a ward of the golden gate-第2章

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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　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　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。

〃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