open
beyond, and stopped, hat in hand--speechless. His quest was ended.

Not ten steps away stood two lovers who had just said that fearfully
sweet "mine" and "thine" that keeps the world a-turning. Ravenel's right
arm was curved over Fannie's shoulder and about her waist. His left hand
smoothed the hair from her uplifted brow, and his kiss was just lighting
upon it.

The blood leaped to his face, but the next instant he sunk his free hand
into his pocket and smiled. John's face was half-anger, half-anguish.

"Pleasant evening," said Ravenel.

"For you, sir." John bowed austerely. "I will not mar it. My business
can wait." He gave Fannie a grief-stricken look and was hurrying off.

"John March," cried Ravenel, in a voice breaking with laughter, "come
right back here, sir." But the youth only threw up an arm in tragic
disdain and kept on.

"John," called a gentler voice, and he turned. "Don't leave us so," said
Fannie. "You'll make me unhappy if you do." She had drawn away from her
lover's arm. She put out a hand.

"Come, tell me I haven't lost my best friend."

John ran to her, caught her hand in both his and covered it with kisses,
Ravenel stood smiling and breaking a twig slowly into bits.

"There, there, that's extravagant," said Fannie; but she let the youth
keep her hand while he looked into her eyes and smiled fondly through
his distress. Then she withdrew it, saying:

"There's Mr. Ravenel's hand, hold it. If I didn't know how men hate to
be put through forms, I'd insist on your taking it."

"I reckon John thinks we haven't been quite candid," said Ravenel.

"I'm not sure we have," responded Fannie. "And yet I do think we've been
real friends. You know John"--she smiled at her hardihood--"this is the
only way it could ever be, don't you?" But John turned half away and
shook his head bitterly. She spoke again. "Look at me, John." But
plainly he could not.

"Are you going to throw us overboard?" she asked. There was a silence;
and then--"You mustn't; not even if you feel like it. Don't you know we
hadn't ever ought to consult our feelings till we've consulted
everything else?"

John looked up with a start, and Fannie, by a grimace, bade him give his
hand to his rival. He turned sharply and offered it. Ravenel took it
with an air of drollery and John spoke low, Fannie loitering a step
aside.

"I offer you my hand with this warning--I love her. I'm going on to love
her after she's yours by law. I'l