按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
placating the Alvarados； in view of some remote contingency。 It is
but fair to say that this degradation of his father's Castilian
principles was opposed by Don Caesar。 〃You needn't work them
yourself； but sell out to them that will； it's the only way to keep
the prospectors from taking it without paying for it at all；〃
argued Mrs。 Mulrady。 Don Caesar finally assented； perhaps less to
the business arguments of Mulrady's wife than to the simple
suggestion of Mamie's mother。 Enough that he realized a sum in
money for a few acres that exceeded the last ten years' income of
Don Ramon's seven leagues。
Equally unprecedented and extravagant was the realization of the
discovery in Mulrady's shaft。 It was alleged that a company；
hastily formed in Sacramento； paid him a million of dollars down；
leaving him still a controlling two…thirds interest in the mine。
With an obstinacy； however； that amounted almost to a moral
conviction； he refused to include the house and potato…patch in the
property。 When the company had yielded the point； he declined；
with equal tenacity； to part with it to outside speculators on even
the most extravagant offers。 In vain Mrs。 Mulrady protested； in
vain she pointed out to him that the retention of the evidence of
his former humble occupation was a green blot upon their social
escutcheon。
〃If you will keep the land； build on it； and root up the garden。〃
But Mulrady was adamant。
〃It's the only thing I ever made myself； and got out of the soil
with my own hands； it's the beginning of my fortune； and it may be
the end of it。 Mebbee I'll be glad enough to have it to come back
to some day； and be thankful for the square meal I can dig out of
it。〃
By repeated pressure； however； Mulrady yielded the compromise that
a portion of it should be made into a vineyard and flower…garden；
and by a suitable coloring of ornament and luxury obliterate its
vulgar part。 Less successful； however； was that energetic woman in
another effort to mitigate the austerities of their earlier state。
It occurred to her to utilize the softer accents of Don Caesar in
the pronunciation of their family name； and privately had 〃Mulrade〃
take the place of Mulrady on her visiting card。 〃It might be
Spanish；〃 she argued with her husband。 〃Lawyer Cole says most
American names are corrupted； and how do you know that yours
ain't？〃 Mulrady； who would not swear that his ancestors came from
Ireland to the Carolinas in '98； was helpless to refute the
assertion。 But the terrible Nemesis of an un…Spanish； American
provincial speech avenged the orthographical outrage at once。 When
Mrs。 Mulrady began to be addressed orally； as well as by letter； as
〃Mrs。 Mulraid；〃 and when simple amatory effusions to her daughter
rhymed with 〃lovely maid；〃 she promptly refused the original vowel。
But she fondly clung to the Spanish courtesy which transformed her
husband's baptismal name； and usually spoke of himin his absence
as 〃Don Alvino。〃 But in the presence of his short； square figure；
his orange tawny hair； his twinkling gray eyes； and retrousse nose；
even that dominant woman withheld his title。 It was currently
reported at Red Dog that a distinguished foreigner had one day
approached Mulrady with the formula； 〃I believe I have the honor of
addressing Don Alvino Mulrady？〃 〃You kin bet your boots； stranger；
that's me；〃 had returned that simple hidalgo。
Although Mrs。 Mulrady would have preferred that Mamie should remain
at Sacramento until she could join her； preparatory to a trip to
〃the States〃 and Europe； she yielded to her daughter's desire to
astonish Rough…and…Ready； before she left； with her new wardrobe；
and unfold in the parent nest the delicate and painted wings with
which she was to fly from them forever。 〃I don't want them to
remember me afterwards in those spotted prints； ma； and like as not
say I never had a decent frock until I went away。〃 There was
something so like the daughter of her mother in this delicate
foresight that the touched and gratified parent kissed her； and
assented。 The result was gratifying beyond her expectation。 In
that few weeks' sojourn at Sacramento； the young girl seemed to
have adapted and assimilated herself to the latest modes of fashion
with even more than the usual American girl's pliancy and taste。
Equal to all emergencies of style and material； she seemed to
supply； from some hitherto unknown quality she possessed； the grace
and manner peculiar to each。 Untrammeled by tradition； education；
or precedent； she had the Western girl's confidence in all things
being possible； which made them so often probable。 Mr。 Mulrady
looked at his daughter with mingled sentiments of pride and awe。
Was it possible that this delicate creature； so superior to him
that he seemed like a degenerate scion of her remoter race； was his
own flesh and blood？ Was she the daughter of her mother； who even
in her remembered youth was never equipped like this？ If the
thought brought no pleasure to his simple； loving nature； it at
least spared him the pain of what might have seemed ingratitude in
one more akin to himself。 〃The fact is； we ain't quite up to her
style；〃 was his explanation and apology。 A vague belief that in
another and a better world than this he might approximate and
understand this perfection somewhat soothed and sustained him。
It was quite consistent； therefore； that the embroidered cambric
dress which Mamie Mulrady wore one summer afternoon on the hillside
at Los Gatos； while to the critical feminine eye at once artistic
and expensive； should not seem incongruous to her surroundings or
to herself in the eyes of a general audience。 It certainly did not
seem so to one pair of frank； humorous ones that glanced at her
from time to time； as their owner； a young fellow of five…and…
twenty； walked at her side。 He was the new editor of the 〃Rough…
and…Ready Record；〃 and； having been her fellow…passenger from
Sacramento； had already once or twice availed himself of her
father's invitation to call upon them。 Mrs。 Mulrady had not
discouraged this mild flirtation。 Whether she wished to disconcert
Don Caesar for some occult purpose； or whether； like the rest of
her sex； she had an overweening confidence in the unheroic；
unseductive； and purely platonic character of masculine humor； did
not appear。
〃When I say I'm sorry you are going to leave us； Miss Mulrady；〃
said the young fellow； lightly； 〃you will comprehend my
unselfishness； since I frankly admit your departure would be a
positive relief to me as an editor and a man。 The pressure in the
Poet's Corner of the 'Record' since it was mistakingly discovered
that a person of your name might be induced to seek the 'glade' and
'shade' without being 'afraid；' 'dismayed；' or 'betrayed；' has been
something enormous； and； unfortunately； I am debarred from
rejecting anything； on the just ground that I am myself an
interested admirer。〃
〃It's dreadful to be placarded around the country by one's own full
name； isn't it？〃 said Mamie； without； however； expressing much
horror in her face。
〃They think it much more respectful than to call you 'Mamie；'〃 he
responded；