按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
…
〃You know now why I spoke to you as I did to…day； and why the
other half of this precious spray is the only memory I care to carry with
me out of this crumbling ruin of all my hopes。 You were right； Paul： my
taking you there WAS AN OMENnot to you； who can never be anything
but proud； beloved； and truebut to ME of all the shame and misery。
Thank you for all you have donefor all you would do； my friend； and
don't think me ungrateful； only because I am unworthy of it。 Try to forgive
me； but don't forget me； even if you must hate me。 Perhaps； if you knew
allyou might still love a little the poor girl to whom you have already
given the only name she can ever take from youYERBA BUENA！
111
… Page 112…
A WARD OF THE GOLDEN GATE
CHAPTER VII。
It was already autumn； and in the city of New York an early Sunday
morning breeze was sweeping up the leaves that had fallen from the
regularly planted ailantus trees before the brown…stone frontage of a row
of monotonously alike five…storied houses on one of the principal avenues。
The Pastor of the Third Presbyterian Church； that uplifted its double
towers on the corner； stopped before one of these dwellings； ran up the
dozen broad steps； and rang the bell。 He was presently admittted to the
sombre richness of a hall and drawing…room with high…backed furniture of
dark carved woods； like cathedral stalls； and； hat in hand； somewhat
impatiently awaited the arrival of his hostess and parishioner。 The door
opened to a tall； white…haired woman in lustreless black silk。 She was
regular and resolute in features； of fine but unbending presence； and；
though somewhat past middle age； showed no signs of either the weakness
or mellowness of years。
〃I am sorry to disturb your Sabbath morning meditations； Sister
Argalls； nor would I if it were not in the line of Christian duty； but Sister
Robbins is unable today to make her usual Sabbath hospital visit； and I
thought if you were excused from the Foreign Missionary class and Bible
instruction at three you might undertake her functions。 I know； my dear
old friend；〃 he continued； with bland deprecation of her hard…set eyes；
〃how distasteful this promiscuous mingling with the rough and ungodly
has always been to you； and how reluctant you are to be placed in the
position of being liable to hear coarse； vulgar； or irreverent speech。 I think；
too； in our long and pleasant pastoral relations； you have always found me
mindful of it。 I admit I have sometimes regretted that your late husband
had not more generally familiarized you with the ways of the world。 But
so it iswe all have our weaknesses。 If not one thing； another。 And as
Envy and Uncharitableness sometimes find their way in even Christian
hearts； I should like you to undertake this office for the sake of example。
There are some； dear Sister Argalls； who think that the rich widow who is
most liberal in the endowment of the goods that Providence has intrusted
to her hands claims therefore to be exempt from labor in the Christian
112
… Page 113…
A WARD OF THE GOLDEN GATE
vineyard。 Let us teach them how unjust they are。〃
〃I am willing；〃 said the lady； with a dry； determined air。 〃I suppose
these patients are not professedly bad characters？〃
〃By no means。 A few； perhaps； but the majority are unfortunates
dependent either upon public charity or some small provision made by
their friends。〃
〃Very well。〃
〃And you understand that though they have the privilege of rejecting
your Christian ministrations； dear Sister Argalls； you are free to judge
when you may be patient or importunate with them？〃
〃I understand。〃
The Pastor was not an unkindly man； and； as he glanced at the
uncompromising look in Mrs。 Argalls's eyes； felt for a moment some
inconsistency between his humane instincts and his Christian duty。 〃Some
of them may require； and be benefited by； a stern monitress； and Sister
Robbins； I fear； was weak；〃 he said consolingly to himself； as he
descended the steps again。
At three o'clock Mrs。 Argalls； with a reticule and a few tracts； was at
the door of St。 John's Hospital。 As she displayed her testimonials and
announced that she had taken Mrs。 Robbins's place； the officials received
her respectfully； and gave some instructions to the attendants； which；
however； did not stop some individual comments。
〃I say； Jim； it doesn't seem the square thing to let that grim old girl
loose among them poor convalescents。〃
〃Well； I don't know： they say she's rich and gives a lot o' money away；
but if she tackles that swearing old Kentuckian in No。 3； she'll have her
hands full。〃
However； the criticism was scarcely fair； for Mrs。 Argalls； although
moving rigidly along from bed to bed of the ward； equipped with a certain
formula of phrases； nevertheless dropped from time to time some practical
common…sense questions that showed an almost masculine intuition of the
patients' needs and requirements。 Nor did she betray any of that over…
sensitive shrinking from coarseness which the good Pastor had feared；
albeit she was quick to correct its exhibition。 The languid men listened to
113
… Page 114…
A WARD OF THE GOLDEN GATE
her with half… aggressive； half…amused interest； and some of the
satisfaction of taking a bitter but wholesome tonic。 It was not until she
reached the bed at the farther end of the ward that she seemed to meet with
any check。
It was occupied by a haggard man； with a long white moustache and
features that seemed wasted by inward struggle and fever。 At the first
sound of her voice he turned quickly towards her； lifted himself on his
elbow； and gazed fixedly in her face。
〃Kate Howardby the Eternal！〃 he said； in a low voice。
Despite her rigid self…possession the woman started； glanced hurriedly
around； and drew nearer to him。
〃Pendleton！〃 she said； in an equally suppressed voice； 〃What； in God's
name； are you doing here？〃
〃Dying； I reckonsooner or later；〃 he said grimly； 〃that's what they do
here。〃
〃Butwhat；〃 she went on hurriedly； still glancing over her shoulder as
if she suspected some trick〃what has brought you to this？〃
〃YOU！〃 said the colonel； dropping back exhaustedly on his pillow。
〃You and your daughter。〃
〃I don't understand you；〃 she said quickly； yet regarding him with stern
rigidity。 〃You know perfectly well I have NO daughter。 You know
perfectly well that I've kept the word I gave you ten years ago； and that I
have been dead to her as she has been to me。〃
〃I know；〃 said the colonel； 〃that within the last three months I have
paid away my last cent to keep the mouth of an infernal scoundrel shut
who KNOWS that you are her mother； and threatens to expose her to her
friends。 I know that I'm dying here of an old wound that I got when I shut
the mouth of another hound who was ready to bark at her two years after
you disappeared。 I know that between you and her I've let my old nigger
die of a broken heart； because I couldn't keep him to suffer with me； and I
know that I'm here a pauper on the State。 I know that； Kate； and when I
say it I don't regret it。 I've kept my word to YOU； and； by the Eternal； your
daughter's worth it！ For if there ever was a fair and peerless creatureit's
your child！〃
114
… Page 115…
A WARD OF THE GOLDEN GATE
〃And shea rich womanunless she squandered the fortune I gave
herlets you lie here！〃 said the woman grimly。
〃She don't kno