a ward of the golden gate(金门一区)-第30章
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flying down； was ostentatiously overwhelmed with the unexpected
appearance of Mr。 Paul Hathaway and Yerba； whom she had been
watching from the window for the last ten minutes。 Then the appearance
of Mr。 Woods； Californian and reminiscent； and Mrs。 Woods； metropolitan；
languid； and forgetful； and the sudden and formal retirement of the girls。
An arch and indefinable mystery in the air whenever Paul and Yerba
appeared togetherof which even the servants were discreetly conscious。
At dinner Mr。 Woods again became retrospective and Californian； and
dwelt upon the changes he had noticed。 It appeared the old pioneers had in
few cases attained a comfortable fortune for their old age。 〃I know；〃 he
added； 〃that your friend Colonel Pendleton has dropped a good deal of
money over in Europe。 Somebody told me that he actually was reduced to
take a steerage passage home。 It looks as if he might gambleit's an old
Californian complaint。〃 As Paul； who had become suddenly grave again；
did not speak； Mrs。 Woods reminded them that she had always doubted the
colonel's moral principles。 Old as he was； he had never got over that
freedom of life and social opinion which he had imbibed in early days。 For
her part； she was very glad he had not returned from Europe with the girls；
though； of course； the presence of Don Caesar and his sister during their
European sojourn was a corrective。 As Paul's face grew darker during this
languid criticism； Yerba； who had been watching it with a new and
absorbing sympathy； seized the first moment when they left the table to
interrogate him with heartbreaking eyes。
〃You don't think； Paul； that the colonel is really poor？〃
〃God only knows；〃 said Paul。 〃I tremble to think how that scoundrel
may have bled him。〃
〃And all for me！ Paul； dear； you know you were saying in the woods
that you would never； never touch my money。 What〃exultingly〃if we
gave it to him？〃
What answer Paul made did not transpire； for it seemed to have been
indicated by an interval of profound silence。
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But the next morning； as he and Mr。 Woods were closeted in the
library； Yerba broke in upon them with a pathetic face and a telegram in
her hand。 〃Oh； PaulMr。 HathawayIT'S TRUE！〃
Paul seized the telegram quickly： it had no signature； only the line：
〃Colonel Pendleton is dangerously ill at St。 John's Hospital。〃
〃I must go at once；〃 said Paul； rising。
〃Oh； Paul〃imploringly…〃let me go with you！ I should never forgive
myself ifAND IT'S ADDRESSED TO ME； and what would he think if I
didn't come？〃
Paul hesitated。 〃Mrs。 Woods will let Milly go with us and she can stay
at the hotel。 Say yes；〃 she continued； seeking his eyes eagerly。
He consented； and in half an hour they were in the train for New York。
Leaving Milly at the hotel； ostensibly in deference to the Woods's
prejudices； but really to save the presence of a third party at this meeting；
Paul drove with Yerba rapidly to the hospital。 They were admitted to an
anteroom。 The house surgeon received them respectfully； but doubtingly。
The patient was a little better this morning； but very weak。 There was a
lady now with hima member of a religious and charitable guild； who had
taken the greatest interest in himindeed； she had wished to take him to
her own homebut he had declined at first； and now he was too weak to
be removed。
〃But I received this telegram： it must have been sent at his request；〃
protested Yerba。
The house surgeon looked at the beautiful face。 He was mortal。 He
would see if the patient was able to stand another interview； possibly the
regular visitor might withdraw。
When he had gone； an attendant volunteered the information that the
old gentleman was perhaps a little excited at times。 He was a wonderful
man； he had seen a great deal； he talked much of California and the early
days； he was very interesting。 Ah； it would be all right now if the doctor
found him well enough； for the lady was already goingthat was she；
coming through the hall。
She came slowly towards themerect； gray； grima still handsome
apparition。 Paul started。 To his horror； Yerba ran impulsively forward； and
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said eagerly： 〃Is he better？ Can he see us now？〃
The woman halted an instant； seemed to gather the prayer…book and
reticule she was carrying closer to her breast； but was otherwise
unchanged。 Replying to Paul rather than the young girl； she said rigidly：
〃The patient is able to see Mr。 Hathaway and Miss Yerba Buena；〃 and
passed slowly on。 But as she reached the door she unloosed her black
mourning veil from her bonnet； and seemed to drop it across her face with
the gesture that Paul remembered she had used twelve years ago。
〃She frightens me！〃 said Yerba； turning a suddenly startled face on
Paul。 〃Oh； Paul； I hope it isn't an omen； but she looked like some one from
the grave！〃
〃Hush！〃 said Paul； turning away a face that was whiter than her own。
〃They are coming now。〃
The house surgeon had returned a trifle graver。 They might see him
now； but they must be warned that he wandered at times a little； and； if he
might suggest； if it was anything of family importance； they had better
make the most of their time and his lucid intervals。 Perhaps if they were
old friendsVERY old friendshe would recognize them。 He was
wandering much in the pastalways in the past。
They found him in the end of the ward； but so carefully protected and
partitioned off by screens that the space around his cot had all the privacy
and security of an apartment。 He was very much changed； they would
scarcely have known him； but for the delicately curved aquiline profile
and the long white moustachenow so faint and etherealized as to seem a
mere spirit wing that rested on his pillow。 To their surprise he opened his
eyes with a smile of perfect recognition； and； with thin fingers beyond the
coverlid； beckoned to them to approach。 Yet there was still a shadow of his
old reserve in his reception of Paul； and； although one hand interlocked the
fingers of Yerbawho had at first rushed impulsively forward and fallen
on her knees beside the bedand the other softly placed itself upon her
head； his eyes were fixed upon the young man's with the ceremoniousness
due to a stranger。
〃I am glad to see； sir；〃 he began in a slow； broken； but perfectly
audible voice； 〃that now you aresatisfied with the rightof this young
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ladyto bear the name ofArguelloand her relationship sirto one of
the oldest〃
〃But； my dear old friend；〃 broke out Paul； earnestly； 〃I NEVER cared
for thatI beg you to believe〃
〃He nevernevercared for itdear； dear colonel；〃 sobbed Yerba；
passionately： 〃it was all my faulthe thought only of meyou wrong
him！〃
〃I think otherwise；〃 said the colonel； with grim and relentless
deliberation。 〃I have a vividimpressionsirof aninterview I had with
youat the St。 Charleswhere you said〃 He was silent for a moment； and
then in a quite different voice called faintly
〃George！〃
Paul and Yerba glanced quickly at each other。
〃George； set out some refreshment for the Honorable Paul Hathaway。
The best； siryou understand。 。 。 。 A good nigger； sira good boy； and he
never leaves me； sir。 Only； by gad！ sir； he will starve himself and his
family to be with me。 I brought him with me to California away back in
the fall of 'forty…nine。 Those were the early days； sirthe early days。〃
His head had fallen back quite easily on the pillow now； but a slight
film seemed to be closing over his dark eyes； like the inner lid of an eagle
when it gazes upon the sun。
〃They were the old days； sirthe days of Menwhen a man's WORD
was enough for anything； and his trigger…finger settled any doubt。 When
the Trust that he took from Man； Woman； or Child was never broken。
When the tide； sir； that swept through the Golden Gate came up as far as
Montgomery Street。〃
He did not speak again。 But they who stood beside him knew that the
tide had once more come up to Montgomery Street； and was carrying
Harry Pendleton away with it。
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