m.
"I--I guess I know why I bought this now," she said softly. Quickly
unpinning it, she extended it to the man. "I was bringing it to you,
wasn't I?" she laughed. "It's a 'President' rose."

The picture was one that would have rejoiced an artist: the simple
girl, with her tumbled hair and wonderful face, standing there in the
glorious sunlight, holding out a single rose to the chief executive of
a great nation.

The President bowed low and took the proffered flower. "I thank you,"
he said. "It is beautiful. But the one who gives it is far more so."

Then he bade his companion take the two horses to the stable, and
motioned to Carmen to accompany him.

"I was just returning from my morning ride," he began again, "when you
happened--"

"Things _never_ happen," interrupted the girl gently.

He looked at her with a little quizzical side glance. "Then you didn't
happen to be in the way?" he said, smiling.

"No," she returned gravely. "I was obeying the law of cause and
effect."

"And the cause?" he pursued, much interested.

"A desire to see you, I guess. Or, perhaps, the _necessity_ of seeing
you. And because I wanted to see you in the interests of good, why,
evil seemed to try to run over me."

"But why should you wish to see me?" he continued, greatly wondering.

"Because you are the head of a wonderful nation. Your influence is
very great. And you are a good man."

He studied her for a moment. Then:

"You came down from New York to talk with me?" he asked.

"I think I came all the way from South America to see you," she said.

"South America!"

"Yes, Colombia."

"Colombia! There is a revolution in progress down there now. Did you
come to see me about that? I can do nothing--"

The girl shook her head. "No," she said, "it's to prevent a revolution
here in your own country that I think I have come to see you."

They had by now reached the door of the Executive Mansion. Entering,
the President summoned a maid, and turned the big-eyed girl over to
her. "Bring her to my office," he directed, "when she is ready."

A little later the nameless girl from Simiti again stood before the
President of the United States.

"I have an important conference at ten," he said, glancing at a clock.
"But we have a few minutes before that time. Will you--may I ask you
to tell me something about yourself?" he ventured. "You are feeling
all right? No bad effects from the accident?" he added, looking
apprehensively at