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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！
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 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 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！〃
〃And shea rich womanunless she squandered the fortune I gave
herlets you lie here！〃 said the woman grimly。
〃She don't know it。〃