ostentatiously forgetful of his old Alma Mater, Harvard, on
occasions.

"How would YERBA BUENA do, sir?" responded the youth gravely.
"It's the old Spanish title of the first settlement here. It comes
from the name that Father Junipero Serra gave to the pretty little
vine that grows wild over the sandhills, and means 'good herb.' He
called it 'A balm for the wounded and sore.'"

"For the wounded and sore?" repeated the woman slowly.

"That's what they say," responded Hathaway.

"You ain't playing us, eh?" she said, with a half laugh that,
however, scarcely curved the open mouth with which she had been
regarding the young secretary.

"No," said the Mayor, hurriedly. "It's true. I've often heard it.
And a capital name it would be for her too. YERBA the first name.
BUENA the second. She could be called Miss Buena when she grows
up."

"Yerba Buena it is," she said suddenly. Then, indicating the youth
with a slight toss of her handsome head, "His head's level--you can
see that."

There was a silence again, and the scratching of the Mayor's pen
continued. Colonel Pendleton buttoned up his coat, pulled his long
moustache into shape, slightly arranged his collar, and walked to
the window without looking at the woman. Presently the Mayor arose