we must come to a right understanding； we must。 I ask
you again； Mabel； if you had known that Jasper Western
loves you as well as I do； or better perhaps； though that is
scarcely possible； that in his dreams he sees your face in
the water of the lake； that he talks to you； and of you； in
his sleep； fancies all that is beautiful like Mabel Dunham；
and all that is good and virtuous； believes he never knowed
happiness until he knowed you； could kiss the ground on
which you have trod； and forgets all the joys of his call…
ing to think of you and the delight of gazing at your
beauty and in listening to your voice； would you then have
consented to marry me？〃
Mabel could not have answered this question if she
would； but； though her face was buried in her hands； the
tint of the rushing blood was visible between the open…
ings； and the suffusion seemed to impart itself to her very
fingers。 Still nature asserted her power； for there was a
single instant when the astonished； almost terrified girl
stole a glance at Jasper； as if distrusting Pathfinder's his…
tory of his feelings； read the truth of all he said in that
furtive look； and instantly concealed her face again； as if
she would hide it from observation for ever。
〃Take time to think； Mabel；〃 the guide continued； 〃for
it is a solemn thing to accept one man for a husband while
the thoughts and wishes lead to another。 Jasper and I
have talked this matter over； freely and like old friends；
and； though I always knowed that we viewed most things
pretty much alike； I couldn't have thought that we re…
garded any particular object with the very same eyes； as
it might be； until we opened our minds to each other about
you。 Now Jasper owns that the very first time he beheld
you； he thought you the sweetest and winningestest crea…
tur' he had ever met； that your voice sounded like mur…
muring water in his ears； that he fancied his sails were your
garments fluttering in the wind； that your laugh haunted
him in his sleep； and that ag'in and ag'in has he started
up affrighted； because he has fancied some one wanted to
force you out of the _Scud_； where he imagined you had
taken up your abode。 Nay； the lad has even acknowledged
that he often weeps at the thought that you are likely to
spend your days with another； and not with him。〃
〃Jasper！〃
〃It's solemn truth； Mabel； and it's right you should know
it。 Now stand up； and choose 'atween us。 I do believe
Eau…douce loves you as well as I do myself； he has tried
to persuade me that he loves you better； but that I will
not allow； for I do not think it possible； but I will own
the boy loves you； heart and soul； and he has a good right
to be heard。 The Sergeant left me your protector； and
not your tyrant。 I told him that I would be a father to
you as well as a husband； and it seems to me no feeling
father would deny his child this small privilege。 Stand
up； Mabel； therefore； and speak your thoughts as freely as
if I were the Sergeant himself； seeking your good； and
nothing else。〃
Mabel dropped her hands； arose； and stood face to face
with her two suitors； though the flush that was on her
cheeks was feverish； the evidence of excitement rather
than of shame。
〃What would you have； Pathfinder？〃 she asked； 〃have
I not already promised my poor father to do all you de…
sire？〃
〃Then I desire this。 Here I stand； a man of the forest
and of little larning； though I fear with an ambition be…
yond my desarts； and I'll do my endivors to do justice to
both sides。 In the first place； it is allowed that； so far as
feelings in your behalf are consarned； we love you just the
same； Jasper thinks his feelings _must_ be the strongest；
but this I cannot say in honesty； for it doesn't seem to me
that it _can_ be true； else I would frankly and freely confess it；
I would。 So in this particular； Mabel； we are here before
you on equal tarms。 As for myself； being the oldest； I'll
first say what little can be produced in my favor； as well
as ag'in it。 As a hunter； I do think there is no man near
the lines that can outdo me。 If venison； or bear's meat；
or even birds and fish； should ever be scarce in our cabin；
it would be more likely to be owing to natur' and Provi…
dence than to any fault of mine。 In short； it does seem
to me that the woman who depended on me would never
be likely to want for food。 But I'm fearful ignorant！ It's
true I speak several tongues； such as they be； while I'm
very far from being expart at my own。 Then； my years
are greater than your own； Mabel； and the circumstance that
I was so long the Sergeant's comrade can be no great merit
in your eyes。 I wish； too； I was more comely； I do； but
we are all as natur' made us； and the last thing that a man
ought to lament； except on very special occasions； is his
looks。 When all is remembered； age； looks； learning； and
habits； Mabel； conscience tells me I ought to confess that
I'm altogether unfit for you； if not downright unworthy；
and I would give up the hope this minute； I would； if I
didn't feel something pulling at my heart…strings which
seems hard to undo。〃
〃Pathfinder！ noble； generous Pathfinder！〃 cried our
heroine； seizing his hand and kissing it with a species of
holy reverence； 〃you do yourself injustice you forget my
poor father and your promise you do not know _me_！〃
〃Now； here's Jasper；〃 continued the guide； without al…
lowing the girl's caresses to win him from his purpose；
〃with _him_ the case is different。 In the way of providing；
as in that of loving； there's not much to choose 'atween
us； for the lad is frugal； industrious； and careful。 Then
he is quite a scholar； knows the tongue of the Frenchers；
reads many books； and some； I know； that you like to read
yourself； can understand you at all times； which； perhaps；
is more than I can say for myself。〃
〃What of all this？〃 interrupted Mabal impatiently；
〃why speak of it now why speak of it at all？〃
〃Then the lad has a manner of letting his thoughts be
known； that I fear I can never equal。 If there's anything
on 'arth that would make my tongue bold and persuading；
Mabel； I do think it's yourself； and yet in our late conver…
sations Jasper has outdone me； even on this point； in a
way to make me ashamed of myself。 He has told me how
simple you were； and how true…hearted； and kind…hearted；
and how you looked down upon vanities； for though you
might be the wife of more than one officer； as he thinks；
that you cling to feeling； and would rather be true to
yourself and natur' than a colonel's lady。 He fairly made
my blood warm； he did； when he spoke of your having
beauty without seeming ever to have looked upon it； and
the manner in which you moved about like a young fa'n；
so nat'ral and graceful like； without knowing it； and the
truth and justice of your idees； and the warmth and gener…
osity of your heart 〃
〃Jasper！〃 interrupted Mabel； giving way to feelings
that had gathered an ungovernable force by being so long
pent； and falling into the young man's willing arms； weep…
ing like a child； and almost as helpless。 〃Jasper！ Jasper！
why have you kept this from me？〃
The answer of Eau…douce was not very intelligible； nor
was the murmured dialogue that followed remarkable for
coherency。 But the language of affection is easily under…
stood。 The hour that succeeded passed like a very few
minutes of ordinary life； so far as a computation of time
was concerned； and when Mabel recollected herself； and
bethought her of the existence of others； her uncle was pac…
ing the cutter's deck in great impatience； and wondering
why Jasper should be losing so much of a favorable wind。
Her first thought was of him； who was so likely to feel the
recent betrayal of her real emotions。
〃Oh； Jasper；〃 she exclaimed； like one suddenly self…
convicted； 〃the Pathfinder！〃
Eau…douce fairly trembled； not with unmanly apprehen…
sion； but with the painful conviction of the pang he had
given his friend； and he looked in all directions in the
expectation of seeing his person。 But Pathfinder had
withdrawn； with a tact and a delicacy that might have
done credit to the sensibility and breeding of a courtier。
For several minutes the two lovers sat； silently waiting his
return； uncertain what propriety required of them under
circumstances so marked and so peculiar。 At length they
beheld their friend advancing slowly towards them； with
a thoughtful and even pensive air。
〃I now understand what you meant； Jasper； by speaking
without a tongue and hearing without an ear；〃 he said
when close enough to the tree to be heard。 〃Yes； I un…
derstand it now； I do； and a very pleasant sort of discourse
it is； when one can hold it with Mabel Dunham。 Ah's me！
I told the Sergeant I wasn't fit for her； that I was too
old； too ignorant； and too wild like； but he _would_ have it
otherwise。〃
Jasper and Mabel sat； resembling Milton's picture of
our first parents； when the consciousness of sin first laid
its leaden weight on their souls。 Neither spoke； neither
even moved； though both at that moment fancied they
could part with their new…found happiness in order to re…
store their friend to his peace of mind