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pioneers had in few cases attained a comfortable fortune for their
old age。 〃I know；〃 he added； 〃that your friend Colonel Pendleton
has dropped a good deal of money over in Europe。 Somebody told me
that he actually was reduced to take a steerage passage home。 It
looks as if he might gambleit's an old Californian complaint。〃
As Paul； who had become suddenly grave again； did not speak； Mrs。
Woods reminded them that she had always doubted the colonel's moral
principles。 Old as he was； he had never got over that freedom of
life and social opinion which he had imbibed in early days。 For
her part； she was very glad he had not returned from Europe with
the girls； though； of course； the presence of Don Caesar and his
sister during their European sojourn was a corrective。 As Paul's
face grew darker during this languid criticism； Yerba； who had been
watching it with a new and absorbing sympathy； seized the first
moment when they left the table to interrogate him with
heartbreaking eyes。
〃You don't think； Paul； that the colonel is really poor？〃
〃God only knows；〃 said Paul。 〃I tremble to think how that
scoundrel may have bled him。〃
〃And all for me！ Paul； dear； you know you were saying in the woods
that you would never； never touch my money。 What〃exultingly〃if
we gave it to him？〃
What answer Paul made did not transpire； for it seemed to have been
indicated by an interval of profound silence。
But the next morning； as he and Mr。 Woods were closeted in the
library； Yerba broke in upon them with a pathetic face and a
telegram in her hand。 〃Oh； PaulMr。 HathawayIT'S TRUE！〃
Paul seized the telegram quickly： it had no signature； only the
line： 〃Colonel Pendleton is dangerously ill at St。 John's
Hospital。〃
〃I must go at once；〃 said Paul； rising。
〃Oh； Paul〃imploringly…〃let me go with you！ I should never
forgive myself ifAND IT'S ADDRESSED TO ME； and what would he
think if I didn't come？〃
Paul hesitated。 〃Mrs。 Woods will let Milly go with us and she can
stay at the hotel。 Say yes；〃 she continued； seeking his eyes
eagerly。
He consented； and in half an hour they were in the train for New
York。 Leaving Milly at the hotel； ostensibly in deference to the
Woods's prejudices； but really to save the presence of a third
party at this meeting； Paul drove with Yerba rapidly to the
hospital。 They were admitted to an anteroom。 The house surgeon
received them respectfully； but doubtingly。 The patient was a
little better this morning； but very weak。 There was a lady now
with hima member of a religious and charitable guild； who had
taken the greatest interest in himindeed； she had wished to take
him to her own homebut he had declined at first； and now he was
too weak to be removed。
〃But I received this telegram： it must have been sent at his
request；〃 protested Yerba。
The house surgeon looked at the beautiful face。 He was mortal。 He
would see if the patient was able to stand another interview；
possibly the regular visitor might withdraw。
When he had gone； an attendant volunteered the information that the
old gentleman was perhaps a little excited at times。 He was a
wonderful man； he had seen a great deal； he talked much of
California and the early days； he was very interesting。 Ah； it
would be all right now if the doctor found him well enough； for the
lady was already goingthat was she； coming through the hall。
She came slowly towards themerect； gray； grima still handsome
apparition。 Paul started。 To his horror； Yerba ran impulsively
forward； and said eagerly： 〃Is he better？ Can he see us now？〃
The woman halted an instant； seemed to gather the prayer…book and
reticule she was carrying closer to her breast； but was otherwise
unchanged。 Replying to Paul rather than the young girl； she said
rigidly： 〃The patient is able to see Mr。 Hathaway and Miss Yerba
Buena；〃 and passed slowly on。 But as she reached the door she
unloosed her black mourning veil from her bonnet； and seemed to
drop it across her face with the gesture that Paul remembered she
had used twelve years ago。
〃She frightens me！〃 said Yerba； turning a suddenly startled face on
Paul。 〃Oh； Paul； I hope it isn't an omen； but she looked like some
one from the grave！〃
〃Hush！〃 said Paul； turning away a face that was whiter than her
own。 〃They are coming now。〃
The house surgeon had returned a trifle graver。 They might see him
now； but they must be warned that he wandered at times a little；
and； if he might suggest； if it was anything of family importance；
they had better make the most of their time and his lucid
intervals。 Perhaps if they were old friendsVERY old friendshe
would recognize them。 He was wandering much in the pastalways in
the past。
They found him in the end of the ward； but so carefully protected
and partitioned off by screens that the space around his cot had
all the privacy and security of an apartment。 He was very much
changed； they would scarcely have known him； but for the delicately
curved aquiline profile and the long white moustachenow so faint
and etherealized as to seem a mere spirit wing that rested on his
pillow。 To their surprise he opened his eyes with a smile of
perfect recognition； and； with thin fingers beyond the coverlid；
beckoned to them to approach。 Yet there was still a shadow of his
old reserve in his reception of Paul； and； although one hand
interlocked the fingers of Yerbawho had at first rushed
impulsively forward and fallen on her knees beside the bedand the
other softly placed itself upon her head； his eyes were fixed upon
the young man's with the ceremoniousness due to a stranger。
〃I am glad to see； sir；〃 he began in a slow； broken； but perfectly
audible voice； 〃that now you aresatisfied with the rightof this
young ladyto bear the name ofArguelloand her relationship
sirto one of the oldest〃
〃But； my dear old friend；〃 broke out Paul； earnestly； 〃I NEVER
cared for thatI beg you to believe〃
〃He nevernevercared for itdear； dear colonel；〃 sobbed Yerba；
passionately： 〃it was all my faulthe thought only of meyou
wrong him！〃
〃I think otherwise；〃 said the colonel； with grim and relentless
deliberation。 〃I have a vividimpressionsirof aninterview I
had with youat the St。 Charleswhere you said〃 He was silent
for a moment； and then in a quite different voice called faintly
〃George！〃
Paul and Yerba glanced quickly at each other。
〃George； set out some refreshment for the Honorable Paul Hathaway。
The best； siryou understand。 。 。 。 A good nigger； sira good
boy； and he never leaves me； sir。 Only； by gad！ sir； he will
starve himself and his family to be with me。 I brought him with me
to California away back in the fall of 'forty…nine。 Those were the
early days； sirthe early days。〃
His head had fallen back quite easily on the pillow now； but a
slight film seemed to be closing over his dark eyes； like the inner
lid of an eagle when it gazes upon the sun。
〃They were the old days； sirthe days of Menwhen a man's WORD
was enough for anything； and his trigger…finger settled any doubt。
When the Trust that he took from Man； Woman； or Child was never
broken。 When the tide； sir； that swept through the Golden Gate
came up as far as Montgomery Street。〃
He did not speak again。 But they who stood beside him knew that
the tide had once more come up to Montgomery Street； and was
carrying Harry Pendleton away with it。
End