a ward of the golden gate(金门一区)-第4章
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〃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 into conversation again
〃were the biggest thing out。 You have only to signify the day； sir； that you
will address us； and I can promise you the largest audience in San
Francisco。〃
〃I'm instructed by the proprietor of the 'Union Press；'〃 said Mr。 Slate；
feeling for his notebook and pencil； 〃to offer you its columns for any
explanations you may desire to make in the form of a personal letter or an
editorial in reply to the 'Advertiser's' strictures on your speech； or to take
any information you may have for the benefit of our readers and the
party。〃
〃If you are ever down my way； Mr。 Hathaway；〃 said Mr。 Hoskins；
placing a large business card in Hathaway's hand； 〃and will drop in as a
friend； I can show you about the largest business in the way of canned
provisions and domestic groceries in the State； and give you a look around
Battery Street generally。 Or if you'll name your day； I've got a pair of 2。35
Blue Grass horses that'll spin you out to the Cliff House to dinner and back。
I've had Governor Fiske； and Senator Doolan； and that big English
capitalist who was here last year； and theywell； sir；they were
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A WARD OF THE GOLDEN GATE
PLEASED！ Or if you'd like to see the townif this is your first visitI'm a
hand to show you。
Nothing could exceed Mr。 Hathaway's sympathetic acceptance of their
courtesies； nor was there the least affectation in it。 Thoroughly enjoying
his fellowmen； even in their foibles； they found him irresistibly attractive。
〃I lived here seven years ago；〃 he said； smiling； to the last speaker。
〃When the water came up to Montgomery Street；〃 interposed Mr。
Shear； in a hoarse but admiring aside。
〃When Mr。 Hammersley was mayor；〃 continued Hathaway。
〃Had an official positionprivate secretaryafore he was twenty；〃
explained Shear； in perfectly audible confidence。
〃Since then the city has made great strides； leaping full…grown； sir； in a
single night；〃 said Captain Stidger； hastily ascending the rostrum again
with a mixed metaphor； to the apparent concern of a party of handsomely
dressed young ladies who had recently entered the parlor。 〃Stretching from
South Park to Black Point； and running back to the Mission Dolores and
the Presidio； we are building up a metropolis； sir； worthy to be placed
beside the Golden Gate that opens to the broad Pacific and the shores of
far Cathay！ When the Pacific Railroad is built we shall be the natural
terminus of the Pathway of Nations！〃
Mr。 Hathaway's face betrayed no consciousness that he had heard
something like this eight years before； and that much of it had come true；
as he again sympathetically responded。 Neither was his attention attracted
by a singular similarity which the attitude of the group of ladies on the
other side of the parlor bore to that of his own party。 They were clustered
around one of their own number a striking…looking girlwho was
apparently receiving their mingled flatteries and caresses with a youthful
yet critical sympathy； which； singularly enough； was not unlike his own。 It
was evident also that an odd sort of rivalry seemed to spring up between
the two parties； and that； in proportion as Hathaway's admirers became
more marked and ostentatious in their attentions； the supporters of the
young girl were equally effusive and enthusiastic in their devotion。 As
usual in such cases； the real contest was betwee
