The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1901-12-15


l ct would be shame" l answered dreamily,
~ gazing at the plat the North Beach water
front where TO LET signs had caught my eye
and three totterng walls marked former home;
English holly tree, dark, gllstening and prcy, over
Swallowed the weeds
Yes" 1 repeated with an unaccountable SILVER ct
would be a shame-the first English holly tree have
growing in San Francisco"
Shame" she cried petulantly, 'it would be crime.
Why, planted it myself one Christmas long ago..
I turned to look at her; an exceedingly gray little
body; gray alpaca dress and shawl; as
to bonnet and hair gray to the facethat strange
face with dual expression of two souls looking from
She nodded her head eyes, I buried myself be-
meath it."
ooh" cried cheerfuy, "are you somebody's ghost?"
And she made answer sharply, How can 1 be any
body's ghost but my own"
Then l spoke softly. Tell me your story and will
She edged away and scanned doubtfully. "Would
that help to save my holly tree!
"Of course it would; the papers do anything.
She hestated, glanced nervousy around, then with
z quaver in her voice: well, it's bargain. and
pose had better begin at once. Fifty years ago"
"O-o-o-o-o-o--h only hy!
Fifty years is good age in young country" she
Fifty years ago I gave up good home to after
= mans shadow: girls were romantic fools in those
days and wasn't going to turn my back on the boy
who got into trouble my account
What had he done?
Forgery. Signed my own fathers name which
the awkward part Of il. Father would not prosecute
off to California with strict orders never to show his
face in Boston again. and was told not to think OF
him OF this set thinking of him every day
OF nv life When he went away he had promise
and he knew l would keep it.
But Jacob and Rachels love affair was nothing to
ours: posts from California were few l was closely
watched and I heard word. Yet waited and
believed and when my twenyrs birthday came at last
and I realized the little sum left by my mother
made my preparations CHANGED letter telling what
ship I coming by qEarreled with father though
loved each other dearly and started off to face hard
ships with Ned Dear old Ned, who had been my slave
from the days when he stole cherries for and got
whipped for his pains those latter days when he stole
gold, hoping make enough money to win me! Let
ter no letter his instinct would bring him down to
the wharf license and ring in his pocket, the hour
touched California.
Neds instinct did nothing of the kind How my
heart beat that morning when we passed through the
Golden Gate and / noted the watchers up by the sta
ton on Telegraph Hill. There to
welcome the Flying Fish, which had made her record
trip of ninetyeght DAYS and Ned sure to be among
them But alas! on reaching the wharf saw familiar
face among the polyglot crowd. Hour after hour
waited till last, despair, sailed forth to seek
lodgings It dull day, the harbor looked muddy.
the quays were sushy hotels and boardng-h houses
seemed alike uninviting-a romance had vanished with
Ned's disappearance; II miserable position for
inexperienced girl I picking my way down a
tawdry hnery jostled and laughed coarsely Look
alive joe" she said laying a red hand the greasy
of the ahead OF her; stir your stumps and
make room for the quality.
shrank away, while the turned round stupidity:
our eyes met recOied with cry; he stared. while
gray tint crept his face flushed with drink Then
he caught the womans arm and disappeared