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A Ward of the Golden Gate
by Bret Harte
PROLOGUE。
In San Francisco the 〃rainy season〃 had been making itself a
reality to the wondering Eastern immigrant。 There were short days
of drifting clouds and flying sunshine； and long succeeding nights
of incessant downpour； when the rain rattled on the thin shingles
or drummed on the resounding zinc of pioneer roofs。 The shifting
sand…dunes on the outskirts were beaten motionless and sodden by
the onslaught of consecutive storms； the southeast trades brought
the saline breath of the outlying Pacific even to the busy haunts
of Commercial and Kearney streets； the low…lying Mission road was a
quagmire； along the City Front； despite of piles and pier and
wharf； the Pacific tides still asserted themselves in mud and ooze
as far as Sansome Street； the wooden sidewalks of Clay and
Montgomery streets were mere floating bridges or buoyant pontoons
superposed on elastic bogs； Battery Street was the Silurian beach
of that early period on which tin cans； packing…boxes； freight；
household furniture； and even the runaway crews of deserted ships
had been cast away。 There were dangerous and unknown depths in
Montgomery Street and on the Plaza； and the wheels of a passing
carriage hopelessly mired had to be lifted by the volunteer hands
of a half dozen high…booted wayfarers； whose wearers were
sufficiently content to believe that a woman； a child； or an
invalid was behind its closed windows； without troubling themselves
or the occupant by looking through the glass。
It was a carriage that； thus released； eventually drew up before
the superior public edifice known as the City Hall。 From it a
woman； closely veiled； alighted； and quickly entered the building。
A few passers…by turned to look at her； partly from the rarity of
the female figure at that period； and partly from the greater
rarity of its being well formed and even ladylike。
As she kept her way along the corridor and ascended an iron
staircase； she was passed by others more preoccupied in business at
the various public offices。 One of these visitors； however；
stopped as if struck by some fancied resemblance in her appearance；
turned； and followed her。 But when she halted before a door marked
〃Mayor's Office；〃 he paused also； and； with a look of half humorous
bewilderment and a slight glance around him as if seeking for some
one to whom to impart his arch fancy； he turned away。 The woman
then entered a large anteroom with a certain quick feminine gesture
of relief； and； finding it empty of other callers； summoned the
porter； and asked him some question in a voice so suppressed by the
official severity of the apartment as to be hardly audible。 The
attendant replied by entering another room marked 〃Mayor's
Secretary；〃 and reappeared with a stripling of seventeen or
eighteen； whose singularly bright eyes were all that was youthful
in his composed features。 After a slight scrutiny of the woman
half boyish； half officialhe desired her to be seated； with a
certain exaggerated gravity as if he was over…acting a grown…up
part； and； taking a card from her； reentered his office。 Here；
however； he did NOT stand on his head or call out a confederate
youth from a closet； as the woman might have expected。 To the left
was a green baize door； outlined with brass…studded rivets like a
cheerful coffin…lid； and bearing the mortuary inscription；
〃Private。〃 This he pushed open； and entered the Mayor's private
office。
The municipal dignitary of San Francisco； although an erect；
soldier…like man of strong middle age； was seated with his official
chair tilted back against the wall and kept in position by his feet
on the rungs of another； which in turn acted as a support for a
second man； who was seated a few feet from him in an easy…chair。
Both were lazily smoking。
The Mayor took the card from his secretary； glanced at it； said
〃Hullo！〃 and handed it to his companion； who read aloud 〃Kate
Howard；〃 and gave a prolonged whistle。
〃Where is she？〃 asked the Mayor。
〃In the anteroom； sir。〃
〃Any one else there？〃
〃No； sir。〃
〃Did you say I was engaged？〃
〃Yes； sir； but it appears she asked Sam who was with you； and when
he told her； she said； All right； she wanted to see Colonel
Pendleton too。〃
The men glanced interrogatively at each other； but Colonel
Pendleton； abruptly anticipating the Mayor's functions； said； 〃Have
her in；〃 and settled himself back in his chair。
A moment later the door opened； and the stranger appeared。 As she
closed the door behind her she removed her heavy veil； and
displayed the face of a very handsome woman of past thirty。 It is
only necessary to add that it was a face known to the two men； and
all San Francisco。
〃Well； Kate；〃 said the Mayor； motioning to a chair； but without
rising or changing his attitude。 〃Here I am； and here is Colonel
Pendleton； and these are office hours。 What can we do for you？〃
If he had received her with magisterial formality； or even
politely； she would have been embarrassed； in spite of a certain
boldness of her dark eyes and an ever present consciousness of her
power。 It is possible that his own ease and that of his companion
was part of their instinctive good nature and perception。 She
accepted it as such； took the chair familiarly； and seated herself
sideways upon it； her right arm half encircling its back and
hanging over it； altogether an easy and not ungraceful pose。
〃Thank you； JackI mean； Mr。 Mayorand you； too； Harry。 I came
on business。 I want you two men to act as guardians for my little
daughter。〃
〃Your what？〃 asked the two men simultaneously。
〃My daughter；〃 she repeated； with a short laugh； which； however；
ended with a note of defiance。 〃Of course you don't know。 Well；〃
she added half aggressively； and yet with the air of hurrying over
a compromising and inexplicable weakness； 〃the long and short of it
is I've got a little girl down at the Convent of Santa Clara； and
have hadthere！ I've been taking care of herGOOD care； too；
boysfor some time。 And now I want to put things square for her
for the future。 See？ I want to make over to her all my property
it's nigh on to seventy…five thousand dollars； for Bob Snelling put
me up to getting those water lots a year agoand； you see； I'll
have to have regular guardians； trustees； or whatever you call 'em；
to take care of the money for her。〃
〃Who's her father？〃 asked the Mayor。
〃What's that to do with it？〃 she said impetuously。
〃Everythingbecause he's her natural guardian。〃
〃Suppose he isn't known？ Say dead； for instance。〃
〃Dead will do；〃 said the Mayor gravely。 〃Yes； dead will do；〃
repeated Colonel Pendleton。 After a pause； in which the two men
seemed to have buried this vague relative； the Mayor looked keenly
at the woman。
〃Kate； have you and Bob Ridley had a quarrel？〃
〃Bob Ridley knows too much to quarrel with me；〃 she said briefly。
〃Then you are doing this for no motive other than that which you
tell me？〃
〃Certainly。 That's motive enoughain't it？〃
〃Yes。〃 The Mayor took his feet off his companion's chair and sat
upright。 Colonel Pendleton did the same； also removing his cigar
from his lips。 〃I suppose you'll think this thing over？〃 he added。
〃NoI want it done NOWright herein this office。〃
〃But you know it will be irrevocable。〃
〃That's what I want itsomething might happen afterwards。〃
〃But you are leaving nothing for yourself； and if you are going to
devote everything to this daughter and lead a different life；
you'll〃
〃Who said I was？〃
The two men paused； and looked at her。 〃Look here； boys； you don't
understand。 From the day that paper is signed； I've nothing to do
with the child。 She passes out of my hands into yours； to be
schooled； educated； and made a rich girl out ofand never to know
who or what or where I am。 She doesn't know now。 I haven't given
her and myself away in that styleyou bet！ She thinks I'm only a
friend。 She hasn't seen me more than once or twice； and not to
know me again。 Why； I was down there the other day； and passed her
walking out with the Sisters and the other scholars； and she didn't
know metho