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A WARD OF THE GOLDEN GATE
already in the air！ Setting aside the old negro's characteristic exaggeration；
there had already been some conversation between the colonel and the
Mayor； which George had vaguely overheard。 He might be too late； the
alternative might be no longer in his hands。 But his discomposure was
heightened a moment later by the actual apparition of the returning
Pendleton。
He was dressed in a tightly buttoned blue frock…coat； which fairly
accented his tall； thin military figure； although the top lappel was thrown
far enough back to show a fine ruffled cambric shirt and checked gingham
necktie； and was itself adorned with a white rosebud in the button…hole。
Fawn…colored trousers strapped over narrow patent…leather boots； and a
tall white hat； whose broad mourning…band was a perpetual memory of his
mother； who had died in his boyhood； completed his festal transformation。
Yet his erect carriage； high aquiline nose； and long gray drooping
moustache lent a distinguishing grace to this survival of a bygone fashion；
and over…rode any irreverent comment。 Even his slight limp seemed to
give a peculiar character to his massive gold…headed stick； and made it a
part of his formal elegance。
Handing George his stick and a military cape he carried easily over his
left arm； he greeted Paul warmly； yet with a return of his old dominant
manner。
〃Glad to see you； Hathaway； and glad to see the boy has served you
better than the last time。 If I had known you were coming； I would have
tried to get back in time to have breakfast with you。 But your friends at
'Rosario'I think they call it； in my time it was owned by Colonel Briones；
and HE called it 'The Devil's Little Canyon'detained me with some dd
civilities。 Let's seehis name is Woods； isn't it？ Used to sell rum to
runaway sailors on Long Wharf； and take stores in exchange？ Or was it
Baker？Judge Baker？ I forget which。 Well； sir； they wished to be
remembered。〃
It struck Paul； perhaps unreasonably； that the colonel's indifference and
digression were both a little assumed； and he asked abruptly；
〃And you fulfilled your mission？〃
〃I made the formal transfer； with the Mayor； of the property to Miss
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Arguello。〃
〃To Miss Arguello？〃
〃To the Dona Maria Concepcion de Arguello de la Yerba Buenato
speak precisely；〃 said the colonel； slowly。 〃George； you can take that hat to
that blank hatterwhat's his blanked name？ I read it only yesterday in a
list of the prominent citizens hereand tell him； with my compliments；
that I want a GENTLEMAN'S mourning band around my hat； and not a
child's shoelace。 It may be HIS idea of the value of his own parentsif he
ever had anybut I don't care for him to appraise mine。 Go！〃
As the door closed upon George； Paul turned to the colonel
〃Then am I to understand that you have agreed to her story？〃 The
colonel rose； picked up the decanter； poured out a glass of whiskey； and
holding it in his hand； said：
〃My dear Hathaway； let us understand each other。 As a gentleman； I
have made a point through life never to question the age； name； or family
of any lady of my acquaintance。 Miss Yerba Buena came of age yesterday；
and； as she is no longer my ward； she is certainly entitled to the
consideration I have just mentioned。 If she； therefore； chooses to tack to
her name the whole Spanish directory； I don't see why I shouldn't accept
it。〃
Characteristic as this speech appeared to be of the colonel's ordinary
manner； it struck Paul as being only an imitation of his usual frank
independence； and made him uneasily conscious of some vague desertion
on Pendleton's part。 He fixed his bright eyes on his host； who was
ostentatiously sipping his liquor； and said：
〃Am I to understand that you have heard nothing more from Miss
Yerba； either for or against her story？ That you still do not know whether
she has deceived herself； has been deceived by others； or is deceiving us？〃
〃After what I have just told you； Mr。 Hathaway；〃 said the colonel； with
an increased exaggeration of manner which Paul thought must be apparent
even to himself； 〃I should have but one way of dealing with questions of
that kind from anybody but yourself。〃
This culminating extravagancetaken in connection with Pendleton's
passing doubtsactually forced a laugh from Paul in spite of his bitterness。
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Colonel Pendleton's face flushed quickly。 Like most positive one…
idea'd men； he was restricted from any possible humorous combination；
and only felt a mysterious sense of being detected in some weakness。 He
put down his glass。
〃Mr。 Hathaway；〃 he began； with a slight vibration in his usual
dominant accents； 〃you have lately put me under a sense of personal
obligation for a favor which I felt I could accept without derogation from a
younger man； because it seemed to be one not only of youthful generosity
but of justice； and was not unworthy the exalted ambition of a young man
like yourself or the simple deserts of an old man such as I am。 I accepted it；
sir； the more readily； because it was entirely unsolicited by me； and
seemed to be the spontaneous offering of your own heart。 If I have
presumed upon it to express myself freely on other matters in a way that
only excites your ridicule； I can but offer you an apology； sir。 If I have
accepted a favor I can neither renounce nor return； I must take the
consequences to myself； and even beg YOU； sir； to put up with them。〃
Remorseful as Paul felt； there was a singular resemblance between the
previous reproachful pose of George and this present attitude of his master；
as if the mere propinquity of personal sacrifice had made them alike； that
struck him with a mingled pathos and ludicrousness。 But he said warmly；
〃It is I who must apologize； my dear colonel。 I am not laughing at your
conclusions； but at this singular coincidence with a discovery I have
made。〃
〃As how； sir？〃
〃I find in