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out his hand。 〃I think that is all I have to say。 When you see Miss Yerba
again；as you will； no doubt；you may tell her that I am conscious of no
misunderstanding on my part； except； perhaps； as to the best way I could
serve her； and that； but for what she has told YOU； I should certainly have
carried away no remembrance of any misunderstanding of HERS。〃
〃Certainly；〃 said the colonel； with cheerful philosophy； 〃I will carry
your message with pleasure。 You understand how it is； Mr。 Hathaway。
There is no accounting for these instinctswe can only accept them as
they are。 But I believe that your intentions； sir； were strictly according to
what you conceived to be your duty。 You won't take something before you
go？ Well； thengood…by。〃
Two weeks later Paul found among his morning letters an envelope
addressed in Colonel Pendleton's boyish scrawling hand。 He opened it
with an eagerness that no studied self…control nor rigid preoccupation of
his duties had yet been able to subdue； and glanced hurriedly at its
contents：
DEAR SIR；As I am on the point of sailing to Europe to…morrow to
escort Miss Arguello and Miss Woods on an extended visit to England and
the Continent； I am desirous of informing you that I have thus far been
unable to find any foundation for the suggestions thrown out by you in our
last interview。 Miss Arguello's Spanish acquaintances have been very
select； and limited to a few school friends and Don Caesar and Dona Anna
Briones； tried friends； who are also fellow…passengers with us to Europe。
Miss Arguello suggests that some political difference between you and
Don Caesar； which occurred during your visit to Rosario three months ago；
may have； perhaps； given rise to your supposition。 She joins me in best
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wishes for your public career； which even in the distraction of foreign
travel and the obligations of her position she will follow from time to time
with the greatest interest。
Very respectfully yours；
HARRY PENDLETON。
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A WARD OF THE GOLDEN GATE
CHAPTER V。
It was on the 3d of August； 1863； that Paul Hathaway resigned
himself and his luggage to the care of the gold…laced； ostensible porter of
the Strudle Bad Hof； not without some uncertainty； in a land of uniforms；
whether he would be eventually conducted to the barracks； the police
office； or the Conservatoire。 He was relieved when the omnibus drove into
the courtyard of the Bad Hof； and the gold…chained chamberlain； flanked
by two green tubs of oleanders； received him with a gravity calculated to
check any preconceived idea he might have that traveling was a trifling
affair； or that an arrival at the Bad Hof was not of serious moment。 His
letters had not yet arrived； for he had； in a fit of restlessness； shortened his
route； and he strolled listlessly into the reading…room。 Two or three
English guests were evidently occupied in eminently respectable reading
and writing； two were sitting by the window engaged in subdued but
profitable conversation； and two Americans from Boston were contentedly
imitating them on the other side of the room。 A decent restraint； as of
people who were not for a moment to be led into any foreign idea of social
gayety at a watering…place； was visible everywhere。 A spectacled Prussian
officer in full uniform passed along the hall； halted for a moment at the
doorway as if contemplating an armed invasion； thought better of it； and
took his uniform away into the sunlight of the open square； where it was
joined by other uniforms； and became by contrast a miracle of unbraced
levity。 Paul stood the Polar silence for a few moments； until one of the
readers arose and； taking his booka Murrayin his hand； walked slowly
across the room to a companion； mutely pointed to a passage in the book；
remained silent until the other had dumbly perused it； and then walked
back again to his seat； having achieved the incident without a word。 At
which Paul； convinced of his own incongruity； softly withdrew with his
hat in his hand； and his eyes fixed devotionally upon it。
It was good after that to get into the slanting sunlight and checkered
linden shadows of the Allee； to see even a tightly jacketed cavalryman
naturally walking with Clarchen and her two round…faced and drab…haired
young charges； to watch the returning invalid procession； very real and
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very human； each individual intensely involved in the atmosphere of his
own symptoms； and very good after that to turn into the Thiergarten；
where the animals； were； however； chiefly of his own species； and
shamelessly and openly amusing themselves。 It was pleasant to contrast it
with his first visit to the place three months before； and correct his crude
impressions。 And it was still more pleasant suddenly to recognize； under
the round flat cap of a general officer； a former traveler who was fond of
talking with him about America with an intelligence and understanding of
it that Paul had often missed among his own traveled countrymen。 It was
pleasant to hear his unaffected and simple greeting； to renew their old
acquaintance； and to saunter back to the hotel together through the long
twilight。
They were only a few squares from the hotel； when Paul's attention
was attracted by the curiosity and delight of two or three children before
him； who appeared to be following a quaint…looking figure that was
evidently not unfamiliar to them。 It appeared to be a servant in a striking
livery of green with yellow facings and crested silver buttons； but still
more remarkable for the indescribable mingling of jaunty ease and
conscious dignity with which he carried off his finery。 There was
something so singular and yet so vaguely reminiscent in his peculiar walk
and the exaggerated swing of his light bamboo cane that Paul could not
only understand the childish wonder