a ward of the golden gate(金门一区)-第2节
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！
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
5
… Page 6…
A WARD OF THE GOLDEN GATE
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； 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 sign
