more
soberly--She heard wheels. A quarter of a mile away they rumbled on a
small bridge and were unheard again, and while she still listened to
hear them on the ground others sounded on the bridge. She hurried back
to the steps of the house and had hardly reached them when Johanna drove
into the grove and Fannie's voice called,

"Is that you, Barb?"

"Yes. Where's pop-a? Has anything happened?"

"He's got to stay in town to-night. Barb," said the visitor, springing
to the ground, "Mr. Fair's just behind. He's only come so's to take me
back to my baby."

"Fannie, something's happened!"

"Yes, Barb, dear, come into the house."

About midnight--"Doctor, her head hasn't stopped that motion since it
touched the pillow," murmured Fannie. Fair had gone back and brought the
physician. But the patient was soon drugged to slumber, and Fannie and
Fair started for town to return early in the morning. The doctor and
Johanna watched out the night. At dawn Fair rose from a sleepless couch.

At sunrise he could hear no sound through March's door; but as he left
the hotel he saw Leggett come up from the train, tap at Garnet's door
and go in.

Barbara awoke in a still bliss of brain, yet wholly aware of what had
befallen.

"Johanna"--the maid showed herself--"has Miss Fannie gone home?"

"Yass'm. But she comin' back. She be here ve'y soon now, I reckon."

Barbara accepted a small cup of very black coffee. When it was drunk,
"Johanna," she said, with slow voice and gentle gaze, "were you in the
hotel?"

"Yass'm," murmured the maid. "I uz in Mr. March's room. He uz talkin'
wid Mr. Fair, an' knock' his suppeh by acci_dent_ onto de flo',
an'"--she withdrew into herself, consulted her conscience and returned.
"Miss Barb----"

"What, Johanna?"

Johanna told.

* * * * *

Long after she was done her mistress lay perfectly still gazing into
vacancy. But the moment Fannie was alone with her she dragged the kind
visitor's neck down to her lips and with unaccountable blushes mingled
her tears with bitter moanings.

By and by--"And Fannie, dear, _make_ them stay to breakfast. And thank
Mr. Fair for me, as sweetly as you can. I don't know how I can ever
repay him!"

"Don't you?" dryly ventured Fannie; but her friend's smile was so sad
that she went no farther. Tears sprang to her eyes, as Barbara, slowly
taking her hand, said,

"Of course pop-a can't keep Rosemont now. If he tries to begin a n