InSanFranciscothe\"rainyseason\"hadbeenmakingitselfarealitytothewonderingEasternimmigrant。Therewereshortdaysofdriftingcloudsandflyingsunshine，andlongsucceedingnightsofincessantdownpour，whentherainrattledonthethinshinglesordrummedontheresoundingzincofpioneerroofs。Theshiftingsand-dunesontheoutskirtswerebeatenmotionlessandsoddenbytheonslaughtofconsecutivestorms；thesoutheasttradesbroughtthesalinebreathoftheoutlyingPacificeventothebusyhauntsofCommercialandKearneystreets；thelow-lyingMissionroadwasaquagmire；alongtheCityFront，despiteofpilesandpierandwharf，thePacifictidesstillassertedthemselvesinmudandoozeasfarasSansomeStreet；thewoodensidewalksofClayandMontgomerystreetsweremerefloatingbridgesorbuoyantpontoonssuperposedonelasticbogs；BatteryStreetwastheSilurianbeachofthatearlyperiodonwhichtincans，packing-boxes，freight，householdfurniture，andeventherunawaycrewsofdesertedshipshadbeencastaway。
ThereweredangerousandunknowndepthsinMontgomeryStreetandonthePlaza，andthewheelsofapassingcarriagehopelesslymiredhadtobeliftedbythevolunteerhandsofahalfdozenhigh-bootedwayfarers，whosewearersweresufficientlycontenttobelievethatawoman，achild，oraninvalidwasbehinditsclosedwindows，withouttroublingthemselvesortheoccupantbylookingthroughtheglass。
Itwasacarriagethat，thusreleased，eventuallydrewupbeforethesuperiorpublicedificeknownastheCityHall。Fromitawoman，closelyveiled，alighted，andquicklyenteredthebuilding。
Afewpassers-byturnedtolookather，partlyfromtherarityofthefemalefigureatthatperiod，andpartlyfromthegreaterrarityofitsbeingwellformedandevenladylike。
Asshekeptherwayalongthecorridorandascendedanironstaircase，shewaspassedbyothersmorepreoccupiedinbusinessatthevariouspublicoffices。Oneofthesevisitors，however，stoppedasifstruckbysomefanciedresemblanceinherappearance，turned，andfollowedher。Butwhenshehaltedbeforeadoormarked\"Mayor\'sOffice，\"hepausedalso，and，withalookofhalfhumorousbewildermentandaslightglancearoundhimasifseekingforsomeonetowhomtoimparthisarchfancy，heturnedaway。Thewomanthenenteredalargeanteroomwithacertainquickfemininegestureofrelief，and，findingitemptyofothercallers，summonedtheporter，andaskedhimsomequestioninavoicesosuppressedbytheofficialseverityoftheapartmentastobehardlyaudible。Theattendantrepliedbyenteringanotherroommarked\"Mayor\'sSecretary，\"andreappearedwithastriplingofseventeenoreighteen，whosesingularlybrighteyeswereallthatwasyouthfulinhiscomposedfeatures。Afteraslightscrutinyofthewoman——
halfboyish，halfofficial——hedesiredhertobeseated，withacertainexaggeratedgravityasifhewasover-actingagrown-uppart，and，takingacardfromher，reenteredhisoffice。Here，however，hedidNOTstandonhisheadorcalloutaconfederateyouthfromacloset，asthewomanmighthaveexpected。Totheleftwasagreenbaizedoor，outlinedwithbrass-studdedrivetslikeacheerfulcoffin-lid，andbearingthemortuaryinscription，\"Private。\"Thishepushedopen，andenteredtheMayor\'sprivateoffice。
ThemunicipaldignitaryofSanFrancisco，althoughanerect，soldier-likemanofstrongmiddleage，wasseatedwithhisofficialchairtiltedbackagainstthewallandkeptinpositionbyhisfeetontherungsofanother，whichinturnactedasasupportforasecondman，whowasseatedafewfeetfromhiminaneasy-chair。
Bothwerelazilysmoking。
TheMayortookthecardfromhissecretary，glancedatit，said\"Hullo!\"andhandedittohiscompanion，whoreadaloud\"KateHoward，\"andgaveaprolongedwhistle。
\"Whereisshe?\"askedtheMayor。
\"Intheanteroom，sir。\"
\"Anyoneelsethere?\"
\"No，sir。\"
\"DidyousayIwasengaged?\"
\"Yes，sir；butitappearssheaskedSamwhowaswithyou，andwhenhetoldher，shesaid，Allright，shewantedtoseeColonelPendletontoo。\"
Themenglancedinterrogativelyateachother，butColonelPendleton，abruptlyanticipatingtheMayor\'sfunctions，said，\"Haveherin，\"andsettledhimselfbackinhischair。
Amomentlaterthedooropened，andthestrangerappeared。Assheclosedthedoorbehindhersheremovedherheavyveil，anddisplayedthefaceofaveryhandsomewomanofpastthirty。Itisonlynecessarytoaddthatitwasafaceknowntothetwomen，andallSanFrancisco。
\"Well，Kate，\"saidtheMayor，motioningtoachair，butwithoutrisingorchanginghisattitude。\"HereIam，andhereisColonelPendleton，andtheseareofficehours。Whatcanwedoforyou?\"
Ifhehadreceivedherwithmagisterialformality，orevenpolitely，shewouldhavebeenembarrassed，inspiteofacertainboldnessofherdarkeyesandaneverpresentconsciousnessofherpower。Itispossiblethathisowneaseandthatofhiscompanionwaspartoftheirinstinctivegoodnatureandperception。Sheaccepteditassuch，tookthechairfamiliarly，andseatedherselfsidewaysuponit，herrightarmhalfencirclingitsbackandhangingoverit；altogetheraneasyandnotungracefulpose。
\"Thankyou，Jack——Imean，Mr。Mayor——andyou，too，Harry。Icameonbusiness。Iwantyoutwomentoactasguardiansformylittledaughter。\"
\"Yourwhat?\"askedthetwomensimultaneously。
\"Mydaughter，\"sherepeated，withashortlaugh，which，however，endedwithanoteofdefiance。\"Ofcourseyoudon\'tknow。Well，\"
sheaddedhalfaggressively，andyetwiththeairofhurryingoveracompromisingandinexplicableweakness，\"thelongandshortofitisI\'vegotalittlegirldownattheConventofSantaClara，andhavehad——there!I\'vebeentakingcareofher——GOODcare，too，boys——forsometime。AndnowIwanttoputthingssquareforherforthefuture。See?Iwanttomakeovertoherallmyproperty——
it\'snighontoseventy-fivethousanddollars，forBobSnellingputmeuptogettingthosewaterlotsayearago——and，yousee，I\'llhavetohaveregularguardians，trustees，orwhateveryoucall\'em，totakecareofthemoneyforher。\"
\"Who\'sherfather?\"askedtheMayor。
\"What\'sthattodowithit?\"shesaidimpetuously。
\"Everything——becausehe\'shernaturalguardian。\"
\"Supposeheisn\'tknown?Saydead，forinstance。\"
\"Deadwilldo，\"saidtheMayorgravely。\"Yes，deadwilldo，\"
repeatedColonelPendleton。Afterapause，inwhichthetwomenseemedtohaveburiedthisvaguerelative，theMayorlookedkeenlyatthewoman。
\"Kate，haveyouandBobRidleyhadaquarrel?\"
\"BobRidleyknowstoomuchtoquarrelwithme，\"shesaidbriefly。
\"Thenyouaredoingthisfornomotiveotherthanthatwhichyoutellme?\"
\"Certainly。That\'smotiveenough——ain\'tit?\"
\"Yes。\"TheMayortookhisfeetoffhiscompanion\'schairandsatupright。ColonelPendletondidthesame，alsoremovinghiscigarfromhislips。\"Isupposeyou\'llthinkthisthingover?\"headded。
\"No——IwantitdoneNOW——righthere——inthisoffice。\"
\"Butyouknowitwillbeirrevocable。\"
\"That\'swhatIwantit——somethingmighthappenafterwards。\"
\"Butyouareleavingnothingforyourself，andifyouaregoingtodevoteeverythingtothisdaughterandleadadifferentlife，you\'ll\"——
\"WhosaidIwas?\"
Thetwomenpaused，andlookedather。\"Lookhere，boys，youdon\'tunderstand。Fromthedaythatpaperissigned，I\'venothingtodowiththechild。Shepassesoutofmyhandsintoyours，tobeschooled，educated，andmadearichgirloutof——andnevertoknowwhoorwhatorwhereIam。Shedoesn\'tknownow。Ihaven\'tgivenherandmyselfawayinthatstyle——youbet!ShethinksI\'monlyafriend。Shehasn\'tseenmemorethanonceortwice，andnottoknowmeagain。Why，Iwasdowntheretheotherday，andpassedherwalkingoutwiththeSistersandtheotherscholars，andshedidn\'tknowme——thoughoneoftheSistersdid。Butthey\'remum——THEYare，anddon\'tleton。Why，nowIthinkofit，YOUweredownthere，Jack，presidinginbigstyleasMr。Mayorattheexercises。Youmusthavenoticedher。Littlething，aboutnine——lotofhair，thesamecolorasmine，andbrowneyes。Whiteandyellowsash。HadanecklaceonofrealpearlsIgaveher。IBOUGHTTHEM，youunderstand，myselfatTucker\'s——gavetwohundredandfiftydollarsforthem——andabigbouquetofwhiterosebudsandlilacsIsenther。\"
\"Irememberhernowontheplatform，\"saidtheMayorgravely。\"Sothatisyourchild?\"
\"Youbet——nosloucheither。Butthat\'sneitherherenorthere。
WhatIwantnowisyouandHarrytolookafterherandherpropertythesameasifIdidn\'tlive。Morethanthat，asifIhadNEVER
LIVED。I\'vecometoyoutwoboys，becauseIreckonyou\'resquaremenandwon\'tgivemeaway。ButIwanttofixitevenfirmerthanthat。IwantyoutotakeholdofthistrustnotasJackHammersley，butastheMAYOROFSANFRANCISCO!AndwhenyoumakewayforanewMayor，HEtakesupthetrustbyvirtueofhisoffice，yousee，sothere\'satrusteeallalong。Ireckonthere\'llalwaysbeaSanFranciscoandalwaysaMayor——atleasttillthechild\'sofage；anditgivesherfromthestartafather，andaprettybigonetoo。Ofcoursethenewmanisn\'ttoknowthewhyandwhereforeofthis。It\'senoughforhimtotakeonthatdutywithhisothers，withoutaskingquestions。Andhe\'sonlygottoinvestthatmoneyandpayitoutasit\'swanted，andconsultHarryattimes。\"
Thetwomenlookedateachotherwithapprovingintelligence。\"ButhaveyouthoughtofasuccessorforME，incasesomebodyshootsmeonsightanytimeinthenexttenyears?\"askedPendleton，withagravityequaltoherown。
\"Ireckon，asyou\'rePresidentoftheElDoradoBank，you\'llmakethatapartofeverypresident\'sdutytoo。You\'llgetthedirectorstoagreetoit，justasJackherewillgettheCommonCounciltomakeittheMayor\'sbusiness。\"
Thetwomenhadrisentotheirfeet，and，afterexchangingglances，gazedathersilently。PresentlytheMayorsaid:——
\"Itcanbedone，Kate，andwe\'lldoitforyou——eh，Harry?\"
\"Countmein，\"saidPendleton，nodding。\"Butyou\'llwantathirdman。\"
\"What\'sthatfor?\"
\"Thecastingvoteincaseofanydifficulty。\"
Thewoman\'sfacefell。\"Ireckonedtokeepitasecretwithonlyyoutwo，\"shesaidhalfbitterly。
\"Nomatter。We\'llfindsomeonetoact，oryou\'llthinkofsomebodyandletusknow。\"
\"ButIwantedtofinishthisthingrighthere，\"shesaidimpatiently。Shewassilentforamoment，withherarchedblackbrowsknitted。Thenshesaidabruptly，\"Who\'sthatsmartlittlechapthatletmein?Helooksasifhemightbetrusted。\"
\"That\'sPaulHathaway，mysecretary。He\'ssensible，buttooyoung。
Stop!Idon\'tknowaboutthat。There\'snolegalagenecessary，andhe\'sgotanawfullyoldheadonhim，\"saidtheMayorthoughtfully。
\"AndIsayhisyouth\'sinhisfavor，\"saidColonelPendleton，promptly。\"He\'sbeenbroughtupinSanFrancisco，andhe\'sgotnod——dold-fashionedEasternnotionstogetridof，andwilldropintothisasamatterofbusiness，withoutpryingaboutorwondering。I\'LLservewithhim。\"
\"Callhimin!\"saidthewoman。
Hecame。Veryluminousofeye，andcomposedoflipandbrow。Yetwiththesamesuggestionof\"makingbelieve\"verymuch，asiftooffsetthepossiblemunchingofforbiddencakesandapplesinhisownroom，orthehiddenpresenceofsomestillinhispocket。
TheMayorexplainedthecasebriefly，butwithbusiness-likeprecision。\"Yourduty，Mr。Hathaway，\"heconcluded，\"atpresentwillbemerelynominaland，aboveall，confidential。ColonelPendletonandmyselfwillsetthethinggoing。\"Astheyouth——whohadapparentlytakeninand\"illuminated\"thewholesubjectwithasinglebright-eyedglance——bowedandwasabouttoretire，asiftorelievehimselfofhisrealfeelingsbehindthedoor，thewomanstoppedhimwithagesture。
\"Let\'shavethisthingovernow，\"shesaidtotheMayor。\"Youdrawupsomethingthatwecanallsignatonce。\"ShefixedhereyesonPaul，partlytosatisfyhercuriosityandjustifyherpredilectionforhim，andpartlytodetecthiminanyovertactofboyishness。
Buttheyouthsimplyreturnedherglancewithacheerful，easyprescience，asifherpastlayclearlyopenbeforehim。ForsomeminutestherewasonlytherapidscratchingoftheMayor\'spenoverthepaper。Suddenlyhestoppedandlookedup。
\"What\'shername?\"
\"Shemustn\'thavemine，saidthewomanquickly。\"That\'sapartofmyidea。Igivethatupwiththerest。Shemusttakeanewnamethatgivesnohintofme。Thinkofone，can\'tyou，youtwomen?
Somethingthatwouldkindofshowthatshewasthedaughterofthecity，youknow。\"
\"Youcouldn\'tcallher\'SantaFrancisca，\'eh?\"saidColonelPendleton，doubtingly。
\"Notmuch，\"saidthewoman，withaseriousnessthatdefiedanyulteriorinsinuation。
\"NorChrysopolinia?\"saidtheMayor，musingly。
\"Butthat\'sonlyaFIRSTname。Shemusthaveafamilyname，\"saidthewomanimpatiently。
\"CanYOUthinkofsomething，Paul?\"saidtheMayor，appealingtoHathaway。\"You\'reagreatreader，andlaterfromyourclassicsthanIam。\"TheMayor，albeitpracticalandWestern，likedtobeostentatiouslyforgetfulofhisoldAlmaMater，Harvard，onoccasions。
\"HowwouldYERBABUENAdo，sir?\"respondedtheyouthgravely。
\"It\'stheoldSpanishtitleofthefirstsettlementhere。ItcomesfromthenamethatFatherJuniperoSerragavetotheprettylittlevinethatgrowswildoverthesandhills，andmeans\'goodherb。\'Hecalledit\'Abalmforthewoundedandsore。\'\"
\"Forthewoundedandsore?\"repeatedthewomanslowly。
\"That\'swhattheysay，\"respondedHathaway。
\"Youain\'tplayingus，eh?\"shesaid，withahalflaughthat，however，scarcelycurvedtheopenmouthwithwhichshehadbeenregardingtheyoungsecretary。
\"No，\"saidtheMayor，hurriedly。\"It\'strue。I\'veoftenheardit。
Andacapitalnameitwouldbeforhertoo。YERBAthefirstname。
BUENAthesecond。ShecouldbecalledMissBuenawhenshegrowsup。\"
\"YerbaBuenaitis，\"shesaidsuddenly。Then，indicatingtheyouthwithaslighttossofherhandsomehead，\"Hishead\'slevel——youcanseethat。\"
Therewasasilenceagain，andthescratchingoftheMayor\'spencontinued。ColonelPendletonbuttoneduphiscoat，pulledhislongmoustacheintoshape，slightlyarrangedhiscollar，andwalkedtothewindowwithoutlookingatthewoman。PresentlytheMayorarosefromhisseat，and，withacertainformalcourtesythathadbeenwantinginhispreviousmanner，handedherhispenandarrangedhischairforheratthedesk。Shetookthepen，andrapidlyappendedhersignaturetothepaper。Theothersfollowed；and，obedienttoasignfromhim，theporterwassummonedfromtheouterofficetowitnessthesignatures。Whenthiswasover，theMayorturnedtohissecretary。\"That\'salljustnow，Paul。\"
Acceptingthisimplieddismissalwithundisturbedgravity，thenewlymadeyouthfulguardianbowedandretired。Whenthegreenbaizedoorhadcloseduponhim，theMayorturnedabruptlytothewomanwiththepaperinhishand。
\"Lookhere，Kate；thereisstilltimeforyoutoreconsideryouraction，andtearupthissolitaryrecordofit。Ifyouchoosetodoso，sayso，andIpromiseyouthatthisinterview，andallyouhavetoldus，shallneverpassbeyondthesewalls。Noonewillbethewiserforit，andwewillgiveyoufullcreditforhavingattemptedsomethingthatwastoomuchforyoutoperform。\"
Shehadhalfrisenfromherchairwhenhebegan，butfellbackagaininherformerpositionandlookedimpatientlyfromhimtohiscompanion，whowasalsoregardingherearnestly。
\"Whatareyoutalkingabout?\"shesaidsharply。
\"YOU，Kate，\"saidtheMayor。\"Youhavegiveneverythingyoupossesstothischild。Whatprovisionhaveyoumadeforyourself?\"
\"DoIlookplayedout?\"shesaid，facingthem。
Shecertainlydidnotlooklikeanythingbutastrong，handsome，resolutewoman，butthemendidnotreply。
\"Thatisnotall，Kate，\"continuedtheMayor，foldinghisarmsandlookingdownuponher。\"Haveyouthoughtwhatthismeans?Itisthecompleterenunciationnotonlyofanyclaimbutanyinterestinyourchild。Thatiswhatyouhavejustsigned，andwhatitwillbeourdutynowtokeepyouto。
Fromthismomentwestandbetweenyouandher，aswestandbetweenherandtheworld。Areyoureadytoseehergrowupawayfromyou，losingeventhelittlerecollectionshehashadofyourkindness——passingyouinthestreetwithoutknowingyou，perhapsevenhavingyoupointedouttoherasapersonsheshouldavoid?Areyoupreparedtoshutyoureyesandearshenceforthtoallthatyoumayhearofhernewlife，whensheishappy，rich，respectable，acourtedheiress——perhapsthewifeofsomegreatman?Areyoureadytoacceptthatshewillneverknow——
thatnoonewilleverknow——thatyouhadanyshareinmakingherso，andthatifyoushouldeverbreatheitabroadweshallholditourdutytodenyit，andbrandthemanwhotakesitupforyouasaliarandtheslandererofanhonestgirl?\"
\"That\'swhatIcameherefor，\"shesaidcurtly，then，regardingthemcuriously，andrunningherringedhandupanddowntherailedbackofherchair，sheadded，withahalflaugh，\"Whatareyouplayin\'mefor，boys?\"
\"But，\"saidColonelPendleton，withoutheedingher，\"areyoureadytoknowthatinsicknessorafflictionyouwillbepowerlesstohelpher；thatastrangerwilltakeyourplaceatherbedside，thatasshehaslivedwithoutknowingyoushewilldiewithoutthatknowledge，orthatifthroughanyweaknessofyoursitcametoherthen，itwouldembitterherlastthoughtsofearthand，dying，shewouldcurseyou?\"
Thesmileuponherhalf-openmouthstillflutteredaroundit，andhercurvedfingersstillranupanddowntherailsofthechair-
backasiftheywerethecordsofsomemuteinstrument，towhichshewastryingtogivevoice。Herringsonceortwicegrateduponthemasifshehadattimesgrippedthemclosely。Butsherosequicklywhenhepaused，said\"Yes，\"sharply，andputthechairbackagainstthewall。
\"ThenIwillsendyoucopiesofthistomorrow，andtakeanassignmentoftheproperty。\"
\"I\'vegotthecheckhereforitnow，\"shesaid，drawingitfromherpocketandlayingituponthedesk。\"There，Ireckonthat\'sfinished。Good-by!\"
TheMayortookuphishat，ColonelPendletondidthesame；bothmenprecededhertothedoor，andhelditopenwithgravepolitenessforhertopass。
\"Whereareyouboysgoing?\"sheasked，glancingfromtheonetotheother。
\"Toseeyoutoyourcarriage，Mrs。Howard，\"saidtheMayor，inavoicethathadbecomesomewhatdeeper。
\"Throughthewholebuilding?Pastallthepeopleinthehallandonthestairs?Why，IpassedDanStewartasIcamein。\"
\"Ifyouwillallowus?\"hesaid，turninghalfappealingtoColonelPendleton，who，withoutspeaking，madealowbowofassent。
Aslightflushrosetoherface——thefirstandonlychangeintheevenhealthycolorshehadshownduringtheinterview。
\"IreckonIwon\'ttroubleyou，boys，ifit\'sallthesametoyou，\"
shesaid，withherhalf-stridentlaugh。\"YOUmightn\'tmindbeingseen——butIwould——Good-by。\"
Sheheldoutahandtoeachofthemen，whoremainedforaninstantsilentlyholdingthem。Thenshepassedoutofthedoor，slippingonhercloseblackveilasshedidsowithahalf-funerealsuggestion，andtheysawhertall，handsomefigurefadeintotheshadowsofthelongcorridor。
\"Paul，\"saidtheMayor，reenteringtheofficeandturningtohissecretary，\"doyouknowwhothatwomanis?\"
\"Yes，sir。\"
\"She\'soneinamillion!Andnowforgetthatyouhaveeverseenher。\"
CHAPTERI。
TheprincipalparloroftheNewGoldenGateHotelinSanFrancisco，fairlyreportedbythelocalpressasbeing\"trulypalatial\"initsappointments，andunrivaledinitsupholstery，was，nevertheless，onAugust5，1860，ofthatstartlingnewnessthatcheckedanyfamiliarity，andevidentlyhadproducedsomeembarrassmentonthelimbsoffourvisitorswhohadjustbeenusheredintoitsglories。
Afterhesitatingbeforeoneortwogorgeousfawn-coloredbrocadedeasy-chairsofappallingandspotlessvirginity，oneofthemseatedhimselfdespairinglyonatete-a-tetesofainmarkedandpainfulisolation，whileanothersatuncomfortablyuprightonasofa。Thetwoothersremainedstanding，vaguelygazingattheceiling，andexchangingostentatiouslyadmiringbuthollowremarksaboutthefurnitureinunnecessarywhispers。Yettheywereapparentlymenofacertainhabitofimportanceandsmallauthority，withmoreorlesscriticalattitudeintheirspeech。
Tothempresentlyenteredayoungmanofaboutfive-and-twenty，withremarkablybrightandsingularlysympatheticeyes。Havingsweptthegroupinasmilingglance，hesingledoutthelonelyoccupierofthetete-a-tete，andmovedpleasantlytowardshim。Themanroseinstantlywithaneagergratifiedlook。
\"Well，Paul，Ididn\'tallowyou\'drememberme。It\'samatteroffouryearssincewemetatMarysville。Andnowyou\'rebein\'agreatmanyou\'ve\"——
Noonecouldhaveknownfromtheyoungman\'ssmilingfacethathereallyhadnotrecognizedhisvisitoratfirst，andthathisgreetingwasonlyanexhibitionofoneofthosehappyinstinctsforwhichhewasremarkable。But，followingtheclewsuggestedbyhisvisitor，hewasabletosaypromptlyandgayly:——
\"Idon\'tknowwhyIshouldforgetTonyShearortheMarysvilleboys，\"turningwithahalf-confidingsmiletotheothervisitors，who，afterthehumanfashion，werebeginningtoberesentfullyimpatientofthisspecialattention。
\"Well，no，——forI\'veallussaidthatyoutookyourfirststartfromMarysville。ButI\'vebroughtafewfriendsofourpartythatI
reckonedtointroducetoyou。Cap\'nStidger，ChairmanofourCentralCommittee，Mr。HenryJ。Hoskins，ofthefirmofHoskinsandBloomer，andJoeSlate，ofthe\'UnionPress，\'oneofourmostpromisingjournalists。Gentlemen，\"hecontinued，suddenlyandwithoutwarningliftinghisvoicetoanoratoricalplaneinstartlingcontrasttohispreviousunaffectedutterance，\"Ineedn\'tsaythatthisisthehonorablePaulHathaway，theyoungeststatesenatorintheLegislature。Youknowhisrecord!\"Then，recoveringtheordinaryaccentsofhumanity，headded，\"WereadofyourdeparturelastnightfromSacramento，andIthoughtwe\'dcomeearly，aforethecrowd。\"
\"Proudtoknowyou，sir，\"saidCaptainStidger，suddenlyliftingtheconversationtotheplatformagain。\"Ihavefollowedyourcareer，sir。I\'vereadyourspeech，Mr。Hathaway，and，asIwastellingourmutualfriend，Mr。Shear，aswecamealong，Idon\'tknowanymanthatcouldstatetherealpartyissuesassquarely。
Yourcastigatingexpositionofso-calledJeffersonianprinciples，andyourrelentlessindictmentoftheresolutionsof\'98，were——
were\"——coughedthecaptain，droppingintoconversationagain——\"werethebiggestthingout。Youhaveonlytosignifytheday，sir，thatyouwilladdressus，andIcanpromiseyouthelargestaudienceinSanFrancisco。\"
\"I\'minstructedbytheproprietorofthe\'UnionPress，\'\"saidMr。
Slate，feelingforhisnotebookandpencil，\"toofferyouitscolumnsforanyexplanationsyoumaydesiretomakeintheformofapersonalletteroraneditorialinreplytothe\'Advertiser\'s\'
stricturesonyourspeech，ortotakeanyinformationyoumayhaveforthebenefitofourreadersandtheparty。\"
\"Ifyouareeverdownmyway，Mr。Hathaway，\"saidMr。Hoskins，placingalargebusinesscardinHathaway\'shand，\"andwilldropinasafriend，IcanshowyouaboutthelargestbusinessinthewayofcannedprovisionsanddomesticgroceriesintheState，andgiveyoualookaroundBatteryStreetgenerally。Orifyou\'llnameyourday，I\'vegotapairof2。35BlueGrasshorsesthat\'llspinyououttotheCliffHousetodinnerandback。I\'vehadGovernorFiske，andSenatorDoolan，andthatbigEnglishcapitalistwhowasherelastyear，andthey——well，sir，——theywerePLEASED!Orifyou\'dliketoseethetown——ifthisisyourfirstvisit——I\'mahandtoshowyou。
NothingcouldexceedMr。Hathaway\'ssympatheticacceptanceoftheircourtesies，norwastheretheleastaffectationinit。Thoroughlyenjoyinghisfellowmen，evenintheirfoibles，theyfoundhimirresistiblyattractive。\"Ilivedheresevenyearsago，\"hesaid，smiling，tothelastspeaker。
\"WhenthewatercameuptoMontgomeryStreet，\"interposedMr。
Shear，inahoarsebutadmiringaside。
\"WhenMr。Hammersleywasmayor，\"continuedHathaway。
\"Hadanofficialposition——privatesecretary——aforehewastwenty，\"
explainedShear，inperfectlyaudibleconfidence。
\"Sincethenthecityhasmadegreatstrides，leapingfull-grown，sir，inasinglenight，\"saidCaptainStidger，hastilyascendingtherostrumagainwithamixedmetaphor，totheapparentconcernofapartyofhandsomelydressedyoungladieswhohadrecentlyenteredtheparlor。\"StretchingfromSouthParktoBlackPoint，andrunningbacktotheMissionDoloresandthePresidio，wearebuildingupametropolis，sir，worthytobeplacedbesidetheGoldenGatethatopenstothebroadPacificandtheshoresoffarCathay!WhenthePacificRailroadisbuiltweshallbethenaturalterminusofthePathwayofNations!\"
Mr。Hathaway\'sfacebetrayednoconsciousnessthathehadheardsomethinglikethiseightyearsbefore，andthatmuchofithadcometrue，asheagainsympatheticallyresponded。Neitherwashisattentionattractedbyasingularsimilaritywhichtheattitudeofthegroupofladiesontheothersideoftheparlorboretothatofhisownparty。Theywereclusteredaroundoneoftheirownnumber——
astriking-lookinggirl——whowasapparentlyreceivingtheirmingledflatteriesandcaresseswithayouthfulyetcriticalsympathy，which，singularlyenough，wasnotunlikehisown。Itwasevidentalsothatanoddsortofrivalryseemedtospringupbetweenthetwoparties，andthat，inproportionasHathaway\'sadmirersbecamemoremarkedandostentatiousintheirattentions，thesupportersoftheyounggirlwereequallyeffusiveandenthusiasticintheirdevotion。Asusualinsuchcases，therealcontestwasbetweenthepartisansthemselves；eachsuccessivedemonstrationoneithersidewasprovocativeorretaliatory，andwhentheywereapparentlyrenderinghomagetotheiridolstheywerereallydistractedbyandlisteningtoeachother。Atlast，Hathaway\'spartybeingreinforcedbyfreshvisitors，atallbrunetteoftheoppositionremarkedinaprofessedlyconfidentialbutperfectlyaudibletone:——
\"Well，mydear，asIdon\'tsupposeyouwanttotakepartinapoliticalcaucus，perhapswe\'dbetterreturntotheLadies\'
Boudoir，unlessthere\'sacommitteesittingtheretoo。\"
\"Iknowhowvaluableyourtimemustbe，asyouareallbusinessmen，\"saidHathaway，turningtohisparty，inanequallyaudibletone；\"butbeforeyougo，gentlemen，youmustletmeofferyoualittlerefreshmentinaprivateroom，\"andhemovednaturallytowardsthedoor。Therivalfair，whohadalreadyrisenattheircommander\'ssuggestion，herepausedawkwardlyoveranembarrassingvictory。Shouldtheygoorstay?Theobjectoftheirdevotion，however，turnedcuriouslytowardsHathaway。Foraninstanttheireyesmet。Theyounggirlturnedcarelesslytohercompanionsandsaid，\"No；stayhere——it\'sthepublicparlor；\"andherfollowers，evidentlyaccustomedtoherauthority，satdownagain。
\"AgalaxyofyoungladiesfromtheConventofSantaClara，Mr。