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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 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 between the partisans themselves； each successive
demonstration on either side was provocative or retaliatory； and
when they were apparently rendering homage to their idols they were
really distracted by and listening to each other。 At last；
Hathaway's party being reinforced by fresh visitors； a tall
brunette of the opposition remarked in a professedly confidential
but perfectly audible tone：
〃Well； my dear； as I don't suppose you want to take part in a
political caucus； perhaps we'd better return to the Ladies'
Boudoir； unless there's a committee sitting there too。〃
〃I know how valuable your time must be； as you are all business
men；〃 said Hathaway； turning to his party； in an equally audible
tone； 〃but before you go； gentlemen； you must let me offer you a
little refreshment in a private room；〃 and he moved naturally
towards the door。 The rival fair； who had already risen at their
commander's suggestion； here paused awkwardly over an embarrassing
victory。 Should they go or stay？ The object of their devotion；
however； turned curiously towards Hathaway。 For an instant their
eyes met。 The young girl turned carelessly to her companions and
said； 〃No； stay hereit's the public parlor；〃 and her followers；
evidently accustomed to her authority； sat down again。
〃A galaxy of young ladies from the Convent of Santa Clara； Mr。
Hathaway；〃 explained Captain Stidger； naively oblivious of any
discourtesy on their part； as he followed Hathaway's glance and
took his arm as they moved away。 〃Not the least of our treasures；
sir。 Most of them daughters of pioneersand all Californian bred
and educated。 Connoisseurs have awarded them the palm； and declare
that for Grace； Intelligence； and Woman's Highest Charms the East
cannot furnish their equal！〃 Having delivered this Parthian
compliment in an oratorical passage through the doorway； the
captain descended； outside； into familiar speech。 〃But I suppose
you will find that out for yourself if you stay here long。 San
Francisco might furnish a fitting bride to California's youngest
senator。〃
〃I am afraid that my stay here must be brief； and limited to
business；〃 said Hathaway； who had merely noticed that the principal
girl was handsome and original…looking。 〃In fact； I am here partly
to see an old acquaintanceColonel Pendleton。〃
The three men looked at each other curiously。 〃Oh！ Harry
Pendleton；〃 said Mr。 Hoskins； incredulously 〃You don't know HIM？〃
〃An old pioneerof course；〃 interposed Shear； explanatorily and
apologetically。 〃Why； in Paul's time the colonel was a big man
here。〃
〃I understand the colonel has been unfortunate；〃 said Hathaway；
gravely； 〃but in MY time he was President of the El Dorado Bank。〃
〃And the bank hasn't got through its settlement yet；〃 said Hoskins
〃I hope YOU ain't expecting to get anything out of it？〃
〃No；〃 said Hathaway； smiling； 〃I was a boy at that time； and lived
up to my salary。 I know nothing of his bank difficulties； but it
always struck me that Colonel Pendleton was himself an honorable
man。〃
〃It ain't that；〃 said Captain Stidger energetically； 〃but the
trouble with Harry Pendleton is that he hasn't grown with the
State； and never adjusted himself to it。 And he won't。 He thinks
the Millennium was between the fall of '49 and the spring of '50；
and after that everything dropped。 He belongs to the old days；
when a man's simple WORD was good for any amount if you knew him；
and they say that the old bank hadn't a scrap of paper for half
that was owing to it。 That was all very well； sir； in '49 and '50；
andLuck； but it won't do for '59 and '60； andBusiness！ And the
old man can't see it。〃
〃But he is ready to fight for it now； as in the old time；〃 said Mr。
Slate； 〃and that's another trouble with his chronology。 He's done
more to keep up dueling than any other man in the State； and don't
know the whole spirit of progress and civilization is against it。〃
It was impossible to tell from Paul Hathaway's face whether his
sympathy with Colonel Pendleton's foibles or his assent to the
criticisms of his visitors was the truer。 Both were no doubt
equally sincere。 But the party was presently engaged in the
absorption of refreshment； which； being of a purely； spirituous and
exhilarating quality； tended to increase their good humor with the
host till they parted。 Even then a gratuitous advertisement of his
virtues and their own intentions in calling upon him was
oratorically voiced from available platforms and landings； in the
halls and stairways； until it was pretty well known throughout the
Golden Gate Hotel that the Hon。 Mr。 Paul Hathaway had arrived from
Sacramento and had received a 〃spontaneous ovation。〃
Meantime the object of it had dropped into an easy…chair by the
window of his room； and was endeavoring to recall a less profitable
memory。 The process of human forgetfulness is not a difficult one
between the ages of eighteen and twenty…six； and Paul Hathaway had
not only fulfilled the Mayor's request by forgetting the
particulars of a certain transfer that he had witnessed in the
Mayor's office； but in the year succeeding that request； being
about to try his fortunes in the mountains； he had formally
constituted Colonel Pendleton to act as his proxy in the
administration of Mrs。 Howard's singular Trust； in which； however；
he had never participated except yearly to sign his name。 He was；
consequently； somewhat astonished to have received a letter a few
days before from Colonel Pendleton； asking him to call and see him
regarding it。
He vaguely remembered that it was eight years ago； and