it, and always
would have laughed louder and longer than he did but for wondering how
they made it. A great many things he said made others laugh, too, but he
could never tell beforehand what would or wouldn't. He got so full of
happiness at times that Fannie would go out for a few moments to let him
come back to his ordinary self.

Two or three times, when she lingered long outside the door, she
explained on her return that Mr. Ravenel had come to ask how he was.

Once Halliday met this visitor in the Ladies' Entrance, departing, and
with a suppressed smile, asked, "Been to see how 'poor Johnnie' is?"

"Ostensibly," said the young man, and offered a cigar.

The General overtook Fannie in the hallway. He shook his head roguishly.
"Cruel sport, Fan. He'll make the even dozen, won't he?"

"Oh, no, he'd like to make me his even two dozen, that's all."

When the day came for the convalescent to go home, he was not glad,
although he had laughed much that morning. As he lay on the bed dressed
and waiting, he was unusually pale. Only Fannie stood by him. Her hand
was in both his. He shut his eyes, and in a desperate, earnest voice
said, under his breath, "Good-by!" And again, lower still,--"Good-by!"

"Good-by, Johnnie."

He looked up into her laughing eyes. His color came hot, his heart
pounded, and he gasped, "S-say m-my John! Won't you?"

"Why, certainly. Good-by, my Johnnie." She smiled yet more.

"Will--will"--he choked--"will you b-be my--k--Fannie--when I g-get old
enough?"

"Yes," she said, with great show of gravity, "if you'll not tell
anybody." She held him down by gently stroking his brow. "And you must
promise to grow up such a perfect gentleman that I'll be proud of my
Johnnie when"--She smiled broadly again.

--"Wh-when--k--the time comes?"

"I reckon so--yes."

He sprang to his knees and cast his arms about her neck, but she was too
quick, and his kiss was lost in air. He flashed a resentful surprise,
but she shook her head, holding his wasted wrists, and said, "N-no, no,
my Johnnie, not even you; not Fannie Halliday, o-oh no!" She laughed.

"Some one's coming!" she whispered. It was Judge March. His adieus were
very grateful. He called her a blessing.

She waved a last good-by to John from the window. Then she went to her
own room, threw arms and face into a cushioned seat and moaned, so
softly her own ear could not catch it--a name that was not John's.

XIV.

A MORTGAGE ON JOHN