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The man in the overcoat struck the table before him with his fist so
that the glasses rang。
〃By God；〃 he laughed； 〃I call him a better speaker than Stanton！
Livingstone's right； he IS better than Stantonbut he lacks Stanton's knack
of making himself popular；〃 he added。 He looked around the table
inviting approbation with a smile； but no one noticed him； nor spoke to
break the silence。
Arkwright heard the words dully and felt that he was being mocked。
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He covered his face with his hands and stood breathing brokenly； his body
was still trembling with an excitement he could not master。
Stanton rose from his chair and shook him by the shoulder。 〃Are you
mad； Arkwright？〃 he cried。 〃You have no right to insult my guests or me。
Be calmcontrol yourself。〃
〃What does it matter what I say？〃 Arkwright went on desperately。 〃I
am mad。 Yes； that is it； I am mad。 They have won and I have lost； and
it drove me beside myself。 I counted on you。 I knew that no one else
could let my people go。 But I'll not trouble you again。 I wish you
good…night； sir； and good…bye。 If I have been unjust； you must forget it。〃
He turned sharply； but Stanton placed a detaining hand on his shoulder。
〃Wait；〃 he commanded querulously； 〃where are you going？ Will you；
still？〃
Arkwright bowed his head。 〃Yes；〃 he answered。 〃I have but just
time now to catch our trainmy train； I mean。〃
He looked up at Stanton and taking his hand in both of his； drew the
man toward him。 All the wildness and intolerance in his manner had
passed； and as he raised his eyes they were full of a firm resolve。
〃Come；〃 he said simply； 〃there is yet time。 Leave these people
behind you。 What can you answer when they ask what have you done
with your talents？〃
〃Good God； Arkwright；〃 the senator exclaimed angrily； pulling his
hand away； 〃don't talk like a hymn…book； and don't make another scene。
What you ask is impossible。 Tell me what I can do to help you in any
other way； and〃
〃Come；〃 repeated the young man firmly。
〃The world may judge you by what you do to…night。〃
Stanton looked at the boy for a brief moment with a strained and eager
scrutiny； and then turned away abruptly and shook his head in silence； and
Arkwright passed around the table and on out of the room。
A month later； as the Southern senator was passing through the
reading…room of the Union Club； Livingstone beckoned to him； and
handing him an afternoon paper pointed at a paragraph in silence。
The paragraph was dated Sagua la Grande； and read：
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〃The body of Henry Arkwright； an American civil engineer； was
brought into Sagua to…day by a Spanish column。 It was found lying in a
road three miles beyond the line of forts。 Arkwright was surprised by a
guerilla force while attempting to make his way to the insurgent camp； and
on resisting was shot。 The body has been handed over to the American
consul for interment。 It is badly mutilated。〃
Stanton lowered the paper and stood staring out of the window at the
falling snow and the cheery lights and bustling energy of the avenue。
〃Poor fellow；〃 he said； 〃he wanted so much to help them。 And he
didn't accomplish anything； did he？〃
Livingstone stared at the older man and laughed shortly。
〃Well； I don't know；〃 he said。 〃He died。 Some of us only live。〃
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THE VAGRANT
His Excellency Sir Charles Greville； K。 C M。 G。； Governor of the
Windless Islands； stood upon the veranda of Government House surveying
the new day with critical and searching eyes。 Sir Charles had been so
long absolute monarch of the Windless Isles that he had assumed
unconsciously a mental attitude of suzerainty over even the glittering
waters of the Caribbean Sea； and the coral reefs under the waters； and the
rainbow skies that floated above them。 But on this particular morning
not even the critical eye of the Governor could distinguish a single flaw in
the tropical landscape before him。
The lawn at his feet ran down to meet the dazzling waters of the bay；
the blue waters of the bay ran to meet a great stretch of absinthe green； the
green joined a fairy sky of pink and gold and saffron。 Islands of coral
floated on the sea of absinthe； and derelict clouds of mother…of…pearl
swung low above them； starting from nowhere and going nowhere； but
drifting beautifully； like giant soap…bubbles of light and color。 Where the
lawn touched the waters of the bay the cocoanut…palms reached their
crooked lengths far up into the sunshine； and as the sea… breeze stirred
their fronds they filled the hot air with whispers and murmurs like the
fluttering of many fans。 Nature smiled boldly upon the Governor；
confident in her bountiful beauty； as though she said； 〃Surely you cannot
but be pleased with me to… day。〃 And； as though in answer； the critical
and searching glance of Sir Charles relaxed。
The crunching of the gravel and the rattle of the sentry's musket at
salute recalled him to his high office and to the duties of the morning。
He waved his hand； and； as though it were a wand； the sentry moved again；
making his way to the kitchen…garden； and so around Government House
and back to the lawn…tennis court； maintaining in his solitary pilgrimage
the dignity of her Majesty's representative； as well as her Majesty's power
over the Windless Isles。
The Governor smiled slightly； with the ease of mind of one who finds
all things good。 Supreme authority； surroundings of endless beauty； the
respectful； even humble； deference of his inferiors； and never even an
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