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。