Hathaway,\"explainedCaptainStidger,naivelyobliviousofanydiscourtesyontheirpart,ashefollowedHathaway\'sglanceandtookhisarmastheymovedaway。\"Nottheleastofourtreasures,sir。Mostofthemdaughtersofpioneers——andallCalifornianbredandeducated。Connoisseurshaveawardedthemthepalm,anddeclarethatforGrace,Intelligence,andWoman\'sHighestCharmstheEastcannotfurnishtheirequal!\"HavingdeliveredthisParthiancomplimentinanoratoricalpassagethroughthedoorway,thecaptaindescended,outside,intofamiliarspeech。\"ButIsupposeyouwillfindthatoutforyourselfifyoustayherelong。SanFranciscomightfurnishafittingbridetoCalifornia\'syoungestsenator。\"
\"Iamafraidthatmystayheremustbebrief,andlimitedtobusiness,\"saidHathaway,whohadmerelynoticedthattheprincipalgirlwashandsomeandoriginal-looking。\"Infact,Iamherepartlytoseeanoldacquaintance——ColonelPendleton。\"
Thethreemenlookedateachothercuriously。\"Oh!HarryPendleton,\"saidMr。Hoskins,incredulously\"Youdon\'tknowHIM?\"
\"Anoldpioneer——ofcourse,\"interposedShear,explanatorilyandapologetically。\"Why,inPaul\'stimethecolonelwasabigmanhere。\"
\"Iunderstandthecolonelhasbeenunfortunate,\"saidHathaway,gravely;\"butinMYtimehewasPresidentoftheElDoradoBank。\"
\"Andthebankhasn\'tgotthroughitssettlementyet,\"saidHoskins\"IhopeYOUain\'texpectingtogetanythingoutofit?\"
\"No,\"saidHathaway,smiling;\"Iwasaboyatthattime,andliveduptomysalary。Iknownothingofhisbankdifficulties,butitalwaysstruckmethatColonelPendletonwashimselfanhonorableman。\"
\"Itain\'tthat,\"saidCaptainStidgerenergetically,\"butthetroublewithHarryPendletonisthathehasn\'tgrownwiththeState,andneveradjustedhimselftoit。Andhewon\'t。HethinkstheMillenniumwasbetweenthefallof\'49andthespringof\'50,andafterthateverythingdropped。Hebelongstotheolddays,whenaman\'ssimpleWORDwasgoodforanyamountifyouknewhim;
andtheysaythattheoldbankhadn\'tascrapofpaperforhalfthatwasowingtoit。Thatwasallverywell,sir,in\'49and\'50,and——Luck;butitwon\'tdofor\'59and\'60,and——Business!Andtheoldmancan\'tseeit。\"
\"Butheisreadytofightforitnow,asintheoldtime,\"saidMr。
Slate,\"andthat\'sanothertroublewithhischronology。He\'sdonemoretokeepupduelingthananyothermanintheState,anddon\'tknowthewholespiritofprogressandcivilizationisagainstit。\"
ItwasimpossibletotellfromPaulHathaway\'sfacewhetherhissympathywithColonelPendleton\'sfoiblesorhisassenttothecriticismsofhisvisitorswasthetruer。Bothwerenodoubtequallysincere。Butthepartywaspresentlyengagedintheabsorptionofrefreshment,which,beingofapurely,spirituousandexhilaratingquality,tendedtoincreasetheirgoodhumorwiththehosttilltheyparted。Eventhenagratuitousadvertisementofhisvirtuesandtheirownintentionsincallinguponhimwasoratoricallyvoicedfromavailableplatformsandlandings,inthehallsandstairways,untilitwasprettywellknownthroughouttheGoldenGateHotelthattheHon。Mr。PaulHathawayhadarrivedfromSacramentoandhadreceiveda\"spontaneousovation。\"
Meantimetheobjectofithaddroppedintoaneasy-chairbythewindowofhisroom,andwasendeavoringtorecallalessprofitablememory。Theprocessofhumanforgetfulnessisnotadifficultonebetweentheagesofeighteenandtwenty-six,andPaulHathawayhadnotonlyfulfilledtheMayor\'srequestbyforgettingtheparticularsofacertaintransferthathehadwitnessedintheMayor\'soffice,butintheyearsucceedingthatrequest,beingabouttotryhisfortunesinthemountains,hehadformallyconstitutedColonelPendletontoactashisproxyintheadministrationofMrs。Howard\'ssingularTrust,inwhich,however,hehadneverparticipatedexceptyearlytosignhisname。Hewas,consequently,somewhatastonishedtohavereceivedaletterafewdaysbeforefromColonelPendleton,askinghimtocallandseehimregardingit。
Hevaguelyrememberedthatitwaseightyearsago,andeightyearshadworkedconsiderablechangeintheoriginaltrustees,greatestofallinhissuperiorofficer,theMayor,whohaddiedtheyearfollowing,leavinghistrusteeshiptohissuccessorinoffice,whomPaulHathawayhadneverseen。TheBankofElDorado,despiteMrs。
Howard\'ssanguinebelief,hadlongbeeninbankruptcy,and,althoughColonelPendletonstillsurvivedit,itwascertainthatnootherpresidentwouldsucceedtohisofficeastrustee,andthatthefunctionwouldlapsewithhim。Paulhimself,asoldieroffortune,althoughhabituallylucky,hadonlylatelysucceededtoaprofession——ifhispoliticalfunctionscouldbesodescribed。Evenwithhisluck,energy,andambition,whileeverythingwaspossible,nothingwassecure。Itseemed,therefore,asifthesoullessofficialmusteventuallyassumethedutiesofthetwosympathizingfriendswhohadoriginatedthem,andhadstoodinlocoparentistotheconstructiveorphan。Themother,Mrs。Howard,haddisappearedayearaftertheTrusthadbeenmade——itwascharitablypresumedinordertopreventanycomplicationsthatmightarisefromherpresenceinthecountry。Withthesefactsbeforehim,PaulHathawaywasmoreconcernedinwonderingwhatPendletoncouldwantwithhimthan,Ifear,anydirectsympathywiththesituation。Onthecontrary,itappearedtohimmorefavorableforkeepingthesecretofMrs。Howard\'srelationship,whichwouldnowdiewithColonelPendletonandhimself;andtherewasnodangerofanyemotionalbetrayalofitinthecoldofficialadministrationofamanwhohadreceivedtheTrustthroughtheformalhandsofsuccessivepredecessors。Hehadforgottenthetimelimitedfortheguardianship,butthegirlmustsoonbeofageandofftheirhands。
Iftherehadeverbeenanyromanticorchivalrousimpressionleftuponhismemorybythesceneinthemayor\'soffice,Ifearhehadputitawaywithvariousotherfoolishillusionsofhisyouth,towhichhenowbelievedhewassuperior。
Nevertheless,hewouldseethecolonel,andatonce,andsettlethequestion。Helookedattheaddress,\"St。CharlesHotel。\"Herememberedanoldhostelryofthatname,nearthePlaza。Coulditbepossiblethatithadsurvivedthealterationsandimprovementsofthecity?Itwasaneasywalkthroughrememberedstreets,yetwithchangedshopsandhousesandfaces。WhenhereachedthePlaza,scarcerecognizableinitslaterfrontagesofbrickandstone,hefoundtheoldwoodenbuildingstillintact,withitsvilla-likegalleriesandverandasincongruouslyandostentatiouslyoverlookedbytwonewandaspiringerectionsoneitherside。Foraninstanthetriedtorecalltheglamourofolddays。Herememberedwhenhisboyisheyesregardeditasthecrowningworkofopulenceanddistinction;herememberedaballgiventhereonsomepublicoccasion,whichwastohimtheacmeofsocialbrilliancyanddisplay。Howtawdryandtrivialitlookedbesidethoselaterandmoresolidstructures!Howinconsistentwerethoselonglatticedverandasandbalconies,patheticrecordofthatfirstillusionofthepioneersthattheirclimatewasatropicalone!Arestaurantandbilliard-saloonhadaggrandizedallofthelowerstory;buttherewasstillthefanlight,overwhichtherememberedtitleof\"St。Charles,\"ingildedletters,wasnowreinforcedbythetoodemonstrativelegend,\"ApartmentsandBoard,bytheDayorWeek。\"
Wasitpossiblethatthisnarrow,creakingstaircasehadonceseemedtohimthebroadstepsofFameandFortune?Onthefirstlanding,apreoccupiedIrishservant-girl,withamop,directedhimtoadoorattheendofthepassage,atwhichheknocked。Thedoorwasopenedbyagrizzlednegroservant,whowasstillholdingapieceofoilychamois-leatherinhishand;andthecontentsofadueling-case,scattereduponatableinthecentreoftheroom,showedwhathadbeenhisoccupation。AdmittingHathawaywithgreatcourtesy,hesaid:——
\"MarseHarrybinhavin\'hisoletrubble,sah,andbinengagedjustdismomen\'onhistoylet;efyo\'llaccommodateyo\'selfondesofa,Iinformhimyo\'isheah。\"
Asthenegropassedintothenextroom,Paulcastahastyglancearoundtheapartment。Thefurniture,originallyrichandelegant,wasnowwornthreadbareandlustreless。Abook-case,containing,amongothervolumes,afewlawbooks——therebeingavaguetradition,asPaulremembered,thatColonelPendletonhadoncebeenconnectedwiththelaw——afewFrenchchairsoftarnishedgilt,arifleinthecorner,apresentationswordinamahoganycase,afewclassicalprintsonthewalls,andoneortwoirondeed-boxesmarked\"ElDoradoBank,\"weretheprincipalobjects。Amildflavorofdrydecayandmethylatedspiritspervadedtheapartment。Yetitwasscrupulouslycleanandwellkept,andafewclothesneatlybrushedandfoldedonachairborewitnesstotheservant\'scare。
AsPaul,however,glancedbehindthesofa,hewasconcernedtoseeacoat,whichhadevidentlybeenthrusthurriedlyinacorner,withthesleevelininginsideout,andaneedleandthreadstillstickingintheseam。Itstruckhiminstantlythatthishadbeenthenegro\'soccupation,andthatthepistol-cleaningwasapolitefiction。
\"Yo\'\'llhavetoskuseMarseHarryseein\'yoinbed,buthislaig\'spow\'fulbadto-day,andhecan\'tstand,\"saidtheservantreenteringtheroom。\"Skuseme,sah,\"headdedinadignifiedconfidentialwhisper,halfclosingthedoorwithhishand,\"butifyo\'wouldn\'tmindavoidin\'\'xcitin\'orcontroversicaltopicsinyo\'
conversation,itwouldbedebetterfo\'him。\"
Paulsmilinglyassented,andtheblackretainer,withevenmorethantheusualsolemnceremoniousexaggerationofhisrace,usheredhimintothebedroom。Itwasfurnishedinthesamefadedgloryasthesitting-room,withtheexceptionofalow,ironcamp-bedstead,inwhichthetall,soldierlyfigureofColonelPendleton,cladinthreadbaresilkdressing-gown,wasstretched。Hehadchangedineightyears:hishairhadbecomegray,andwasthinnedoverthesunkentemples,buthisiron-graymoustachewasstillparticularlylongandwellpointed。Hisfaceboremarksofillnessandcare;
thereweredeeplinesdowntheangleofthenostrilthatspokeofalternatesavageoutbreakandrepression,andgavehissmileasardonicrigidity。Hisdarkeyes,thatshonewiththeexaltationoffever,fixedPaul\'sonentering,andwiththetyrannyofaninvalidneverleftthem。
\"Well,Hathaway?\"
WiththesoundofthatvoicePaulfelttheyearsslipaway,andhewasagainaboy,lookingupadmiringlytothestrongman,whonowlayhelplessbeforehim。Hehadenteredtheroomwithafaintsenseofsympathizingsuperiorityandaconsciousnessofhavinghadexperienceincontrollingmen。ButallthisfledbeforeColonelPendleton\'sauthoritativevoice;evenitsbrokentonescarriedtheolddominantspiritoftheman,andPaulfoundhimselfadmiringaqualityinhisoldacquaintancethathemissedinhisnewerfriends。
\"Ihaven\'tseenyouforeightyears,Hathaway。Comehereandletmelookatyou。\"
Paulapproachedthebedsidewithboyishobedience。Pendletontookhishandandgazedathimcritically。
\"Ishouldhaverecognizedyou,sir,forallyourmoustacheandyourinches。ThelasttimeIsawyouwasinJackHammersley\'soffice。
Well,Jack\'sdead,andhereIam,littlebetter,Ireckon。YourememberHammersley\'shouse?\"
\"Yes,\"saidPaul,albeitwonderingatthequestion。
\"Somethinglikethis,Swissvillastyle。IrememberwhenJackputitup。Well,thelasttimeIwasout,Ipassedthere。Andwhatdoyouthinkthey\'vedonetoit?\"
Paulcouldnotimagine。
\"Well,sir,\"saidthecolonelgravely,\"they\'vechangeditintoachurchmissionaryshopandyoungmen\'sChristianreading-room!Butthat\'s\'progress\'and\'improvement\'!\"Hepaused,and,slowlywithdrawinghishandfromPaul\'s,addedwithgrimapology,\"You\'reyoung,andbelongtothenewschool,perhaps。Well,sir,I\'vereadyourspeech;Idon\'tbelongtoyourparty——minediedtenyearsago——
butIcongratulateyou。George!Confounditwhere\'sthatboygone?\"
Thenegroindicatedbythisyouthfultitle,althoughhemusthavebeentenyearsolderthanhismaster,afterahurriedshufflinginthesitting-roomeventuallyappearedatthedoor。
\"George,champagneandmaterialsforcocktailsforthegentleman。
TheBEST,youunderstand。Nonew-fanglednotionsfromthatnewbarkeeper。\"
Paul,whothoughtheobservedatroubledblinkinginGeorge\'seyelid,andreferredittoafearofpossibleexcitementforhispatient,herebeggedhishostnottotroublehimself——thatheseldomtookanythinginthemorning。
\"Possiblynot,sir;possiblynot,\"returnedthecolonel,hastily。
\"Iknowthenewideasareprohibitive,andsomeotherblankthing,butyou\'resafeherefromyourconstituents,andbygad,sir,I
shan\'tforceyoutotakeit!It\'sMYcustom,Hathaway——anoldone——
playedout,perhaps,likealltheothers,butacustomnevertheless,andI\'monlysurprisedthatGeorge,whoknowsit,shouldhaveforgottenit。\"
\"Fackis,MarseHarry,\"saidGeorge,withfeverishapology,\"itbingone\'scapedmyminddismo\'nin\'indeprerogationobbusiness,butI\'mgoin\'now,shuah!\"andhedisappeared。
\"Agoodboy,sir,butbeginningtobecontaminated。BroughthimherefromNashvilleovertenyearsago。Eightyearsagotheyprovedtohimthathewasnolongeraslave,andmadehimd——dunhappyuntilIpromisedhimitshouldmakenodifferencetohimandhecouldstay。Ihadtosendforhiswifeandchild——ofcourse,adeadlossofeighteenhundreddollarswhentheysetfootintheState——butI\'mblankedifheisn\'tjustasmiserablewiththemhere,forhehastotaketwohoursinthemorningandthreeintheafternooneverydaytobewith\'em。Itriedtogethimtotakehisfamilytotheminesandmakehisfortune,likethosefellowstheycallbankersandoperatorsandstockbrokersnowadays;ortogotoOregonwherethey\'llmakehimsomekindofamayororsheriff——
buthewon\'t。HecollectsmyrentsonsomelittlepropertyIhaveleft,andpaysmybills,sir,and,ifthisblankcivilizationwouldonlyleavehimalone,he\'dbeagoodenoughboy。\"
Paulcouldn\'thelpthinkingthattherentsGeorgecollectedweresomewhatinconsistentwiththosehewasevidentlymendingwhenhearrived,butatthatmomentthejingleofglasseswasheardinthesitting-room,andtheoldnegroreappearedatthedoor。Drawinghimselfupwithceremoniouscourtesy,headdressedPaul。\"Wo\'dyo\'
mind,sah,takingaglanceatdewineforyo\'choice?\"Paulrose,andfollowedhimintothesitting-room,whenGeorgecarefullyclosedthedoor。TohissurpriseHathawaybeheldatraywithtwoglassesofwhiskeyandbitters,butnowine。\"Skuseme,sah,\"saidtheoldmanwithdignifiedapology,\"butdeKernelwon\'thaveanybutdebestchampagneforhono\'blegemmenlikeyo\'self,andI\'sedespairedtosayitcan\'tbegotindehouseordesubburbs。DebestchampagnedatwegivesvisitorsisdeWidderGlencoe。Wo\'dyo\'mind,sah,fordesakeo\'not\'xcitin\'deKernelwidtriflin\'
culinarymatter,tosaydatyo\'don\'takebutdeonebrand?\"
\"Certainly,\"saidPaul,smiling。\"Ireallydon\'tcareforanythingsoearly;\"then,returningtothebedroom,hesaidcarelessly,\"You\'llexcusemetakingtheliberty,colonel,ofsendingawaythechampagneandcontentingmyselfwithwhiskey。Eventhebestbrand——
theWidowCliquot\"——withaglanceatthegratifiedGeorge——\"Ifindrathertryingsoearlyinthemorning。\"
\"Asyouplease,Hathaway,\"saidthecolonel,somewhatstiffly。\"I
daresaythere\'sanewfashionindrinksnow,andagentleman\'sstomachisathingofthepast。Then,Isuppose,wecansparetheboy,asthisishistimeforgoinghome。PutthattinboxwiththeTrustpapersonthebed,George,andMr。Hathawaywillexcuseyourwaiting。\"Astheoldservantmadeanexaggeratedobeisancetoeach,Paulremarked,asthedoorcloseduponhim,\"Georgecertainlykeepshisstyle,colonel,inthefaceoftheprogressyoudeplore。\"
\"Hewasalwaysa\'dandynigger,\'\"returnedPendleton,hisfaceslightlyrelaxingasheglancedafterhisgrizzledhenchman,\"buthisexaggerationofcourtesyisablanksightmorenaturalandmanlythantheexaggerationofdiscourtesywhichyoursuperiorcivilized\'helps\'thinkisself-respect。Theexcuseofservitudeofanykindisitsspontaneityandaffection。Whenyouknowamanhatesyouandservesyoufrominterest,youknowhe\'sacurandyou\'reatyrant。It\'syourblankprogressthat\'smademenialservicedegradingbyteachingmentoavoidit。Why,sir,whenI
firstarrivedhere,JackHammersleyandmyselftookturnsascooktotheparty。Ididn\'tconsidermyselfanytheworsemasterforit。Butenoughofthis。\"Hepaused,and,raisinghimselfonhiselbow,gazedforsomesecondshalfcautiously,halfdoubtfully,uponhiscompanion。\"I\'vegotsomethingtotellyou,Hathaway,\"hesaid,slowly。\"You\'vehadaneasytimewiththisTrust;yourshareoftheworkhasn\'tworriedyou,keptyouawakenights,orinterferedwithyourcareer。Iunderstandperfectly,\"hecontinued,inreplytoHathaway\'sdeprecatinggesture。\"Iacceptedtoactasyourproxy,andIHAVE。I\'mnotcomplaining。ButitistimethatyoushouldknowwhatI\'vedone,andwhatyoumaystillhavetodo。Hereistherecord。OnthedayafterthatinterviewintheMayor\'soffice,theElDoradoBank,ofwhichIwas,andstillam,president,receivedseventy-fivethousanddollarsintrustfromMrs。Howard。Twoyearsafterwards,onthatsameday,thebankhad,byluckyspeculations,increasedthatsumtothecreditofthetrustonehundredandfiftythousanddollars,ordoubletheoriginalcapital。Inthefollowingyearthebanksuspendedpayment。\"
CHAPTERII。
InaninstantthewholesituationandhisrelationstoitflasheduponPaulwithaterrible,butalmostgrotesque,completeness。
Herehewas,attheoutsetofhiscareer,responsibleforthewastedfortuneofthedaughterofasocialoutcast,andsaddledwithhersupport!HenowknewwhyColonelPendletonhadwishedtoseehim;foroneshamefulmomenthebelievedhealsoknewwhyhehadbeencontenttotakehisproxy!Thequestionablecharacterofthewholetransaction,hisowncarelessness,whichsprangfromthatveryconfidenceandtrustthatPendletonhadlatelyextolled——whatWOULD,whatCOULDnotbemadeofit!Healreadyheardhimselfabusedbyhisopponents——perhaps,moreterriblestill,faintlyexcusedbyhisfriends。Allthiswasvisibleinhispalefaceandflashingeyesasheturnedthemonthehelplessinvalid。
ColonelPendletonreceivedhislookwiththesamecritical,half-
curiousscrutinythathadaccompaniedhisspeech。Atlasthisfacechangedslightly,afaintlookofdisappointmentcrossedhiseyes,andasardonicsmiledeepenedthelinesofhismouth。
\"There,sir,\"hesaidhurriedly,asifdismissinganunpleasantrevelation;\"don\'talarmyourself!Takeadrinkofthatwhiskey。
Youlookpale。Well;turnyoureyesonthosewalls。Youdon\'tseeanyofthatmoneylaidouthere——doyou?Lookatme。Idon\'tlooklikeamanenrichedwithotherpeople\'smoney——doI?Well,letthatcontentyou。EverydollarofthatTrustfund,Hathaway,withalltheinterestsandprofitsthathaveaccruedtoit,isSAFE!
EverycentofitislockedupingovernmentbondswithRothschild\'sagent。Therearethereceipts,datedaweekbeforethebanksuspended。ButenoughofTHAT——THATisn\'twhatIaskedyoutocomeandseemefor。\"
ThebloodhadrushedbacktoPaul\'scheeksuncomfortably。Hesawnow,asimpulsivelyashehadpreviouslysuspectedhisco-trustee,thatthemanhadprobablyruinedhimselftosavetheTrust。Hestammeredthathehadnotquestionedthemanagementofthefundnoraskedtowithdrawhisproxy。
\"Nomatter,sir,\"saidthecolonel,impatiently;\"youhadtheright,andIsuppose,\"headdedwithhalf-concealedscorn,\"itwasyourduty。Butletthatpass。Themoneyissafeenough;but,Mr。
Hathaway,——andthisisthepointIwanttodiscusswithyou,——itbeginstolookasiftheSECRETwassafenolonger!\"HehadraisedhimselfwithsomepainanddifficultytodrawnearertoPaul,andhadagainfixedhiseyeseagerlyuponhim。ButPaul\'sresponsiveglancewassovaguethatheaddedquickly,\"Youunderstand,sir;I
believethattherearehounds——Isayhounds!——whowouldbeabletoblurtoutatanymomentthatthatgirlatSantaClaraisKateHoward\'sdaughter。\"
AtanyothermomentPaulmighthavequestionedthegravityofanysuchcontingency,buttheterribleearnestnessofthespeaker,hisdominanttone,andacertainrespectwhichhadlatelysprungupinhisbreastforhim,checkedhim,andheonlyaskedwithasmuchconcernashecouldmasterforthemoment:——
\"Whatmakesyouthinkso?\"
\"That\'swhatIwanttotellyou,Hathaway,andhowI,andIalone,amresponsibleforit。WhenthebankwasindifficultyandImadeupmymindtoguardtheTrustwithmyownpersonalandprivatecapital,Iknewthattheremightbesomecommentonmyaction。Itwasadelicatemattertoshowanypreferenceorexclusionatsuchamoment,andItooktwoorthreeofmybrotherdirectorswhomI
thoughtIcouldtrustintomyconfidence。Itoldthemthewholestory,andhowtheTrustwassacred。Imadeamistake,sir,\"
continuedPendletonsardonically,\"agravemistake。Ididnottakeintoaccountthateveninthreeyearscivilizationandreligionhadgainedgroundhere。Therewasahoundthere——ablankJudasintheTrust。Well;hedidn\'tseeit。IthinkhetalkedScriptureandmorality。Hesaidsomethingaboutthewagesofsinbeinginfamous,andonlyworthyofconfiscation。Hetalkedaboutthesinsofthefatherbeingvisiteduponthechildren,andjustly。Istoppedhim。
Well!Doyouknowwhat\'sthematterwithmyankle?Look!\"Hestoppedand,withsomedifficultyandinvinciblegravity,throwingasidehisdressing-gown,turneddownhisstocking,andexposedtoPaul\'sgazethehealedcicatrixofanoldbullet-wound。\"Troubledmedamnablynearayear。WhereIhitHIM——hasn\'ttroubledhimatallsince!
\"Ithink,\"continuedthecolonel,fallingbackuponthepillowwithanairofrelief,\"thathetoldothers——ofhisownkidney,sir,——
thoughitwasasecretamonggentlemen。Buttheyhavepreferredtobesilentnow——thanAFTERWARDS。TheyknowthatI\'mready。ButI
can\'tkeepthisuplong;sometime,youknow,they\'reboundtoimproveinpracticeandhithigherup!AsfarasI\'mconcerned,\"
headded,withagrimglancearoundthefadedwallsandthreadbarefurniture,\"itdon\'tmind;butmineisn\'tthemouthtobestopped。\"
Hepaused,andthenabruptly,yetwithasuddenandpatheticdroppingofhisdominantnote,said:\"Hathaway,you\'reyoung,andHammersleylikedyou——what\'stobedone?Ithoughtofpassingovermytoolstoyou。Youcanshoot,andIhearyouHAVE。Buttheh——lofitisthatifyoudroppedamanortwopeoplewouldaskWHY,andwanttoknowwhatitwasabout;while,whenIdo,nobodyherethinksitanythingbutMYWAY!Idon\'tmeanthatitwouldhurtyouwiththecrowdtowipeoutoneortwoofthesehoundsduringthecanvass,butthetroubleisthattheybelongtoYOURPARTY,and,\"
headdedgrimly,\"thatwouldn\'thelpyourcareer。\"
\"But,\"saidPaul,ignoringthesarcasm,areyounotmagnifyingtheeffectofadisclosure?Thegirlisanheiress,excellentlybroughtup。Whowillbotherabouttheantecedentsofthemother,whohasdisappeared,whomsheneverknew,andwhoislegallydeadtoher?\"
\"Inmyday,sir,noonewhoknewthecircumstances,\"returnedthecolonel,quickly。\"ButwearelivinginablessederaofChristianretributionandcivilizedpropriety,andIbelievetherearealotofmenandwomenaboutwhohavenootherwayofshowingtheirownvirtuethanbyshowingupanother\'svice。We\'reinareactionofreform。It\'stheolddrunkardswhoarealwaysmoreclamorousfortotalabstinencethanthemoderatelytemperate。Itellyou,Hathaway,therecouldn\'tbeanunluckiermomentforoursecretcomingout。\"
\"Butshewillbeofagesoon。\"
\"Intwomonths。\"
\"Andsuretomarry。\"
\"Marry!\"repeatedPendleton,withgrimirony。\"WouldYOUmarryher?\"
\"That\'sanotherquestion,\"saidtheyoungman,promptly,\"andoneofindividualtaste;butitdoesnotaffectmygeneralbeliefthatshecouldeasilyfindahusbandasgoodandbetter。\"
\"SupposeshefoundoneBEFOREthesecretisout。Oughthebetold?\"
\"Certainly。\"
\"AndthatwouldimplytellingHER?\"
\"Yes,\"saidPaul,butnotsopromptly。\"AndyouconsiderTHAT
fulfillingthepromiseoftheTrust——thepledgesexchangedwiththatwoman?\"continuedPendleton,withglitteringeyesandareturntohisowndominanttone。
\"Mydearcolonel,\"saidPaul,somewhatlesspositively,butstillsmiling,\"youhavemadearomantic,almostimpossiblecompactwithMrs。Howardthat,youyourselfarenowobligedtoadmit,circumstancesmaypreventyourcarryingoutsubstantially。Youforget,also,thatyouhavejusttoldmethatyouhavealreadybrokenyourpledge——undercircumstances,itistrue,thatdoyouhonor——andthatnowyourdesperateattemptstoretrieveithavefailed。Now,Ireallyseenothingwronginyourtellingtoapresumptivewell-wisherofthegirlwhatyouhavetoldtoherenemy。\"
Therewasadeadsilence。Theprostratemanutteredaslightgroan,asifinpain,anddrewuphislegtochangehisposition。
Afterapause,hesaid,inarestrainedvoice,\"Idifferfromyou,Mr。Hathaway;butenoughofthisforthepresent。Ihavesomethingelsetosay。ItwillbenecessaryforoneofustogoatoncetoSantaClaraandseeMissYerbaBuena。\"
\"Goodheavens!\"saidPaul,quickly。\"DoyoucallherTHAT?\"
\"Certainly,sir。Yougaveherthename。Haveyouforgotten?\"
\"Ionlysuggestedit,\"returnedPaul,hopelessly;\"butnomatter——
goon。\"
\"Icannotgothere,asyousee,\"continuedPendleton,withawearygesturetowardshiscrippledankle;\"andIshouldparticularlylikeyoutoseeherbeforewemakethejointdispositionofheraffairswiththeMayor,twomonthshence。Ihavesomepapersyoucanshowher,andIhavealreadywrittenaletterintroducingyoutotheLadySuperiorattheconvent,andtoher。Youhaveneverseenher?\"
\"No,\"saidPaul。\"Butofcourseyouhave?\"
\"Notforthreeyears。\"
Paul\'seyesevidentlyexpressedsomewonder,foramomentafterthecoloneladded,\"Ibelieve,Hathaway,Iamlookeduponasaqueersurvivalofaratherlawlessandimproperpast。Atleast,Ihavethoughtitbetternotsociallytocompromiseherbymypresence。
TheMayorgoesthere——attheexaminationsandexercises,Ibelieve,sir;theymakeasortofreceptionforhim——witha——a——banquet——
lemonadeandspeeches。\"
\"IhadintendedtoleaveforSacramentoto-morrownight,\"saidPaul,glancingcuriouslyatthehelplessman;\"butIwillgothereifyouwish。\"
\"Thankyou。Itwillbebetter。\"
Therewereafewwordsoffurtherexplanationofthepapers,andPendletonplacedthepacketinhisvisitor\'shands。Paulrose。
Somehow,itappearedtohimthattheroomlookedmorefadedandforgottenthanwhenheenteredit,andthefigureofthemanbeforehimmorelonely,helpless,andabandoned。Withoneofhissympatheticimpulseshesaid:——
\"Idon\'tliketoleaveyouherealone。AreyousureyoucanhelpyourselfwithoutGeorge?CanIdoanythingbeforeIgo?\"
\"Iamquiteaccustomedtoit,\"saidPendleton,quietly。\"Ithappensonceortwiceayear,andwhenIgoout——well——ImissmorethanIdohere。\"
HetookPaul\'sprofferedhandmechanically,withaslightreturnofthecritical,doubtinglookhehadcastuponhimwhenheentered。
hisvoice,too,hadquiterecovereditsolddominance,ashesaid,withhalf-patronizingconventionality,\"You\'llhavetofindyourwayoutalone。LetmeknowhowyouhavespedatSantaClara,willyou?Good-by。\"
ThestaircaseandpassageseemedtohavegrownshabbierandmeanerasPaul,slowlyandhesitatingly,descendedtothestreet。Atthefootofthestairshepausedirresolutely,andloiteredwithavagueideaofturningbackonsomepretense,onlythathemightrelievehimselfofthesenseofdesertion。Hehadalreadydetermineduponmakingthatinquiryintothecolonel\'spersonalandpecuniaryaffairswhichhehadnotdaredtoofferpersonally,andhadahalf-formedplanoftestinghisownpowerandpopularityinacertainlineofreliefthatatoncesatisfiedhissympathiesandambitions。Nevertheless,afterreachingthestreet,helingeredamoment,whenanoddideaoftemporizingwithhisinclinationsstruckhim。Atthefartherendofthehotel——oneoftheparasiteslivingonitsdecayedfortunes——wasasmallbarber\'sshop。Byhavinghishairtrimmedandhisclothesbrushedhecouldlingeralittlelongerbeneaththesameroofwiththehelplesssolitary,andperhapscometosomeconclusion。Heenteredthecleanbutscantilyfurnishedshop,andthrewhimselfintooneofthenearestchairs,hardlynotingthattherewerenoothercustomers,andthatasingleassistant,stroppingarazorbehindaglassdoor,wastheonlyoccupant。Buttherewasafamiliarnoteofexaggeratedpolitenessaboutthevoiceofthismanasheopenedthedoorandcametowardsthebackofthechairwiththeformula:——
\"Mo\'nin\',sah!Shallwehabdepleshureofshavin\'orhah-cuttin\'
dismo\'nin\'?\"Paulraisedhiseyesquicklytothemirrorbeforehim。ItreflectedtheblackfaceandgrizzledhairofGeorge。
Morerelievedatfindingtheoldservantstillnearhismasterthancaringtocomprehendthereason,Hathawaysaidpleasantly,\"Well,George,isthisthewayyoulookafteryourfamily?\"
Theoldmanstarted;foraninstanthisfullredlipsseemedtobecomedryandashen,thewhitesofhiseyesweresuffusedandstaring,ashemetPaul\'ssmilingfaceintheglass。Butalmostasquicklyherecoveredhimself,and,withapolitebutdeprecatingbow,said,——\"ForGodsake,sah!Iadmitdesarkumstancesisaginme,butdesimplefackisdatI\'mtemper\'lyoccupyin\'deplaceofanolefrien\',sah,whoiscalledrounddecornah。\"
\"AndI\'mdevilishgladofanyfact,George,thatgivesmeachanceofhavingmyhaircutbyColonelPendleton\'sright-handman。Sofireaway!\"
Thegratifiedsmilewhichnowsuddenlyoverspreadthewholeoftheoldman\'sface,andseemedtoquicklystiffentheruggedandwrinkledfingersthathadatfirsttrembledindrawingapairofshearsfromaraggedpocket,appearedtosatisfyPaul\'scuriosityforthepresent。Butafterafewmoments\'silentsnipping,duringwhichhecoulddetectinthemirrorsometracesofagitationstilltwitchingthenegro\'sface,hesaidwithanairofconviction:——
\"Lookhere,George——whydon\'tyouregularlyuseyourleisuremomentsinthistrade?You\'dmakeyourfortunebyyourtasteandskillatit。\"
Forthenexthalfminutetheoldman\'sframeshookwithsilentchildlikelaughterbehindPaul\'schair。\"Well,MarseHathaway,yo\'sanolefrien\'o\'mymassa,andagemmanyo\'self,sah,andasenetah,andIdo\'anmindtellin\'yo\'——dat\'sjesswhatIbingonedone!Itmakesalittlereadymoneyfordeolewomananddechilleren。ButdeKerneldon\'no\'。Ah,sah!deKernelkillmeorhisselfifhesomuchas\'spicionedme。DeKernelishigh-toned,sah!——bein\'agemmanyo\'self,yo\'understand。Hewouldn\'theahobhisniggahworken\'fortwomassas——forallhe\'swillen\'tolemmegoandhelpmyse\'f。But,Lordblessyo\',sah,datain\'tindecategory!DeKernelcouldn\'tgetalongwidoutme。\"
\"Youcollecthisrents,don\'tyou?\"saidPaul,quietly。
\"Yes,sah。\"
\"Much?\"
\"Well,no,sah;notsomuchasfom\'ly,sah!Yo\'see,deKernel\'sprop\'tyliesindeolepartsobdetown,wheredepo\'whitefolkslib,anddeyain\'treg\'lar。DeKerneldatsof\'inhisheart,hedaren\'press\'em;someof\'emisolefo\'ty-niners,likehisself,sah;andsomeisSpanish,sah,anddeyissof\'too,andain\'tnomoregumptiondanchilleren,andtinkit\'soletimecomeag\'in,anddey\'sindeoleplaceslikeafo\'deMexicanwah!anddeydon\'binpayin\'noffin\'。Butwegetsalong,sah,——wegetsalong,——notindeprimafaciestyle,sah!mebbenotindemoddenwaydutdeKerneldon\'tlike;butwekeepsourse\'f,sah,andhaswinefo\'ourfriends。Whenyo\'comeagain,sah,yo\'\'llfinddeWidderGlencoeondesideboard。\"
\"Hasthecolonelmanyfriendshere?\"
\"Mos\'deoleonesbindonegone,sah,anddeKerneldon\'cottontodenew。Hedon\'mixmuchinsassietytilldebanksettlementsbingonedone。Skuseme,sah!——butyoudon\'happentoknowwhendatis?Itwouldbeapow\'fulheapoffdeKernel\'smindifitwasdone。Bein\'ahighandmightymanincommitteesupdahinSacramento,sah,Ididn\'tknowbutwhatyo\'mightknowasitmightcomebefo\'yo\'。\"
\"I\'llseeaboutit,\"saidPaul,withanodd,abstractedsmile。
\"Shampoodismornen\',sah?\"
\"Nothingmoreinthisline,\"saidPaul,risingfromhischair,\"butsomethingmore,perhaps,inthelineofyourotherduties。You\'reagoodbarberforthepublic,George,andIdon\'ttakebackwhatI
saidaboutyourfuture;butJUSTNOWIthinkthecolonelwantsallyourservice。He\'snotatallwell。Takethis,\"hesaid,puttingatwenty-dollargoldpieceintheastonishedservant\'shand,\"andforthenextthreeorfourdaysdroptheshop,andundersomepretextoranotherarrangetobewithhim。Thatmoneywillcoverwhatyoulosehere,andassoonasthecolonel\'sallrightagainyoucancomebacktowork。Butareyounotafraidofbeingrecognizedbysomeone?\"
\"No,sah,dat\'sjustit。On\'ystrangersdatdon\'tknownobettercomeyere。\"
\"Butsupposeyourmastershoulddropin?It\'squiteconvenienttohisrooms。\"
\"MarseHarryinabarber-shop!\"saidtheoldmanwithasilentlaugh。\"Skuseme,sah,\"headded,withanapologeticmixtureofrespectanddignity,\"butfo\'twentyyearsnomanheztoucheddeKernel\'schinbutmyself。WhenMarseHarryheztogotoabarber\'sshop,itwon\'tmakenomatterwho\'sdar。\"
\"Let\'shopehewillnot,\"saidPaulgayly;then,anxioustoevadethegratitudewhich,sincehismunificence,hehadseenbeamingintheoldnegro\'seyeandevidentlytryingtofindpolysyllabicandelevatedexpressiononhislips,hesaidhurriedly,\"IshallexpecttofindyouwiththecolonelwhenIcallagaininadayortwo,\"
andsmilinglydeparted。