a ward of the golden gate-第2章

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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。

〃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。〃

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　kindnesspassing　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　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　back
against　the　wall。

〃Then　I　will　send　you　copies　of　this　tomorrow；　and　take　an
assignment　of　the　property。〃

〃I've　got　the　check　here　for　it　now；〃　she　said；　drawing　it　from　her
pocket　and　laying　it　upon　the　desk。　　〃There；　I　reckon　that's
finished。　　Good…by！〃

The　Mayor　took　up　his　hat；　Colonel　Pendleton　did　the　same；　both　men
preceded　her　to　the　door；　and　held　it　open　with　grave　politeness
for　her　to　pass。

〃Where　are　you　boys　going？〃　she　asked；　glancing　from　the　one　to　the
other。

〃To　see　you　to　your　carriage；　Mrs。　Howard；〃　said　the　Mayor；　in　a
voice　that　had　become　somewhat　deeper。

〃Through　the　whole　building？　　Past　all　the　people　in　the　hall　and
on　the　stairs？　　Why；　I　passed　Dan　Stewart　as　I　came　in。〃

〃If　you　will　allow　us？〃　he　said；　turning　half　appealing　to　Colonel
Pendleton；　who；　without　speaking；　made　a　low　bow　of　assent。

A　slight　flush　rose　to　her　facethe　first　and　only　change　in　the
even　healthy　color　she　had　shown　during　the　interview。

〃I　reckon　I　won't　trouble　you；　boys；　if　it's　all　the　same　to　you；〃
she　said；　with　her　half…strident　laugh。　　〃YOU　mightn't　mind　being
seenbut　I　would　　Good…by。〃

She　held　out　a　hand　to　each　of　the　men；　who　remained　for　an　instant
silently　holding　them。　　Then　she　passed　out　of　the　door；　slipping
on　her　close　black　veil　as　she　did　so　with　a　half…funereal
suggestion；　and　they　saw　her　tall；　handsome　figure　fade　into　the
shadows　of　the　long　corridor。

〃Paul；〃　said　the　Mayor；　reentering　the　office　and　turning　to　his
secretary；　〃do　you　know　who　that　woman　is？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃She's　one　in　a　million！　　And　now　forget　that　you　have　ever　seen
her。〃


CHAPTER　I。


The　principal　parlor　of　the　New　Golden　Gate　Hotel　in　San　Francisco；
fairly　reported　by　the　local　press　as　being　〃truly　palatial〃　in　its
appointments；　and　unrivaled　in　its　upholstery；　was；　nevertheless；
on　August　5；　1860；　of　that　startling　newness　that　checked　any
familiarity；　and　evidently　had　produced　some　embarrassment　on　the
limbs　of　four　visitors　who　had　just　been　ushered　into　its　glories。
After　hesitating　before　one　or　two　gorgeous　fawn…colored　brocaded
easy…chairs　of　appalling　and　spotless　virginity；　one　of　them　seated
himself　despairingly　on　a　tete…a…tete　sofa　in　marked　and　painful
isolation；　while　another　sat　uncomfortably　upright　on　a　sofa。　　The
two　others　remained　standing；　vaguely　gazing　at　the　ceiling；　and
exchanging　ostentatiously　admiring　but　hollow　remarks　about　the
furniture　in　unnecessary　whispers。　　Yet　they　were　apparently　men　of
a　certain　habit　of　importance　and　small　authority；　with　more　or
less　critical　attitude　in　their　speech。

To　them　presently　entered　a　young　man　of　about　five…and…twenty；
with　remarkably　bright　and　singularly　sympathetic　eyes。　　Having
swept　the　group　in　a　smiling　glance；　he　singled　out　the　lonely
occupier　of　the　tete…a…tete；　and　moved　pleasantly　towards　him。　　The
man　rose　instantly　with　an　eager　gratified　look。

〃Well；　Paul；　I　didn't　allow　you'd　remember　me。　　It's　a　matter　of
four　years　since　we　met　at　Marysville。　　And　now　you're　bein'　a
great　man　you've〃

No　one　could　have　known　from　the　young　man's　smiling　face　that　he
really　had　not　recognized　his　visitor　at　first；　and　that　his
greeting　was　only　an　exhibition　of　one　of　those　happy　instincts　for
which　he　was　remarkable。　　But；　following　the　clew　suggested　by　his
visitor；　he　was　able　to　say　promptly　and　gayly：

〃I　don't　know　why　I　should　forget　Tony　Shear　or　the　Marysville
boys；〃　turning　with　a　half…confiding　smile　to　the　other　visitors；
who；　after　the　human　fashion；　were　beginning　to　be　resentfully
impatient　of　this　special　attention。

〃Well；　no；for　I've　allus　said　that　you　took　your　first　start　from
Marysville。　　But　I've　brought　a　few　friends　of　our　party　that　I