of a good conscience； may always keep the doctors at a dis…
tance。 But I am human after all； yes； I find I'm very
human in some of my feelings。〃
Mabel looked surprised； and it would be no more than
delineating the character of her sex； if we added that her
sweet countenance expressed a good deal of curiosity； too；
though her tongue was more discreet。
〃There is something bewitching in this wild life of
yours； Pathfinder；〃 she exclaimed； a tinge of enthusiasm
mantling her cheeks。 〃I find I'm fast getting to be a
frontier girl； and am coming to love all this grand silence
of the woods。 The towns seem tame to me； and； as my
father will probably pass the remainder of his days here；
where he has already lived so long； I begin to feel that I
should be happy to continue with him； and not to return
to the sea…shore。〃
〃The woods are never silent； Mabel； to such as under…
stand their meaning。 Days at a time have I travelled
them alone； without feeling the want of company； and；
as for conversation； for such as can comprehend their lan…
guage； there is no want of rational and instructive dis…
course。〃
〃I believe you are happier when alone； Pathfinder； than
when mingling with your fellow…creatures。〃
〃I will not say that； I will not say exactly that。 I have
seen the time when I have thought that God was sufficient
for me in the forest； and that I have craved no more than
His bounty and His care。 But other feelings have got
uppermost； and I suppose natur' will have its way。 All
other creaturs mate； Mabel； and it was intended man should
do so too。〃
〃And have you never bethought you of seeking a wife；
Pathfinder； to share your fortunes？〃 inquired the girl；
with the directness and simplicity that the pure of heart
and the undesigning are the most apt to manifest； and with
that feeling of affection which is inbred in her sex。 〃To
me it seems you only want a home to return to from your
wanderings to render your life completely happy。 Were
I a man； it would be my delight to roam through these
forests at will； or to sail over this beautiful lake。〃
〃I understand you； Mabel； and God bless you for think…
ing of the welfare of men as humble as we are。 We have
our pleasures； it is true； as well as our gifts； but we might
be happier； yes； I do think we might be happier。〃
〃Happier！ in what way； Pathfinder？ In this pure air；
with these cool and shaded forests to wander through； this
lovely lake to gaze at and sail upon； with clear consciences；
and abundance for all their real wants； men ought to be
nothing less than as perfectly happy as their infirmities
will allow。〃
〃Every creatur' has its gifts； Mabel； and men have
theirs；〃 answered the guide； looking stealthily at his beau…
tiful companion； whose cheeks had flushed and eyes bright…
ened under the ardor of feelings excited by the novelty of
her striking situation； 〃and all must obey them。 Do you
see yonder pigeon that is just alightin' on the beach
here in a line with the fallen chestnut？〃
〃Certainly； it is the only thing stirring with life in it；
besides ourselves； that is to be seen in this vast solitude。〃
〃Not so； Mabel； not so； Providence makes nothing that
lives to live quite alone。 Here is its mate； just rising on
the wing； it has been feeding near the other beach； but it
will not long be separated from its companion。〃
〃I understand you； Pathfinder；〃 returned Mabel； smiling
sweetly； though as calmly as if the discourse was with her
father。 〃But a hunter may find a mate； even in this wild
region。 The Indian girls are affectionate and true； I know；
for such was the wife of Arrowhead； to a husband who
oftener frowned than smiled。〃
〃That would never do； Mabel； and good would never
come of it。 Kind must cling to kind； and country to coun…
try； if one would find happiness。 If； indeed； I could meet
with one like you； who would consent to be a hunter's wife；
and who would not scorn my ignorance and rudeness； then；
indeed； would all the toil of the past appear like the sport…
ing of the young deer； and all the future like sunshine。〃
〃One like me！ A girl of my years and indiscretion
would hardly make a fit companion for the boldest scout
and surest hunter on the lines。〃
〃Ah； Mabel！ I fear me that I have been improving a red…
skin's gifts with a pale…face's natur'？ Such a character
would insure a wife in an Indian village。〃
〃Surely； surely； Pathfinder； you would not think of
choosing one so ignorant； so frivolous； so vain； and so in…
experienced as I for your wife？〃 Mabel would have added；
〃and as young；〃 but an instinctive feeling of delicacy re…
pressed the words。
〃And why not； Mabel？ If you are ignorant of frontier
usages； you know more than all of us of pleasant anecdotes
and town customs： as for frivolous； I know not what it
means； but if it signifies beauty； ah's me！ I fear it is no
fault in my eyes。 Vain you are not； as is seen by the kind
manner in which you listen to all my idle tales about
scoutings and trails； and as for experielice； that will come
with years。 Besides； Mabel； I fear men think little of these
matters when they are about to take wives： I do。〃
〃Pathfinder； your words； your looks： surely all this
is meant in trifling； you speak in pleasantry？〃
〃To me it is always agreeable to be near you； Mabel； and
I should sleep sounder this blessed night than I have done
for a week past； could I think that you find such discourse
as pleasant as I do。〃
We shall not say that Mabel Dunham had not believed
herself a favorite with the guide。 This her quick femi…
nine sagacity had early discovered； and perhaps she had
occasionally thought there had mingled with his regard
and friendship some of that manly tenderness which the
ruder sex must be coarse； indeed； not to show on occasions
to the gentler； but the idea that he seriously sought her
for his wife had never before crossed the mind of the spir…
ited and ingenuous girl。 Now； however； a gleam of some…
thing like the truth broke in upon her imagination； less
induced by the words of her companion； perhaps； than by
his manner。 Looking earnestly into the rugged； honest
countenance of the scout； Mabel's own features became
concerned and grave； and when she spoke again； it was
with a gentleness of manner that attracted him to her even
more powerfully than the words themselves were calculated
to repel。
〃You and I should understand each other； Pathfinder；〃
said she with an earnest sincerity； 〃nor should there be
any cloud between us。 You are too upright and frank to
meet with anything but sincerity and frankness in return。
Surely； surely； all this means nothing； has no other con…
nection with your feelings than such a friendship as one
of your wisdom and character would naturally feel for a
girl like me？〃
〃I believe it's all nat'ral； Mabel yes； I do： the Sergeant
tells me he had such feelings towards your own mother；
and I think I've seen something like it in the young people
I have from time to time guided through the wilderness。
Yes； yes； I daresay it's all nat'ral enough； and that makes
it come so easy； and is a great comfort to me。〃
〃Pathfinder； your words make me uneasy。 Speak plainer；
or change the subject for ever。 You do not； cannot mean
that you cannot wish me to understand〃 even the
tongue of the spirited Mabel faltered； and she shrank； with
maiden shame； from adding what she wished so earnestly
to say。 Rallying her courage； however； and determined to
know all as soon and as plainly as possible； after a mo…
ment's hesitation； she continued； 〃I mean； Pathfinder；
that you do not wish me to understand that you seriously
think of me as a wife？〃
〃I do； Mabel； that's it； that's just it； and you have put the
matter in a much better point of view than I with my for…
est gifts and frontier ways would ever be able to do。 The
Sergeant and I have concluded on the matter； if it is agree…
able to you； as he thinks is likely to be the case； though I
doubt my own power to please one who deserves the best
husband America can produce。〃
Mabel's countenance changed from uneasiness to sur…
prise； and then； by a transition still quicker； from surprise
to pain。
〃My father！〃 she exclaimed； 〃my dear father has
thought of my becoming your wife； Pathfinder？〃
〃Yes； he has； Mabel； he has； indeed。 He has even
thought such a thing might be agreeable to you； and has
almost encouraged me to fancy it might be true。〃
〃But you yourself； you certainly can care nothing
whether this singular expectation shall ever be realized or
not？〃
〃Anan？〃
〃I mean； Pathfinder； that you have talked of this match
more to oblige my father than anything else； that your feel…
ings are no way concerned； let my answer be what it may？〃
The scout looked earnestly into the beautiful face of
Mabel； which had flushed with the ardor and novelty of
her sensations； and it was not possible to mistake the in…
tense admiration that betrayed itself in every lineament of
his ingenuous countenance。
〃I have often thought myself happy； Mabel； when rang…
ing the woods on a successful hunt； breathing the pure air
of the hills； and filled with vigor and health； but I