a ward of the golden gate(金门一区)-第3节
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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。〃
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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
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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。
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〃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。〃
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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
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Marysville。 But I've brought a few friends of our party that I reckoned to
introduce to you。 Cap'n Stidger； Chairman of our Central Committee； Mr。
Henry J。 Hoskins； of the firm of Hoskins and Bloomer； and Joe Slate； of
the 'Union Press；' one of our most promising journalists。 Gentlemen；〃 he
continued； suddenly and without warni
