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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：
〃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。〃
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 occasional visit from a superior；
had in four years lowered him into a bed of ease and self…
satisfaction。 He was cut off from the world； and yet of it。
Each month there came； via Jamaica； the three weeks' old copy
of The Weekly Times； he subscribed to Mudie's Colonial Library；
and from the States he had imported an American lawn…mower； the
mechanism of which no one as yet understood。 Within his own
borders he had created a healthy； orderly seaport out of what had
been a sink of fever and a refuge for all the ne'er…do…wells and
fugitive revolutionists of Central America。
He knew； as he sat each evening on his veranda； looking across
the bay； that in the world beyond the pink and gold sunset men
were still panting； struggling； and starving； crises were rising
and passing； strikes and panics； wars and the rumors of
wars； swept from continent to continent； a plague crept through
India； a filibuster with five hundred men at his back crossed an
imaginary line and stirred the world from Cape Town to London；
Emperors were crowned； the good Queen celebrated the longest
reign； and a captain of artillery imprisoned in a swampy island
in the South Atlantic caused two hemispheres to clamor for his
rescue； and lit a race war that stretched from Algiers to the
boulevards。
And yet； at the Windless Isles； all these happenings seemed to
Sir Charles like the morning's memory of a dream。 For these
things never crossed the ring of the coral reefs； he saw them
only as pictures in an illustrated paper a month old。 And he was
pleased to find that this was so。 He was sufficient to himself；
with his own responsibilities and social duties and public works。
He was a man in authority； who said to others； 〃Come！〃 and 〃Go！〃
Under him were commissioners； and under the commissioners
district inspectors and boards of education and of highways。 For
the better health of the colony he had planted trees that
sucked the malaria from the air； for its better morals he had
substituted as a Sunday amusement cricket…matches for cock…
fights； and to keep it at peace he had created a local
constabulary of native negroes； and had dressed them in the cast…
off uniforms of London policemen。 His handiwork was everywhere；
and his interest was all sunk in his handiwork。 The days passed
gorgeous with sunshine； the nights breathed with beauty。 It was
an existence of leisurely occupation； and one that promised no
change； and he was content。
As it was Thursday； the Council met that morning； and some
questions of moment to the colony were to be brought up for
consideration。 The question of the dog…tax was one which
perplexed Sir Charles most parti