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； 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；〃 he added； more seriously。 〃You'll have thousands of
admirers where you are going； but you'll be willing to admit in the
end； I think； that none were more honest and respectful than your
subjects at Rough…and…Ready and Red Dog。〃 He stopped； and added in
a graver tone； 〃Does Don Caesar write poetry？〃
〃He has something better to do；〃 said the young lady； pertly。
〃I can easily imagine that；〃 he returned； mischievously； 〃it must
be a pallid substitute for other opportunities。〃
〃What did you come here for？〃 she asked； suddenly。
〃To see you。〃
〃Nonsense！ You know what I mean。 Why did you ever leave
Sacramento to come here？ I should think it would suit you so much
better than this place。〃
〃I suppose I was fired by your father's example； and wished to find
a gold mine。〃
〃Men like you never do；〃 she said； simply。
〃Is that a compliment； Miss Mulrady？〃
〃I don't know。 But I think that you think that it is。〃
He gave her the pleased look of one who had unexpectedly found a
sympathetic intelligence。 〃Do I？ This is interesting。 Let's sit
down。〃 In their desultory rambling they had reached； quite
unconsciously； the large boulder at the roadside。 Mamie hesitated
a moment； looked up and down the road； and then； with an already
opulent indifference to the damaging of her spotless skirt； sat
herself upon it； with her furled parasol held by her two little
hands thrown over her half…drawn…up knee。 The young editor； half
sitting； half leaning； against the stone； began to draw figures in
the sand with his cane。
〃On the contrary； Miss Mulrady； I hope to make some money here。
You are leaving Rough…and…Ready because you are rich。 We are
coming to it because we are poor。〃
〃We？〃 echoed Mamie； lazily； looking up the road。
〃Yes。 My father and two sisters。〃
〃I am sorry。 I might have known them if I hadn't been going away。〃
At the same moment； it flashed across her mind that； if they were
like the man before her； they might prove disagreeably independent
and critical。 〃Is your father in business？〃 she asked。
He shook his head。 After a pause； he said； punctuating his
sentences with the point of his stick in the soft dust； 〃He is
paralyzed； and out of his mind； Miss Mulrady。 I came to California
to seek him； as all news of him ceased three years since； and I
found him only two weeks ago； alone； friendlessan unrecognized
pauper in the county hospital。〃
〃Two weeks ago？ That was when I went to Sacramento。〃
〃Very probably。〃
〃It must have been very shocking to you？〃
〃It was。〃
〃I should think you'd feel real bad？〃
〃I do； at times。〃 He smiled； and laid his stick on the stone。
〃You now see； Miss Mulrady； how necessary to me is this good
fortune that you don't think me worthy of。 Meantime I must try to
make a home for them at Rough…and…Ready。〃
Miss Mulrady put down her knee and her parasol。 〃We mustn't stay
here much longer； you know。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Why； the stage…coach comes by at about this time。〃
〃And you think the passengers will observe us sitting here？〃
〃Of course they will。〃
〃Miss Mulrady； I implore you to stay。〃
He was leaning over her with such apparent earnestness of voice and
gesture that the color came into her cheek。 For a moment she
scarcely dared to lift her conscious eyes to his。 When she did so；
she suddenly glanced her own aside with a flash of anger。 He was
laughing。
〃If you have any pity for me； do not leave me now；〃 he repeated。
〃Stay a moment longer； and my fortune is made。 The passengers will
report us all over Red Dog as engaged。 I shall be supposed to be
in your father's secrets； and shall be sought after as a director
of all the new companies。 The 'Record' will double its
circulation； poetry will drop out of its columns； advertising rush
to fill its place； and I shall receive five dollars a week more
salary； if not seven and a half。 Never mind the consequences to
yourself at such a moment。 I assure you there will be none。 You
can deny it the next dayI will deny itnay； more； the 'Record'
itself will deny it in an extra edition of one thousand copies； at
ten cents each。 Linger a moment longer； Miss Mulrady。 Fly； oh fly
not yet。 They're cominghark！ oh！ By Jove； it's only Don
Caesar！〃
It was； indeed； only the young scion of the house of Alvarado；
blue…eyed； sallow…skinned； and high…shouldered； coming towards them
on a fiery； half…broken mustang； whose very spontaneous lawlessness
seemed to accentuate and bring out the grave and decorous ease of
his rider。 Even in his burlesque preoccupation the editor of the
〃Record〃 did not withhold his admiration of this perfect
horsemanship。 Mamie； who； in her wounded amour propre； would like
to have made much of it to annoy her companion； was thus estopped
any ostentatious compliment。
Don Caesar lifted his hat with sweet seriousness to the lady； with
grave courtesy to the gentleman。 While the lower half of this
Centaur was apparently quivering with fury； and stamping the ground
in his evident desire to charge upon the pair； the upper half； with
natural dignity； looked from the one to the other； as if to leave
the privilege of an explanation with them。 But Mamie was too wise；
and her companion too indifferent； to offer one。 A slight shade
passed over Don Caesar's face。 To complicate the situation at that
moment； the expected stagecoach came rattling by。 With quick
feminine intuition； Mamie caught in the faces of the driver and the
expressman； and reflected in the mischievous eyes of her companion；
a peculiar interpretation of their meeting； that was not removed by
the whispered assurance of the editor that the passengers were
anxiously looking back 〃to see the shooting。〃
The young Spaniard； equally oblivious of humor or curiosity；
remained impassive。
〃You know Mr。 Slinn； of the 'Record；〃 said Mamie； 〃don't you？〃
Don Caesar had never before met the Senor Esslinn。 He was under
the impression that it was a Senor Robinson that was of the
〃Record。〃
〃Oh； HE was shot；〃 said Slinn。 〃I'm taking his place。〃
〃Bueno！ To be shot too？ I trust not。〃
Slinn looked quickly and sharply into Don Caesar's grave face。 He
seemed to be incapable of any double meaning。 However； as he had
no serious reason for awakening Don Caesar's jealousy； and very
little desire to become an embarrassing third in this conversation；
and possibly a burden to the young lady； he proceeded to take his
leave of her。 From a sudden feminine revulsion of sympathy； or
from some unintelligible instinct of diplomacy； Mamie said； as she
extended her hand； 〃I hope you'll find a home for your family near
here。 Mamma wants pa to let our old house。 Perhaps it might suit
you； if not too far from your work。 You might speak to ma about
it。〃
〃Thank you； I will；〃 responded the young man； pressing her hand
with unaffected cordiality。
Don Caesar watched him until he had disappeared behind the wayside
buckeyes。
〃He is a man of familythis oneyour countryman？〃
It seemed strange to her to have a mere acquaintance spoken of as
〃her countryman〃not the first time nor the last time in her
career。 As there appeared no trace or sign of jealousy in her
questioner's manner； she answered briefly but vaguely：
〃Yes； it's a shocking story。 His father disappeared some years
ago； and he has just found hima helpless paralyticin the
Sacramento Hospital。 He'll have to support himand they're very
poor。〃
〃So； then； they are not independent of each other alwaysthese
fathers and children of Americans！〃
〃No；〃 said Mamie； shortly。 Without knowing why； she felt inclined
to resen