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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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A WARD OF THE GOLDEN GATE
〃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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A WARD OF THE GOLDEN GATE
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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A WARD OF THE GOLDEN GATE
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 warning lifting his voice to an oratorical
plane in startling contrast to his previous unaffected utterance； 〃I needn't
say that this is the honorable Paul Hathaway； the youngest state senator in
the Legislature。 You know his record！〃 Then； recovering the ordinary
accents of humanity； he added； 〃We read of your departure last night from
Sacramento； and I thought we'd come early； afore the crowd。〃
〃Proud to know you； sir；〃 said Captain Stidger； suddenly lifting the
conversation to the platform again。 〃I have followed your career； sir。 I've
read your speech； Mr。 Hathaway； and； as I was telling our mutual friend；
Mr。 Shear； as we came along； I don't know any man that could state the
real party issues as squarely。 Your castigating exposition of so…called
Jeffersonian principles； and your relentless indictment of the resolutions of
'98； were were〃coughed the captain； dropping in