longer； it must be done； and may as well be done at once；
so； Jasper； lead the way； and I'll endivor to look upon her
sweet countenance once more。〃
Jasper did lead the way； and they were soon in the pres…
ence of Mabel。 The latter met her late suitor with a bright
blush； and her limbs trembled so； she could hardly stand；
still her manner was affectionate and frank。 During the
hour of Pathfinder's visit （for it lasted no longer； though
he ate in the dwelling of his friends）； one who was expert
in tracing the working of the human mind might have seen
a faithful index to the feelings of Mabel in her manner to
Pathfinder and her husband。 With the latter she still had
a little of the reserve that usually accompanies young wed…
lock； but the tones of her voice were kinder even than
common； the glance of her eye was tender； and she sel…
dom looked at him without the glow that tinged her cheeks
betraying the existence of feelings that habit and time had
not yet soothed into absolute tranquillity。 With Path…
finder； all was earnest； sincere； even anxious； but the tones
never trembled； the eye never fell； and if the cheek flushed；
it was with the emotions that are connected with concern。
At length the moment came when Pathfinder must go
his way。 Chingachgook had already abandoned the canoes；
and was posted on the margin of the woods； where a path
led into the forest。 Here he calmly waited to be joined
by his friend。 As soon as the latter was aware of this fact；
he rose in a solemn manner and took his leave。
〃I've sometimes thought that my own fate has been a
little hard；〃 he said； 〃but that of this woman； Mabel； has
shamed me into reason。〃
〃June remains； and lives with me；〃 eagerly interrupted
our heroine。
〃So I comprehend it。 If anybody can bring her back
from her grief； and make her wish to live； you can do it；
Mabel； though I've misgivings about even your success。
The poor creatur' is without a tribe； as well as without a
husband； and it's not easy to reconcile the feelings to both
losses。 Ah's me！ what have I to do with other people's
miseries and marriages； as if I hadn't affliction enough of
my own？ Don't speak to me； Mabel； don't speak to me；
Jasper； let me go my way in peace； and like a man。 I've
seen your happiness； and that is a great deal； and I shall
be able to bear my own sorrow all the better for it。 No；
… I'll never kiss you ag'in； Mabel； I'll never kiss you ag'in。
Here's my hand； Jasper； squeeze it； boy； squeeze it； no
fear of its giving way； for it's the hand of a man； and
now； Mabel； do you take it； nay； you must not do this；〃
… preventing Mabel from kissing it and bathing it in her
tears； 〃you must not do this 〃
〃Pathfinder；〃 asked Mabel； 〃when shall we see you
again？〃
〃I've thought of that； too； yes； I've thought of that； I
have。 If the time should ever come when I can look upon
you altogether as a sister； Mabel； or a child； it might be
better to say a child； since you're young enough to be my
daughter； depend on it I'll come back； for it would
lighten my very heart to witness your gladness。 But if I
cannot； farewell farewell； the Sergeant was wrong；
yes； the Sergeant was wrong！〃
This was the last the Pathfinder ever uttered to the ears
of Jasper Western and Mabel Dunham。 He turned away；
as if the words choked him； and was quickly at the side
of his friend。 As soon as the latter saw him approach； he
shouldered his own burthen； and glided in among the
trees； without waiting to be spoken to。 Mabel； her hus…
band； and June all watched the form of the Pathfinder； in
the hope of receiving a parting gesture； or a stolen glance
of the eye； but he did not look back。 Once or twice they
thought they saw his head shake； as one trembles in bitter…
ness of spirit； and a toss of the hand was given； as if he
knew that he was watched； but a tread； whose vigor no
sorrow could enfeeble； soon bore him out of view； and
was lost in the depths of the forest。
Neither Jasper nor his wife ever beheld the Pathfinder
again。 They remained for another year on the banks of
Ontario； and then the pressing solicitations of Cap in…
duced them to join him in New York； where Jasper even…
tually became a successful and respected merchant。 Thrice
Mabel received valuable presents of furs at intervals of
years； and her feelings told her whence they came； though
no name accompanied the gift。 Later in life still； when
the mother of several youths； she had occasion to visit
the interior； and found herself on the banks of the Mo…
hawk； accompanied by her sons； the eldest of whom was
capable of being her protector。 On that occasion she ob…
served a man in a singular guise； watching her in the dis…
tance； with an intentness that induced her to inquire into
his pursuits and character。 She was told he was the most
renowned hunter of that portion of the State； it was after
the Revolution； a being of great purity of character and
of as marked peculiarities； and tbat he was known in that
region of country by the name of the Leather…stocking。
Further than this Mrs。 Western could not ascertain；
though the distant glimpse and singular deportment of
this unknown hunter gave her a sleepless night； and cast a
shade of melancholy over her still lovely face； that lasted
many a day。
As for June； the double loss of husband and tribe pro…
duced the effect that Pathfinder had foreseen。 She died
in the cottage of Mabel； on the shores of the lake； and
Jasper conveyed her body to the island； where he interred
it by the side of that of Arrowhead。
Lundie lived to mary his ancient love； and retired a
war…worn and battered veteran； but his name has been
rendered illustrious in our own time by the deeds of a
younger brother； who succeeded to his territorial title；
which； however； was shortly after merged in one earned
by his valor on the ocean。
End