a ward of the golden gate(金门一区)-第2章
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！
this trust not as Jack Hammersley； but as the MAYOR OF SAN
FRANCISCO！ And when you make way for a new Mayor； HE takes up
the trust by virtue of his office； you see； so there's a trustee all along。 I
reckon there'll always be a San Francisco and always a Mayorat least till
the child's of age； and it gives her from the start a father； and a pretty big
one too。 Of course the new man isn't to know the why and wherefore of
this。 It's enough for him to take on that duty with his others； without
asking questions。 And he's only got to invest that money and pay it out as
it's wanted； and consult Harry at times。〃
The two men looked at each other with approving intelligence。 〃But
have you thought of a successor for ME； in case somebody shoots me on
sight any time in the next ten years？〃 asked Pendleton； with a gravity
equal to her own。
〃I reckon； as you're President of the El Dorado Bank； you'll make that
a part of every president's duty too。 You'll get the directors to agree to it；
just as Jack here will get the Common Council to make it the Mayor's
business。〃
The two men had risen to their feet； and； after exchanging glances；
gazed at her silently。 Presently the Mayor said：
〃It can be done； Kate； and we'll do it for youeh； Harry？〃
〃Count me in；〃 said Pendleton； nodding。 〃But you'll want a third man。〃
〃What's that for？〃
〃The casting vote in case of any difficulty。〃
The woman's face fell。 〃I reckoned to keep it a secret with only you
two；〃 she said half bitterly。
〃No matter。 We'll find some one to act； or you'll think of somebody
and let us know。〃
〃But I wanted to finish this thing right here；〃 she said impatiently。 She
was silent for a moment； with her arched black brows knitted。 Then she
said abruptly； 〃Who's that smart little chap that let me in？ He looks as if he
6
… Page 7…
A WARD OF THE GOLDEN GATE
might be trusted。〃
〃That's Paul Hathaway； my secretary。 He's sensible； but too young。
Stop！ I don't know about that。 There's no legal age necessary； and he's got
an awfully old head on him；〃 said the Mayor thoughtfully。
〃And I say his youth's in his favor；〃 said Colonel Pendleton； promptly。
〃He's been brought up in San Francisco； and he's got no dd old…fashioned
Eastern notions to get rid of； and will drop into this as a matter of business；
without prying about or wondering。 I'LL serve with him。〃
〃Call him in！〃 said the woman。
He came。 Very luminous of eye； and composed of lip and brow。 Yet
with the same suggestion of 〃making believe〃 very much； as if to offset
the possible munching of forbidden cakes and apples in his own room； or
the hidden presence of some still in his pocket。
The Mayor explained the case briefly； but with business…like precision。
〃Your duty； Mr。 Hathaway；〃 he concluded； 〃at present will be merely
nominal and； above all； confidential。 Colonel Pendleton and myself will
set the thing going。〃 As the youthwho had apparently taken in and
〃illuminated〃 the whole subject with a single bright…eyed glancebowed
and was about to retire； as if to relieve himself of his real feelings behind
the door； the woman stopped him with a gesture。
〃Let's have this thing over now；〃 she said to the Mayor。 〃You draw up
something that we can all sign at once。〃 She fixed her eyes on Paul； partly
to satisfy her curiosity and justify her predilection for him； and partly to
detect him in any overt act of boyishness。 But the youth simply returned
her glance with a cheerful； easy prescience； as if her past lay clearly open
before him。 For some minutes there was only the rapid scratching of the
Mayor's pen over the paper。 Suddenly he stopped and looked up。
〃What's her name？〃
〃She mustn't have mine； said the woman quickly。 〃That's a part of my
idea。 I give that up with the rest。 She must take a new name that gives no
hint of me。 Think of one； can't you； you two men？ Something that would
kind of show that she was the daughter of the city； you know。〃
〃You couldn't call her 'Santa Francisca；' eh？〃 said Colonel Pendleton；
doubtingly。
7
… Page 8…
A WARD OF THE GOLDEN GATE
〃Not much；〃 said the woman； with a seriousness that defied any
ulterior insinuation。
〃Nor Chrysopolinia？〃 said the Mayor； musingly。
〃But that's only a FIRST name。 She must have a family name；〃 said
the woman impatiently。
〃Can YOU think of something； Paul？〃 said the Mayor； appealing to
Hathaway。 〃You're a great reader； and later from your classics than I am。〃
The Mayor； albeit practical and Western； liked to be ostentatiously
forgetful of his old Alma Mater； Harvard； on occasions。
〃How would YERBA BUENA do； sir？〃 responded the youth gravely。
〃It's the old Spanish title of the first settlement here。 It comes from the
name that Father Junipero Serra gave to the pretty little vine that grows
wild over the sandhills； and means 'good herb。' He called it 'A balm for the
wounded and sore。'〃
〃For the wounded and sore？〃 repeated the woman slowly。
〃That's what they say；〃 responded Hathaway。
〃You ain't playing us； eh？〃 she said； with a half laugh that； however；
scarcely curved the open mouth with which she had been regarding the
young secretary。
〃No；〃 said the Mayor； hurriedly。 〃It's true。 I've often heard it。 And a
capital name it would be for her too。 YERBA the first name。 BUENA the
second。 She could be called Miss Buena when she grows up。〃
〃Yerba Buena it is；〃 she said suddenly。 Then； indicating the youth with
a slight toss of her handsome head； 〃His head's levelyou can see that。〃
There was a silence again； and the scratching of the Mayor's pen
continued。 Colonel Pendleton buttoned up his coat； pulled his long
moustache into shape； slightly arranged his collar； and walked to the
window without looking at the woman。 Presently the Mayor arose from
his seat； and； with a certain formal courtesy that had been wanting in his
previous manner； handed her his pen and arranged his chair for her at the
desk。 She took the pen； and rapidly appended her signature to the paper。
The others followed； and； obedient to a sign from him； the porter was
summoned from the outer office to witness the signatures。 When this was
over； the Mayor turned to his secretary。 〃That's all just now； Paul。〃
8
… Page 9…
A WARD OF THE GOLDEN GATE
Accepting this implied dismissal with undisturbed gravity； the newly
made youthful guardian bowed and retired。 When the green baize door had
closed upon him； the Mayor turned abruptly to the woman with the paper
in his hand。
〃Look here； Kate； there is still time for you to reconsider your action；
and tear up this solitary record of it。 If you choose to do so； say so； and I
promise you that this interview； and all you have told us； shall never pass
beyond these walls。 No one will be the wiser for it； and we will give you
full credit for having attempted something that was too much for you to
perform。〃
She had half risen from her chair when he began； but fell back again in
her former position and looked impatiently from him to his companion；
who was also regarding her earnestly。
〃What are you talking about？〃 she said sharply。
〃YOU； Kate；〃 said the Mayor。 〃You have given everything you possess
to this child。 What provision have you made for yourself？〃
〃Do I look played out？〃 she said； facing them。
She certainly did not look like anything but a strong； handsome；
resolute woman； but the men did not reply。
〃That is not all； Kate；〃 continued the Mayor； folding his arms and
looking down upon her。 〃Have you thought what this means？ It is the
complete renunciation not only of any claim but any interest in your child。
That is what you have just signed； and what it will be our duty now to
keep you to。 From this moment we stand between you and her； as we stand
between her and the world。 Are you ready to see her grow up away from
you； losing even the little recollection she has had of your kindness
passing you in the street without knowing you； perhaps even having you
pointed out to her as a person she should avoid？ Are you prepared to shut
your eyes and ears henceforth to all that you may hear of her new life；
when she is happy； rich； respectable； a courted heiressperhaps the wife of
some great man？ Are you ready to accept that she will never know that
no one will ever knowthat you had any share in making her so； and that
if you should ever breathe it abroad we shall hold it our duty to deny it；
and brand the man who takes it up for you as a liar and the slanderer of an
9
… Page 10…
A WARD OF THE GOLDEN GATE
honest girl？〃
〃That's what I came here for；〃 she said curtly； then； regarding them
curiously； and running her ringed hand up and down the railed back of her
chair； she added； with a half laugh； 〃What are you playin' me for； boys？〃
〃But；〃 said Colonel Pendleton； without heeding her； 〃are you ready to
know that in sickness or affliction you will be powerless to help her； that a
stranger will take your place at her bedside； that as she has lived without
knowing you she will die without that knowledge； or that if through any
weakness of yours it came to her then； it would embitter her last thoughts
of earth and； dying； she would curse you？〃
The smile upon her half…open mouth still fluttered around it； and her
curved fingers still ran up and down the rails of the chair… back as if they
were the cords of some mute instrument； to which she was trying to give
voice。 Her rings once or twice grated upon them as if she had at times
gripped them closely。 But she rose quickly when he paused； said 〃Yes；〃
sharply； and put the chair bac
