a ward of the golden gate(金门一区)-第5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！
〃It ain't that；〃 said Captain Stidger energetically； 〃but the trouble with
Harry Pendleton is that he hasn't grown with the State； and never adjusted
himself to it。 And he won't。 He thinks the Millennium was between the fall
of '49 and the spring of '50； and after that everything dropped。 He belongs
to the old days； when a man's simple WORD was good for any amount if
you knew him； and they say that the old bank hadn't a scrap of paper for
half that was owing to it。 That was all very well； sir； in '49 and '50； and
Luck； but it won't do for '59 and '60； andBusiness！ And the old man can't
see it。〃
〃But he is ready to fight for it now； as in the old time；〃 said Mr。 Slate；
〃and that's another trouble with his chronology。 He's done more to keep up
dueling than any other man in the State； and don't know the whole spirit of
progress and civilization is against it。〃
It was impossible to tell from Paul Hathaway's face whether his
sympathy with Colonel Pendleton's foibles or his assent to the criticisms
of his visitors was the truer。 Both were no doubt equally sincere。 But the
party was presently engaged in the absorption of refreshment； which；
being of a purely； spirituous and exhilarating quality； tended to increase
their good humor with the host till they parted。 Even then a gratuitous
advertisement of his virtues and their own intentions in calling upon him
was oratorically voiced from available platforms and landings； in the halls
and stairways； until it was pretty well known throughout the Golden Gate
Hotel that the Hon。 Mr。 Paul Hathaway had arrived from Sacramento and
16
… Page 17…
A WARD OF THE GOLDEN GATE
had received a 〃spontaneous ovation。〃
Meantime the object of it had dropped into an easy…chair by the
window of his room； and was endeavoring to recall a less profitable
memory。 The process of human forgetfulness is not a difficult one between
the ages of eighteen and twenty…six； and Paul Hathaway had not only
fulfilled the Mayor's request by forgetting the particulars of a certain
transfer that he had witnessed in the Mayor's office； but in the year
succeeding that request； being about to try his fortunes in the mountains；
he had formally constituted Colonel Pendleton to act as his proxy in the
administration of Mrs。 Howard's singular Trust； in which； however； he had
never participated except yearly to sign his name。 He was； consequently；
somewhat astonished to have received a letter a few days before from
Colonel Pendleton； asking him to call and see him regarding it。
He vaguely remembered that it was eight years ago； and eight years
had worked considerable change in the original trustees； greatest of all in
his superior officer； the Mayor； who had died the year following； leaving
his trusteeship to his successor in office； whom Paul Hathaway had never
seen。 The Bank of El Dorado； despite Mrs。 Howard's sanguine belief； had
long been in bankruptcy； and； although Colonel Pendleton still survived it；
it was certain that no other president would succeed to his office as trustee；
and that the function would lapse with him。 Paul himself； a soldier of
fortune； although habitually lucky； had only lately succeeded to a
professionif his political functions could be so described。 Even with his
luck； energy； and ambition； while everything was possible； nothing was
secure。 It seemed； therefore； as if the soulless official must eventually
assume the duties of the two sympathizing friends who had originated
them； and had stood in loco parentis to the constructive orphan。 The
mother； Mrs。 Howard； had disappeared a year after the Trust had been
madeit was charitably presumed in order to prevent any complications
that might arise from her presence in the country。 With these facts before
him； Paul Hathaway was more concerned in wondering what Pendleton
could want with him than； I fear； any direct sympathy with the situation。
On the contrary； it appeared to him more favorable for keeping the secret
of Mrs。 Howard's relationship； which would now die with Colonel
17
… Page 18…
A WARD OF THE GOLDEN GATE
Pendleton and himself； and there was no danger of any emotional betrayal
of it in the cold official administration of a man who had received the
Trust through the formal hands of successive predecessors。 He had
forgotten the time limited for the guardianship； but the girl must soon be
of age and off their hands。 If there had ever been any romantic or
chivalrous impression left upon his memory by the scene in the mayor's
office； I fear he had put it away with various other foolish illusions of his
youth； to which he now believed he was superior。
Nevertheless； he would see the colonel； and at once； and settle the
question。 He looked at the address； 〃St。 Charles Hotel。〃 He remembered an
old hostelry of that name； near the Plaza。 Could it be possible that it had
survived the alterations and improvements of the city？ It was an easy walk
through remembered streets； yet with changed shops and houses and faces。
When he reached the Plaza； scarce recognizable in its later frontages of
brick and stone； he found the old wooden building still intact； with its
villa…like galleries and verandas incongruously and ostentatiously
overlooked by two new and aspiring erections on either side。 For an
instant he tried to recall the glamour of old days。 He remembered when his
boyish eyes regarded it as the crowning work of opulence and distinction；
he remembered a ball given there on some public occasion； which was to
him the acme of social brilliancy and display。 How tawdry and trivial it
looked beside those later and more solid structures！ How inconsistent were
those long latticed verandas and balconies； pathetic record of that first
illusion of the pioneers that their climate was a tropical one！ A restaurant
and billiard…saloon had aggrandized all of the lower story； but there was
still the fanlight； over which the remembered title of 〃St。 Charles；〃 in
gilded letters； was now reinforced by the too demonstrative legend；
〃Apartments and Board； by the Day or Week。〃 Was it possible that this
narrow； creaking staircase had once seemed to him the broad steps of
Fame and Fortune？ On the first landing； a preoccupied Irish servant…girl；
with a mop； directed him to a door at the end of the passage； at which he
knocked。 The door was opened by a grizzled negro servant； who was still
holding a piece of oily chamois…leather in his hand； and the contents of a
dueling…case； scattered upon a table in the centre of the room； showed
18
… Page 19…
A WARD OF THE GOLDEN GATE
what had been his occupation。 Admitting Hathaway with great courtesy； he
said：
〃Marse Harry bin havin' his ole trubble； sah； and bin engaged just dis
momen' on his toylet； ef yo'll accommodate yo'self on de sofa； I inform
him yo' is heah。〃
As the negro passed into the next room； Paul cast a hasty glance
around the apartment。 The furniture； originally rich and elegant； was now
worn threadbare and lustreless。 A book…case； containing； among other
volumes； a few law booksthere being a vague tradition； as Paul
remembered； that Colonel Pendleton had once been connected with the
lawa few French chairs of tarnished gilt； a rifle in the corner； a
presentation sword in a mahogany case； a few classical prints on the walls；
and one or two iron deed…boxes marked 〃El Dorado Bank；〃 were the
principal objects。 A mild flavor of dry decay and methylated spirits
pervaded the apartment。 Yet it was scrupulously clean and well kept； and a
few clothes neatly brushed and folded on a cha
