Ravenel, near the _Courier_ office, stopped at the beckon of Lazarus Graves and Charlie Champion. John was with them, laboring under the impression that they were with him. They wanted to consult Ravenel about the miscreant, and the "steps proper to be taken against him."
"When found," suggested Ravenel, and they pleasantly a.s.sented.
"Oh, yes," he said again, as the four presently moved out of the hot sun, "but if the color line hadn"t been crossed already there wouldn"t be any Leggett."
"But he threatens to cross it from the wrong side," replied John, posing st.u.r.dily.
Ravenel"s smile broadened. "Most any man, Mr. March, could be enticed across."
The mouth of the enticer opened, but his tongue failed.
"A coat of tah and feathers will show him he mustn"t even be enticed across," rejoined Lazarus.
Ravenel said something humorous about the new Dixie and a peace policy, and John"s face began to show misgivings; but Captain Champion explained that the affair would be strictly select--best citizens--no liquor--no brawl--no life-taking, unless violent resistance compelled it; in fact, no individual act; but----
"Yes, I know," said Ravenel, "you mean one of those irresistable eruptions of a whole people"s righteous indignation, that sweeps before it the whining hyper-criticisms of effeminated civilizations," and the smile went round.
"Gentlemen, there"s an easier way to get rid of Cornelius; one, Captain, that won"t hurt more by the recoil than by the discharge."
They were all silent. John folded his arms. Presently Graves said, meditatively,
"We don"t care to hang him, just at----"
"This juncture," said Ravenel; "no, better give him ten years in the penitentiary--for bigamy."
Sunshine broke on Mr. Graves"s face, and he murmured, "Go "way!"
Champion, too, was radiant. "Hu-u-ush!" he said, "who"ll get us the evidence?"
"Old Uncle Leviticus."
The more questions they asked the more pleased with the plan were John"s two companions. "Why didn"t you think of that?" asked each of the other in mock contempt. The youth felt his growing insignificance reach completeness as Ravenel said,
"In that case you"ll not need Mr. March any longer."
"No, of course not," said John, quickly. "I was"--he forced a cough.
The other two waved good-by, and he turned to go with them, but was stopped.
"Don"t you want to see me about something else, Mr. March?" said Ravenel, to detain him.
"No, sir," replied John, innocently. "Oh, no, I was----"
There came between them, homeward bound, an open parasol, a mist of muslin as sweet as a blossoming tree, a bow to Mr. Ravenel, and then a kinder one to John.
"Go," said Ravenel, softly. "Didn"t you see? She wants you."
John overtook the dainty figure, lifted his military cap, and slackened his pace.
"Miss Fannie?" he caught step with her.
"Oh!--why good morning." She was delightfully cordial.
"Did you want to see me?" he asked. "Mr. Ravenel thought you did."
Fannie raised her brows and laughed.
"Why, really, Mr. Ravenel oughtn"t to carry his thinking to such an excess. Still, I"m not sorry for the mistake--unless you are." She glanced at him archly. "Come on," she softly added, "I do want to see you."
XX.
FANNIE SUGGESTS
"Don"t look so gruesome." She laughed.
John walked stiffly, frowned, and tried to twist the down on his upper lip. When only fenced and gardened dwellings were about them she spoke again.
"John, I"m unhappy."
"You, Miss Fannie?"
"Yes. As I pa.s.sed you, you were standing right where you fell five years ago. For three days I"ve been thinking how deep in debt to you I"ve been ever since, and--how I"ve disappointed you."
The youth made no answer. He felt as if he would give ten years of his life to kneel at her feet with his face in her hands and whisper, "Pay me a little love." She laid her arm on her cottage gate, turned her face away, and added,
"And now you"re disappointing me."
"I"ve got a right to know how, Miss Fannie, haven"t I?"
Fannie"s averted face sank lower. Suddenly she looked fondly up to him and nodded. "Come, sit on the steps a minute"--she smiled--"and I"ll pick you a rose."
She skipped away. As she was returning her father came out.
"Why, howdy, Johnnie--Fan, I reckon I"ll go to the office."
"You promised me you wouldn"t!"
"Well, I"m better since I took some quinine. How"s y" father, Johnnie?"
"Sir? Oh, she"s not very well. She craves acids, and--Oh!--Father? he"s very--I ain"t seen him in a right smart while, sir. He"s been sort o"
puny for----"
"Sorry," said the General, and was gone.