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with remarkably bright and singularly sympathetic eyes。 Having
swept the group in a smiling glance； he singled out the lonely
occupier of the tete…a…tete； and moved pleasantly towards him。 The
man rose instantly with an eager gratified look。
〃Well； Paul； I didn't allow you'd remember me。 It's a matter of
four years since we met at Marysville。 And now you're bein' a
great man you've〃
No one could have known from the young man's smiling face that he
really had not recognized his visitor at first； and that his
greeting was only an exhibition of one of those happy instincts for
which he was remarkable。 But； following the clew suggested by his
visitor； he was able to say promptly and gayly：
〃I don't know why I should forget Tony Shear or the Marysville
boys；〃 turning with a half…confiding smile to the other visitors；
who； after the human fashion； were beginning to be resentfully
impatient of this special attention。
〃Well； no；for I've allus said that you took your first start from
Marysville。 But I've brought a few friends of our party that I
reckoned to introduce to you。 Cap'n Stidger； Chairman of our
Central Committee； Mr。 Henry J。 Hoskins； of the firm of Hoskins and
Bloomer； and Joe Slate； of the 'Union Press；' one of our most
promising journalists。 Gentlemen；〃 he continued； suddenly and
without warning lifting his voice to an oratorical plane in
startling contrast to his previous unaffected utterance； 〃I needn't
say that this is the honorable Paul Hathaway； the youngest state
senator in the Legislature。 You know his record！〃 Then；
recovering the ordinary accents of humanity； he added； 〃We read of
your departure last night from Sacramento； and I thought we'd come
early； afore the crowd。〃
〃Proud to know you； sir；〃 said Captain Stidger； suddenly lifting
the conversation to the platform again。 〃I have followed your
career； sir。 I've read your speech； Mr。 Hathaway； and； as I was
telling our mutual friend； Mr。 Shear； as we came along； I don't
know any man that could state the real party issues as squarely。
Your castigating exposition of so…called Jeffersonian principles；
and your relentless indictment of the resolutions of '98； were
were〃coughed the captain； dropping into conversation again〃were
the biggest thing out。 You have only to signify the day； sir； that
you will address us； and I can promise you the largest audience in
San Francisco。〃
〃I'm instructed by the proprietor of the 'Union Press；'〃 said Mr。
Slate； feeling for his notebook and pencil； 〃to offer you its
columns for any explanations you may desire to make in the form of
a personal letter or an editorial in reply to the 'Advertiser's'
strictures on your speech； or to take any information you may have
for the benefit of our readers and the party。〃
〃If you are ever down my way； Mr。 Hathaway；〃 said Mr。 Hoskins；
placing a large business card in Hathaway's hand； 〃and will drop in
as a friend； I can show you about the largest business in the way
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 bre