a millionaire of rough-and-ready(粗犷的百万富翁)-第6节
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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
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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
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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
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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； lightly； 〃and many of your admirers are middle…aged men； with
a mediaeval style of compliment。 I've discovered that amatory versifying
wasn't entirely a youthful passion。 Colonel Cash is about as fatal with a
couplet as with a double…barreled gun； and scatters as terribly。 Judge
Butts and Dr。 Wilson have both discerned the resemblance of your gifts to
those of Venus； and their own to Apollo。 But don't undervalue those
tributes； Miss Mulrady；〃
