Part 13 (2/2)
But that would have meant another Magdalena.
”I like this Trennahan,” he announced. ”He prefer talk with me than with the young mens, and he know plenty good stories, by Jimminy! He have call on me at the bank three times, and I have lunch with him one day.
d.a.m.n good lunch. He is what Jack call thoroughbred, and have the manners very fine. I like have him much for the neighbour. He ask myself and Eeram and Washeengton to have the dinner with him on Thursday and warm the house. He understand the good wine and the tabac, by Scott! I feel please si he ask me plenty time, and I have him here often.”
Magdalena was delighted with these unexpected sentiments. She pressed her lips together twice, then said,--
”He asked me if I could ride again with him to-morrow morning.”
”I have not the objection to you ride all you want it with Mr.
Trennahan, si you not go outside the place. Need not take that boy, for he have the work; and I have trust in Mr. Trennahan.”
He would, indeed, have welcomed Trennahan as a son-in-law. Magdalena must inherit his wealth as well as the immense fortune of her uncle; neither of these worthy gentlemen had the least ambition to be caricatured in bronze and acc.u.mulate green mould as public benefactors.
Nor did Don Roberto regret that he had no son, having the most profound contempt for the sons of rich men, as they circled within his horizon.
It would be one of the terms of his will that Magdalena's first son should be named Yorba, and that the name should be perpetuated in this manner until California should shake herself into the sea.
He had long since determined that Magdalena should marry no one of the sons of his moneyed friends, nor yet any of the sprouting lawyers or unfledged business youths who made up the masculine half of the younger fas.h.i.+onable set. Nor would he leave his money in trust for trustees to fatten on. Ever since Magdalena's sixteenth birthday he had been on the look-out for a son-in-law to his pattern. The New Yorker suited him. A wealthy man himself, Trennahan's motives could not be misconstrued. His birth and breeding were all that could be desired, even of a Yorba. He understood the value of money and its management. And he was well past the spendthrift age.
Don Roberto and Mr. Polk had discussed the matter between them; and these two wily old judges of human nature had agreed that Trennahan must become the guardian of their joint millions. Magdalena was her father's only misgiving. Would a man with an exhaustive experience of beautiful women be attracted into marriage by this ugly duckling? But Trennahan had pa.s.sed his youth. Perhaps, like himself, he would have come to the conclusion that it was better to have a plain wife and leave beauty to one's mistresses. He had not the slightest objection to Trennahan having a separate establishment; in fact, he thought a man a fool who had not.
Little escaped his sharp eyes. He had noted Trennahan's interest in Magdalena, the length of the morning ride, his daughter's sparkling eyes at breakfast. Propinquity would do much; and the bait was dazzling, even to a man of fortune.
He became aware that Magdalena was speaking.
”I have no habit; and Ila says that they intend to have riding parties.”
”You can get one habit. Go up to-morrow and order one.”
Magdalena felt a little dazed, and wondered if everything in her life were changing.
”I hear wheels,” she said after a moment. They were on the verandah on the right of the house. She stood up and watched the bend of the drive.
”It is the Montgomery char-a-banc,” she said, ”and there are Mrs.
Cartright and Tiny and Ila and Rose. Shall you stay?”
”I stay. Bring them here to me. Tiny and Ila beautiful girls. Great Scott! they know what they are about. Rose very pretty, too.”
The char-a-banc drew up; and as its occupants did not alight, Magdalena went down and stood beside it, shading her eyes with her hand.
”We have come to take you for a drive to the hills, 'Lena dear,” said Tiny. ”Do come.”
”Papa has a bad cold. I cannot leave--”
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