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excursion steamers ran past her out of the mist and disappeared；
saluting joyously。 All of the excursion steamers had a heavy
list to the side nearest the transport； and the ghosts on them
crowded to that rail and waved handkerchiefs and cheered。 The
fog lifted suddenly； and between the iron rails the
Lieutenant saw high green hills on either side of a great harbor。
Houses and trees and thousands of masts swept past like a
panorama； and beyond was a mirage of three cities； with curling
smoke…wreaths and sky…reaching buildings； and a great swinging
bridge； and a giant statue of a woman waving a welcome home。
The Lieutenant surveyed the spectacle with cynical disbelief。 He
was far too wise and far too cunning to be bewitched by it。 In
his heart he pitied the men about him； who laughed wildly； and
shouted； and climbed recklessly to the rails and ratlines。 He
had been deceived too often not to know that it was not real。 He
knew from cruel experience that in a few moments the tall
buildings would crumble away； the thousands of columns of white
smoke that flashed like snow in the sun； the busy； shrieking tug…
boats； and the great statue would vanish into the sea； leaving it
gray and bare。 He closed his eyes and shut the vision out。 It
was so beautiful that it tempted him； but he would not be mocked；
and he buried his face in his hands。 They were carrying the
farce too far； he thought。 It was really too absurd； for now
they were at a wharf which was so real that； had he not known by
previous suffering； he would have been utterly deceived by it。
And there were great crowds of smiling； cheering people； and a
waiting guard of honor in fresh uniforms； and rows of police
pushing the people this way and that； and these men about him
were taking it all quite seriously； and making ready to
disembark； carrying their blanket…rolls and rifles with them。
A band was playing joyously； and the man in the next cot； who was
being lifted to a stretcher； said； 〃There's the Governor and his
staff； that's him in the high hat。〃 It was really very well
done。 The Custom…house and the Elevated Railroad and Castle
Garden were as like to life as a photograph； and the crowd was as
well handled as a mob in a play。 His heart ached for it so that
he could not bear the pain； and he turned his back on it。 It was
cruel to keep it up so long。 His keeper lifted him in his arms；
and pulled him into a dirty uniform which had belonged；
apparently； to a much larger mana man who had been killed
probably； for there were dark…brown marks of blood on the
tunic and breeches。 When he tried to stand on his feet； Castle
Garden and the Battery disappeared in a black cloud of night；
just as he knew they would； but when he opened his eyes from the
stretcher； they had returned again。 It was a most remarkably
vivid vision。 They kept it up so well。 Now the young Doctor and
the hospital steward were pretending to carry him down a gang…
plank and into an open space； and he saw quite close to him a
long line of policemen； and behind them thousands of faces； some
of them women's faceswomen who pointed at him and then shook
their heads and cried； and pressed their hands to their cheeks；
still looking at him。 He wondered why they cried。 He did not
know them； nor did they know him。 No one knew him； these people
were only ghosts。
There was a quick parting in the crowd。 A man he had once known
shoved two of the policemen to one side； and he heard a girl's
voice speaking his name； like a sob； and She came running out
across the open space and fell on her knees beside the
stretcher； and bent down over him； and he was clasped in two
young； firm arms。
〃Of course it is not real； of course it is not She；〃 he assured
himself。 〃Because She would not do such a thing。 Before all
these people She would not do it。〃
But he trembled and his heart throbbed so cruelly that he could
not bear the pain。
She was pretending to cry。
〃They wired us you had started for Tampa on the hospital ship；〃
She was saying； 〃and Aunt and I went all the way there before we
heard you had been sent North。 We have been on the cars a week。
That is why I missed you。 Do you understand？ It was not my
fault。 I tried to come。 Indeed； I tried to come。〃
She turned her head and looked up fearfully at the young Doctor。
〃Tell me； why does he look at me like that？〃 she asked。 〃He
doesn't know me。 Is he very ill？ Tell me the truth。〃 She drew
in her breath quickly。 〃Of course you will tell me the truth。〃
When she asked the question he felt her arms draw tight about his
shoulders。 It was as though she was holding him to herself；
and from some one who had reached out for him。 In his trouble he
turned to his old friend and keeper。 His voice was hoarse and
very low。
〃Is this the same young lady who was on the transportthe one
you used to drive away？〃
In his embarrassment； the hospital steward blushed under his tan；
and stammered。
〃Of course it's the same young lady；〃 the Doctor answered
briskly。 〃And I won't let them drive her away。〃 He turned to
her； smiling gravely。 〃I think his condition has ceased to be
dangerous； madam；〃 he said。
People who in a former existence had been his friends； and Her
brother； gathered about his stretcher and bore him through the
crowd and lifted him into a carriage filled with cushions； among
which he sank lower and lower。 Then She sat beside him； and he
heard Her brother say to the coachman； 〃Home； and drive slowly
and keep on the asphalt。〃
The carriage moved forward； and She put her arm about him and his
head fell on her shoulder； and neither of them spoke。 The
vision had lasted so long now that he was torn with the joy that
after all it might be real。 But he could not bear the awakening
if it were not； so he raised his head fearfully and looked up
into the beautiful eyes above him。 His brows were knit； and he
struggled with a great doubt and an awful joy。
〃Dearest；〃 he said； 〃is it real？〃
〃Is it real？〃 she repeated。
Even as a dream； it was so wonderfully beautiful that he was
satisfied if it could only continue so； if but for a little
while。
〃Do you think；〃 he begged again； trembling； 〃that it is going to
last much longer？〃
She smiled； and； bending her head slowly； kissed him。
〃It is going to lastalways；〃 she said。
THE MAN WITH ONE TALENT
The mass…meeting in the Madison Square Garden which was to help
set Cuba free was finished； and the people were pushing their way
out of the overheated building into the snow and sleet of the
streets。 They had been greatly stirred and the spell of the last
speaker still hung so heavily upon them that as they pressed down
the long corridor they were still speaking loudly in his praise。
A young man moved eagerly amongst them； and pushed his way to
wherever a voice was raised above the rest。 He strained forward；
listening openly； as though he tried to judge the effect of the
meeting by the verdict of those about him。
But the words he overheard seemed to clash with what he wished
them to be； and the eager look on his face changed to one of
doubt and of grave disappoint