a ward of the golden gate(金门一区)-第1章
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A WARD OF THE GOLDEN GATE
A WARD OF THE
GOLDEN GATE
Bret Harte
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A WARD OF THE GOLDEN GATE
PROLOGUE。
In San Francisco the 〃rainy season〃 had been making itself a reality
to the wondering Eastern immigrant。 There were short days of drifting
clouds and flying sunshine； and long succeeding nights of incessant
downpour； when the rain rattled on the thin shingles or drummed on the
resounding zinc of pioneer roofs。 The shifting sand…dunes on the outskirts
were beaten motionless and sodden by the onslaught of consecutive storms；
the southeast trades brought the saline breath of the outlying Pacific even
to the busy haunts of Commercial and Kearney streets； the low…lying
Mission road was a quagmire； along the City Front； despite of piles and
pier and wharf； the Pacific tides still asserted themselves in mud and ooze
as far as Sansome Street； the wooden sidewalks of Clay and Montgomery
streets were mere floating bridges or buoyant pontoons superposed on
elastic bogs； Battery Street was the Silurian beach of that early period on
which tin cans； packing…boxes； freight； household furniture； and even the
runaway crews of deserted ships had been cast away。 There were
dangerous and unknown depths in Montgomery Street and on the Plaza；
and the wheels of a passing carriage hopelessly mired had to be lifted by
the volunteer hands of a half dozen high…booted wayfarers； whose wearers
were sufficiently content to believe that a woman； a child； or an invalid
was behind its closed windows； without troubling themselves or the
occupant by looking through the glass。
It was a carriage that； thus released； eventually drew up before the
superior public edifice known as the City Hall。 From it a woman； closely
veiled； alighted； and quickly entered the building。 A few passers…by turned
to look at her； partly from the rarity of the female figure at that period； and
partly from the greater rarity of its being well formed and even ladylike。
As she kept her way along the corridor and ascended an iron staircase；
she was passed by others more preoccupied in business at the various
public offices。 One of these visitors； however； stopped as if struck by some
fancied resemblance in her appearance； turned； and followed her。 But
when she halted before a door marked 〃Mayor's Office；〃 he paused also；
and； with a look of half humorous bewilderment and a slight glance
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around him as if seeking for some one to whom to impart his arch fancy；
he turned away。 The woman then entered a large anteroom with a certain
quick feminine gesture of relief； and； finding it empty of other callers；
summoned the porter； and asked him some question in a voice so
suppressed by the official severity of the apartment as to be hardly audible。
The attendant replied by entering another room marked 〃Mayor's
Secretary；〃 and reappeared with a stripling of seventeen or eighteen；
whose singularly bright eyes were all that was youthful in his composed
features。 After a slight scrutiny of the woman half boyish； half official
he desired her to be seated； with a certain exaggerated gravity as if he was
over…acting a grown…up part； and； taking a card from her； reentered his
office。 Here； however； he did NOT stand on his head or call out a
confederate youth from a closet； as the woman might have expected。 To
the left was a green baize door； outlined with brass…studded rivets like a
cheerful coffin…lid； and bearing the mortuary inscription； 〃Private。〃 This he
pushed open； and entered the Mayor's private office。
The municipal dignitary of San Francisco； although an erect； soldier…
like man of strong middle age； was seated with his official chair tilted
back against the wall and kept in position by his feet on the rungs of
another； which in turn acted as a support for a second man； who was
seated a few feet from him in an easy…chair。 Both were lazily smoking。
The Mayor took the card from his secretary； glanced at it； said
〃Hullo！〃 and handed it to his companion； who read aloud 〃Kate Howard；〃
and gave a prolonged whistle。
〃Where is she？〃 asked the Mayor。
〃In the anteroom； sir。〃
〃Any one else there？〃
〃No； sir。〃
〃Did you say I was engaged？〃
〃Yes； sir； but it appears she asked Sam who was with you； and when
he told her； she said； All right； she wanted to see Colonel Pendleton too。〃
The men glanced interrogatively at each other； but Colonel Pendleton；
abruptly anticipating the Mayor's functions； said； 〃Have her in；〃 and
settled himself back in his chair。
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A moment later the door opened； and the stranger appeared。 As she
closed the door behind her she removed her heavy veil； and displayed the
face of a very handsome woman of past thirty。 It is only necessary to add
that it was a face known to the two men； and all San Francisco。
〃Well； Kate；〃 said the Mayor； motioning to a chair； but without rising
or changing his attitude。 〃Here I am； and here is Colonel Pendleton； and
these are office hours。 What can we do for you？〃
If he had received her with magisterial formality； or even politely； she
would have been embarrassed； in spite of a certain boldness of her dark
eyes and an ever present consciousness of her power。 It is possible that his
own ease and that of his companion was part of their instinctive good
nature and perception。 She accepted it as such； took the chair familiarly；
and seated herself sideways upon it； her right arm half encircling its back
and hanging over it； altogether an easy and not ungraceful pose。
〃Thank you； JackI mean； Mr。 Mayorand you； too； Harry。 I came on
business。 I want you two men to act as guardians for my little daughter。〃
〃Your what？〃 asked the two men simultaneously。
〃My daughter；〃 she repeated； with a short laugh； which； however；
ended with a note of defiance。 〃Of course you don't know。 Well；〃 she
added half aggressively； and yet with the air of hurrying over a
compromising and inexplicable weakness； 〃the long and short of it is I've
got a little girl down at the Convent of Santa Clara； and have hadthere！
I've been taking care of herGOOD care； too； boysfor some time。 And
now I want to put things square for her for the future。 See？ I want to make
over to her all my property it's nigh on to seventy…five thousand dollars；
for Bob Snelling put me up to getting those water lots a year agoand； you
see； I'll have to have regular guardians； trustees； or whatever you call 'em；
to take care of the money for her。〃
〃Who's her father？〃 asked the Mayor。
〃What's that to do with it？〃 she said impetuously。
〃Everythingbecause he's her natural guardian。〃
〃Suppose he isn't known？ Say dead； for instance。〃
〃Dead will do；〃 said the Mayor gravely。 〃Yes； dead will do；〃 repeated
Colonel Pendleton。 After a pause； in which the two men seemed to have
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buried this vague relative； the Mayor looked keenly at the woman。
〃Kate； have you and Bob Ridley had a quarrel？〃
〃Bob Ridley knows too much to quarrel with me；〃 she said briefly。
〃Then you are doing this for no motive other than that which you tell
me？〃
〃Certainly。 That's motive enoughain't it？〃
〃Yes。〃 The Mayor took his feet off his companion's chair and sat
upright。 Colonel Pendleton did the same； also removing his cigar from his
lips。 〃I suppose you'll think this thing over？〃 he added。
〃NoI want it done NOWright herein this office。〃
〃But you know it will be irrevocable。〃
〃That's what I want itsomething might happen afterwards。〃
〃But you are leaving nothing for yourself； and if you are going to
devote everything to this daughter and lead a different life； you'll〃
〃Who said I was？〃
The two men paused； and looked at her。 〃Look here； boys； you don't
understand。 From the day that paper is signed； I've nothing to do with the
child。 She passes out of my hands into yours； to be schooled； educated；
and made a rich girl out ofand never to know who or what or where I am。
She doesn't know now。 I haven't given her and myself away in that style
you bet！ She thinks I'm only a friend。 She hasn't seen me more than once
or twice； and not to know me again。 Why； I was down there the other day；
and passed her walking out with the Sisters and the other scholars； and she
didn't know methough one of the Sisters did。 But they're mumTHEY
are； and don't let on。 Why； now I think of it； YOU were down there； Jack；
presiding in big style as Mr。 Mayor at the exercises。 You must have
noticed her。 Little thing； about ninelot of hair； the same color as mine；
and brown eyes。 White and yellow sash。 Had a necklace on of real pearls I
gave her。 I BOUGHT THEM； you understand； myself at Tucker'sgave
two hundred and fifty dollars for themand a big bouquet of white
rosebuds and lilacs I sent her。〃
〃I remember her now on the platform；〃 said the Mayor gravely。 〃So
that is your child？〃
〃You betno slouch either。 But that's neither here nor there。 What I
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want now is you and Harry to look after her and her property the same as
if I didn't live。 More than that； as if I had NEVER LIVED。 I've come to
you two boys； because I reckon you're square men and won't give me
away。 But I want to fix it even firmer than that。 I want you to take hold of
this trust not as Jack Hammersley
