a millionaire of rough-and-ready-第6部分

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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
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。〃

〃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。

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