quickening　his　steps　through　the　field；　he　entered　the
hollow；　and　reached　the　intersecting　trail　as　he　expected。　　To　the
right　it　lost　itself　in　the　dense　woods　in　the　direction　of　the
ominous　stump；　to　the　left　it　descended　in　nearly　a　straight　line
to　the　highway；　now　plainly　visible；　as　was　equally　the　boulder　on
which　he　had　last　discovered　Mamie　sitting　with　young　Slinn。　　If　he
were　not　mistaken；　there　was　a　figure　sitting　there　now；　it　was
surely　a　man。　　And　by　that　half…bowed；　helpless　attitude；　the
object　of　his　search！

It　did　not　take　him　long　to　descend　the　track　to　the　highway　and
approach　the　stranger。　　He　was　seated　with　his　hands　upon　his
knees；　gazing　in　a　vague；　absorbed　fashion　upon　the　hillside；　now
crowned　with　the　engine…house　and　chimney　that　marked　the　site　of
Mulrady's　shaft。　　He　started　slightly；　and　looked　up；　as　Don　Caesar
paused　before　him。　　The　young　man　was　surprised　to　see　that　the
unfortunate　man　was　not　as　old　as　he　had　expected；　and　that　his
expression　was　one　of　quiet　and　beatified　contentment。

〃Your　daughters　told　me　you　were　here；〃　said　Don　Caesar；　with
gentle　respect。　　〃I　am　Caesar　Alvarado；　your　not　very　far　neighbor；
very　happy　to　pay　his　respects　to　you　as　he　has　to　them。〃

〃My　daughters？〃　said　the　old　man；　vaguely。　　〃Oh；　yes！　nice　little
girls。　　And　my　boy　Harry。　　Did　you　see　Harry？　　Fine　little　fellow；
Harry。〃

〃I　am　glad　to　hear　that　you　are　better；〃　said　Don　Caesar；　hastily；
〃and　that　the　air　of　our　country　does　you　no　harm。　　God　benefit
you；　senor；〃　he　added；　with　a　profoundly　reverential　gesture；
dropping　unconsciously　into　the　religious　habit　of　his　youth。　　〃May
he　protect　you；　and　bring　you　back　to　health　and　happiness！〃

〃Happiness？〃　said　Slinn；　amazedly。　　〃I　am　happyvery　happy！　　I
have　everything　I　want：　good　air；　good　food；　good　clothes；　pretty
little　children；　kind　friends〃　　He　smiled　benignantly　at　Don
Caesar。　　〃God　is　very　good　to　me！〃

Indeed；　he　seemed　very　happy；　and　his　face；　albeit　crowned　with
white　hair；　unmarked　by　care　and　any　disturbing　impression；　had　so
much　of　satisfied　youth　in　it　that　the　grave　features　of　his
questioner　made　him　appear　the　elder。　　Nevertheless；　Don　Caesar
noticed　that　his　eyes；　when　withdrawn　from　him；　sought　the　hillside
with　the　same　visionary　abstraction。

〃It　is　a　fine　view；　Senor　Esslinn；〃　said　Don　Caesar。

〃It　is　a　beautiful　view；　sir；〃　said　Slinn；　turning　his　happy　eyes
upon　him　for　a　moment；　only　to　rest　them　again　on　the　green　slope
opposite。

〃Beyond　that　hill　which　you　are　looking　atnot　far；　Senor　Esslinn
I　live。　　You　shall　come　and　see　me　thereyou　and　your　family。〃

〃Youyoulive　there？〃　stammered　the　invalid；　with　a　troubled
expressionthe　first　and　only　change　to　the　complete　happiness
that　had　hitherto　suffused　his　face。　　〃Youand　your　name　isis
Ma〃

〃Alvarado；〃　said　Don　Caesar；　gently。　　Caesar　Alvarado。〃

〃You　said　Masters；〃　said　the　old　man；　with　sudden　querulousness。

〃No；　good　friend。　　I　said　Alvarado；〃　returned　Don　Caesar；　gravely。

〃If　you　didn't　say　Masters；　how　could　I　say　it？　　I　don't　know　any
Masters。〃

Don　Caesar　was　silent。　　In　another　moment　the　happy　tranquillity
returned　to　Slinn's　face；　and　Don　Caesar　continued：

〃It　is　not　a　long　walk　over　the　hill；　though　it　is　far　by　the　road。
When　you　are　better　you　shall　try　it。　　Yonder　little　trail　leads　to
the　top　of　the　hill；　and　then〃

He　stopped；　for　the　invalid's　face　had　again　assumed　its　troubled
expression。　　Partly　to　change　his　thoughts；　and　partly　for　some
inexplicable　idea　that　had　suddenly　seized　him；　Don　Caesar
continued：

〃There　is　a　strange　old　stump　near　the　trail；　and　in　it　a　hole。　　In
the　hole　I　found　this　letter。〃　　He　stopped　againthis　time　in
alarm。　　Slinn　had　staggered　to　his　feet　with　ashen　and　distorted
features；　and　was　glancing　at　the　letter　which　Don　Caesar　had　drawn
from　his　pocket。　　The　muscles　of　his　throat　swelled　as　if　he　was
swallowing；　his　lips　moved；　but　no　sound　issued　from　them。　　At
last；　with　a　convulsive　effort；　he　regained　a　disjointed　speech；　in
a　voice　scarcely　audible。

〃My　letter！　my　letter！　　It's　mine！　　Give　it　me！　　It's　my　fortune
all　mine！　　In　the　tunnelhill！　　Masters　stole　itstole　my
fortune！　　Stole　it　all！　　See；　see！〃

He　seized　the　letter　from　Don　Caesar　with　trembling　hands；　and　tore
it　open　forcibly：　a　few　dull　yellow　grains　fell　from　it　heavily；
like　shot；　to　the　ground。

〃See；　it's　true！　　My　letter！　　My　gold！　　My　strike！　　Mymymy
God！〃

A　tremor　passed　over　his　face。　　The　hand　that　held　the　letter
suddenly　dropped　sheer　and　heavy　as　the　gold　had　fallen。　　The　whole
side　of　his　face　and　body　nearest　Don　Caesar　seemed　to　drop　and
sink　into　itself　as　suddenly。　　At　the　same　moment；　and　without　a
word；　he　slipped　through　Don　Caesar's　outstretched　hands　to　the
ground。　　Don　Caesar　bent　quickly　over　him；　but　no　longer　than　to
satisfy　himself　that　he　lived　and　breathed；　although　helpless。　　He
then　caught　up　the　fallen　letter；　and；　glancing　over　it　with
flashing　eyes；　thrust　it　and　the　few　specimens　in　his　pocket。　　He
then　sprang　to　his　feet；　so　transformed　with　energy　and
intelligence　that　he　seemed　to　have　added　the　lost　vitality　of　the
man　before　him　to　his　own。　　He　glanced　quickly　up　and　down　the
highway。　　Every　moment　to　him　was　precious　now；　but　he　could　not
leave　the　stricken　man　in　the　dust　of　the　road；　nor　could　he　carry
him　to　the　house；　nor；　having　alarmed　his　daughters；　could　he
abandon　his　helplessness　to　their　feeble　arms。　　He　remembered　that
his　horse　was　still　tied　to　the　garden　fence。　　He　would　fetch　it；
an