become fair。 Then； indeed； he departed； after taking
leave of the Pathfinder； in the manner of one who believed
he was in company of a distinguished character for the
last time。 The two separated like those who respect one
another； while each felt that the other was all enigma to
himself。
CHAPTER XXIX。
Playful she turn'd that he might see
The passing smile her cheek put on；
But when she marked how mournfully
His eyes met hers； that smile was gone。
_Lalla Rookh。_
The occurrences of the last few days had been too ex…
citing； and had made too many demands on the fortitude
of our heroine； to leave her in the helplessness of grief。
She mourned for her father； and she occasionally shud…
dered as she recalled the sudden death of Jennie； and all
the horrible scenes she had witnessed； but on the whole
she had aroused herself； and was no longer in the deep
depression which usually accompanies grief。 Perhaps the
overwhelming； almost stupefying sorrow that crushed poor
June； and left her for nearly twenty…four hours in a state
of stupor； assisted Mabel in conquering her own feelings；
for she had felt called on to administer consolation to the
young Indian woman。 This she had done in the quiet；
soothing； insinuating way in which her sex usually exerts
its influence on such occasions。
The morning of the third day was set for that on which
the _Scud_ was to sail。 Jasper had made all his prepara…
tions； the different effects were embarked； and Mabel had
taken leave of June； a painful and affectionate parting。 In
a word； all was ready； and every soul had left the island
but the Indian woman； Pathfinder； Jasper； and our hero…
ine。 The former had gone into a thicket to weep； and the
three last were approaching the spot where three canoes
lay； one of which was the property of June； and the other
two were in waiting to carry the others off to the _Scud_。
Pathfinder led the way； but； when he drew near the shore；
instead of taking the direction to the boats； he motioned
to his companions to follow； and proceeded to a fallen tree
which lay on the margin of the glade and out of view of
those in the cutter。 Seating himself on the trunk； he
signed to Mabel to take her place on one side of him and
to Jasper to occupy the other。
〃Sit down here Mabel； sit down there； Eau…douce；〃 he
commenced； as soon as he had taken his own seat。 〃I've
something that lies heavy on my mind； and now is the
time to take it off； if it's ever to be done。 Sit down； Mabel；
and let me lighten my heart； if not my conscience； while
I've the strength to do it。〃
The pause that succeeded lasted two or three minutes； and
both the young people wondered what was to come next；
the idea that Pathfinder could have any weight on his con…
science seeming equally improbable to each。
〃Mabel；〃 our hero at length resumed； 〃we must talk
plainly to each other afore we join your uncle in the cut…
ter； where the Saltwater has slept every night since the
last rally； for he says it's the only place in which a man
can be sure of keeping the hair on his head； he does。 Ah's
me！ what have I to do with these follies and sayings now？
I try to be pleasant； and to feel light…hearted； but the power
of man can't make water run up stream。 Mabel； you know
that the Sergeant； afore he left us； had settled it 'atween
us two that we were to become man and wife； and that we
were to live together and to love one another as long as
the Lord was pleased to keep us both on 'arth； yes； and
afterwards too？〃
Mabel's cheeks had regained a little of their ancient
bloom in the fresh air of the morning； but at this un…
looked…for address they blanched again； nearly to the pal…
lid hue which grief had imprinted there。 Still； she looked
kindly； though seriously； at Pathfinder and even endeav…
ored to force a smile。
〃Very true； my excellent friend；〃 she answered； 〃this
was my poor father's wish； and I feel certain that a whole
life devoted to your welfare and comforts could scarcely
repay you for all you have done for us。〃
〃I fear me； Mabel； that man and wife needs be bound
together by a stronger tie than such feelings； I do。 You
have done nothing for me； or nothing of any account； and
yet my very heart yearns towards you； it does； and there…
fore it seems likely that these feelings come from some…
thing besides saving scalps and guiding through woods。〃
Mabel's cheek had begun to glow again； and though she
struggled hard to smile； her voice trembled a little as she
answered。
〃Had we not better postpone this conversation； Path…
finder？〃 she said； 〃we are not alone； and nothing is so
unpleasant to a listener； they say； as family matters in
which he feels no interest。〃
〃It's because we are not alone； Mabel； or rather because
Jasper is with us； that I wish to talk of this matter。 The
Sergeant believed I might make a suitable companion for
you； and； though I had misgivings about it； yes； I had
many misgivings； he finally persuaded me into the idee；
and things came round 'atween us； as you know。 But；
when you promised your father to marry me； Mabel； and
gave me your hand so modestly； but so prettily； there was
one circumstance； as your uncle called it； that you didn't
know； and I've thought it right to tell you what it is；
before matters are finally settled。 I've often taken a poor
deer for my dinner when good venison was not to be
found； but it's as nat'ral not to take up with the worst
when the best may be had。〃
〃You speak in a way； Pathfinder； that is difficult to be
understood。 If this conversation is really necessary； I
trust you will be more plain。〃
〃Well then； Mabel； I've been thinking it was quite
likely； when you gave in to the Sergeant's wishes； that you
did not know the natur' of Jasper Western's feelings
towards you？〃
〃Pathfinder！〃 and Mabel's cheek now paled to the livid
hue of death； then it flushed to the tint of crimson； and
her whole frame shuddered。 Pathfinder； however； was too
intent on his own object to notice this agitation； and Eau…
douce had hidden his face in his hands in time to shut out
its view。
〃I've been talking with the lad； and； on comparing his
dreams with my dreams； his feelings with my feelings； and
his wishes with my wishes； I fear we think too much alike
consarning you for both of us to be very happy。〃
〃Pathfinder； you forget； you should remember that we
are betrothed！〃 said Mabel hastily； and in a voice so low
that it required acute attention in the listeners to catch
the syllables。 Indeed the last word was not quite intel…
ligible to the guide； and he confessed his ignorance by the
usual；
〃Anan？〃
〃You forget that we are to be married； and such allu…
sions are improper as well as painful。〃
〃Everything is proper that is right； Mabel； and every…
thing is right that leads to justice and fair dealing； though
it _is painful_ enough； as you say； as I find on trial； I do。
Now； Mabel； had you known that Eau…douce thinks of you
in this way； maybe you never would have consented to be
married to one as old and as uncomely as I am。〃
〃Why this cruel trial； Pathfinder？ To what can all this
lead？ Jasper Western thinks no such thing： he says
nothing he feels nothing。〃
〃Mabel！〃 burst from out of the young man's lips； in a
way to betray the uncontrollable nature of his emotions；
though he uttered not another syllable。
Mabel buried her face in both her hands； and the two
sat like a pair of guilty beings； suddenly detected in the
commission of some crime which involved the happiness
of a common patron。 At that instant； perhaps； Jasper
himself was inclined to deny his passion； through an ex…
treme unwillingness to grieve his friend； while Mabel； on
whom this positive announcement of a fact that she had
rather unconsciously hoped than believed； came so unex…
pectedly； felt her mind momentarily bewildered； and she
scarcely knew whether to weep or to rejoice。 Still she was
the first to speak； since Eau…douce could utter naught that
would be disingenuous； or that would pain his friend。
〃Pathfinder；〃 said she； 〃you talk wildly。 Why mention
this at all？〃
〃Well； Mabel； if I talk wildly； I _am_ half wild； you know；
by natur'； I fear； as well as by habit。〃 As he said this； he
endeavored to laugh in his usual noiseless way； but the
effect produced a strange and discordant sound； and it
appeared nearly to choke him。 〃Yes； I _must_ be wild； I'll
not attempt to deny it。〃
〃Dearest Pathfinder！ my best； almost my only friend！
you _cannot； do not_ think I intended to say that！〃 inter…
rupted Mabel； almost breathless in her haste to relieve his
mortification。 〃If courage； truth； nobleness of soul and
conduct； unyielding principles； and a hundred other excel…
lent qualities can render any man respectable； esteemed；
or beloved； your claims are inferior to those of no other
human being。〃
〃What tender and bewitching voices they have； Jasper！〃
resumed the guide； now laughing freely and naturally。
〃Yes； natur' seems to have made them on purpose to sing
in our ears； when the music of the woods is silent。 But
we must come to a right understanding； we must。 I ask
you again； Mabel； if you had