ing the woods on a successful hunt； breathing the pure air
of the hills； and filled with vigor and health； but I now
know that it has all been idleness and vanity compared
with the delight it would give me to know that you thought
better of me than you think of most others。〃
〃Better of you！ I do； indeed； think better of you； Path…
finder； than of most others： I am not certain that I do not
think better of you than of any other； for your truth； hon…
esty； simplicity； justice； and courage are scarcely equalled
by any of earth。〃
〃Ah； Mabel； these are sweet and encouraging words from
you！ and the Sergeant； after all； was not so near wrong as
I feared。〃
〃Nay； Pathfinder； in the name of all that is sacred and
jsut； do not let us misunderstand each other in a matter
of so much importance。 While I esteem； respect； nay；
reverence you； almost as much as I reverence my own dear
father； it is impossible that I should ever become your
wife that I 〃
The change in her companion's countenance was so sud…
den and so great； that the moment the effect of what she
had uttered became visible in the face of the Pathfinder；
Mabel arrested her own words； notwithstanding her strong
desire to be explicit； the reluctance with which she could
at any time cause painn being sufficient of itself to induce
the pause。 Neither spoke for some time； the shade of dis…
appointment that crossed the rugged lineaments of the
hunter amounting so nearly to anguish as to frighten his
companion； while the sensation of choking became so strong
in the Pathfinder that he fairly griped his throat； like one
who sought physical relief for physical suffering。 The
convulsive manner in which his fingers worked actually
struck the alarmed girl with a feeling of awe。
〃Nay； Pathfinder；〃 Mabel eagerly added； the instant she
could command her voice； 〃I may have said more than I
mean； for all things of this nature are possible； and
women； they say； are never sure of their own minds。 What
I wish you to understand is； that it is not likely that you
and I should ever think of each other as man and wife
ought to think of each other。〃
〃I do not I shall never think in that way again； Mabel；〃
gasped forth the Pathfinder； who appeared to utter his
words like one just raised above the pressure of some suffo…
cating substance。 〃No； no； I shall never think of you； or
any one else； again in that way。〃
〃Pathfinder； dear Pathfinder； understand me； do not
attach more meaning to my words than I do myself： a
match like that would be unwise； unnatural； perhaps。〃
〃Yes； unnat'ral ag'in natur'； and so I told the Ser…
geant； but he _would_ have it otherwise。〃
〃Pathfinder！ oh； this is worse than I could have im…
agined！ Take my hand； excellent Pathfinder； and let me
see that you do not hate me。 For God's sake； smile upon
me again。〃
〃Hate you； Mabel！ Smile upon you！ Ah's me！〃
〃Nay； give me your hand； your hardy； true； and manly
hand both； both； Pathfinder！ for I shall not be easy until
I feel certain that we are friends again； and that all this
has been a mistake。〃
〃Mabel！〃 said the guide； looking wistfully into the face
of the generous and impetuous girl； as she held his two
hard and sunburnt hands in her own pretty and delicate
fingers； and laughing in his own silent and peculiar man…
ner； while anguish gleamed over lineaments which seemed
incapable of deception； even while agitated with emotions
so conflicting； 〃Mabel！ the Sergeant was wrong。〃
The pent…up feeliugs could endure no more； and the
tears rolled down the cheeks of the scout like rain。 His
fingers again worked convulsively at his throat； and his
breast heaved； as if it possessed a tenant of which it would
be rid； by any effort； however desperate。
〃Pathfinder！ Pathfinder！〃 Mabel almost shrieked；
〃anything but this； anything but this！ Speak to me；
Pathfinder！ Smile again； say one kind word； anything to
prove you can forgive me。〃
〃The Sergeant was wrong！〃 exclaimed the guide； laugh…
ing amid his agony； in a way to terrify his companion by
the unnatural mixture of anguish and light…heartedness。
〃I knew it； I knew it； and said it； yes； the Sergeant was
wrong after all。〃
〃We can be friends； though we cannot be man and wife；〃
continued Mabel； almost as much disturbed as her compan…
ion； scarcely knowing what she said； 〃we can always be
friends； and always will。〃
〃I thought the Sergeant was mistaken；〃 resumed the
Pathfinder； when a great effort had enabled him to com…
mand himself； 〃for I did not think my gifts were such as
would please the fancy of a town…bred girl。 It would have
been better； Mabel； had he not over…presuaded me into a
different notion； and it might have been better； too； had
you not been so pleasant and confiding like； yes； it would。〃
〃If I thought any error of mine had raised false expec…
tations in you； Pathfinder； however unintentionally on my
part； I should never forgive myself； for； believe me； I
would rather endure pain in my own feelings than you
should suffer。〃
〃That's just it； Mabel； that's just it。 These speeches
aud opinions； spoken in so soft a voice； and in a way I'm so
unused to in the woods； have done the mischief。 But I
now see plainly； and begin to understand the difference
between us better； and will strive to keep down thought；
and to go abroad again as I used to do； looking for the
game and the inimy。 Ah's me； Mabel！ I have indeed
been on a false trail since we met。〃
〃In a little while you will forget all this； and think of
me as a friend； who owes you her life。〃
〃This may be the way in the towns； but I doubt if it's
nat'ral to the woods。 With us； when the eye sees a lovely
sight； it is apt to keep it long in view； or when the mind
takes in an upright and proper feeling； it is loath to part
with it。〃
〃You will forget it all； when you come seriously to recol…
lect that I am altogether unsuited to be your wife。〃
〃So I told the Sergeant； but he would have it otherwise。
I knew you was too young and beautiful for one of middle
age； like myself； and who never was comely to look at even
in youth； and then your ways have not been my ways； nor
would a hunter's cabin be a fitting place for one who was
edicated among chiefs； as it were。 If I were younger and
comelier though； like Jasper Eau…douce 〃
〃Never mind Jasper Eau…douce；〃 interrupted Mabel im…
patiently； 〃we can talk of something else。〃
〃Jasper is a worthy lad； Mabel； ay； and a comely；〃 re…
turned the guileless guide； looking earnestly at the girl； as
if he distrusted her judgment in speaking slightingly of
his friend。 〃Were I only half as comely as Jasper Wes…
tern； my misgivings in this affair would not have been so
great； and they might not have been so true。〃
〃We will not talk of Jasper Western；〃 repeated Mabel；
the color mounting to her temples； 〃he may be good
enough in a gale； or on the lake； but he is not good enough
to talk of here。〃
〃I fear me； Mabel； he is better than the man who is
likely to be your husband； though the Sergeant says that
never can take place。 But the Sergeant was wrong once；
and he may be wrong twice。〃
〃And who is likely to be my husband； Pathfinder！ This is
scarcely less strange than what has just passed between us。〃
〃I know it is nat'ral for like to seek like； and for them
that have consorted much with officers' ladies to wish to
be officers' ladies themselves。 But； Mabel； I may speak
plainly to you； I know； and I hope my words will not give
you pain； for； now I understand what it is to be disap…
pointed in such feelings； I wouldn't wish to cause even a
Mingo sorrow on this head。 But happiness is not always
to be found in a marquee； any more than in a tent； and
though the officers' quarters may look more tempting than
the rest of the barracks； there is often great misery between
husband and wife inside of their doors。〃
〃I do not doubt it in the least； Pathfinder； and； did it
rest with me to decide； I would sooner follow you to some
cabin in the woods； and share your fortune； whether it
might be better or worse； than go inside the door of any
officer I know； with an intention of remaining there as its
master's wife。〃
〃Mabel； this is not what Lundie hopes； or Lundie
thinks。〃
〃And what；care I for Lundie？ He is major of the 55th；
and may command his men to wheel and march about as
he pleases； but he cannot compel me to wed the greatest
or the meanest of his mess。 Besides； what can you know
of Lundie's wishes on such a subject？〃
〃From Lundie's own mouth。 The Sergeant had told
him that he wished me for a son…in…law； and the Major；
being an old and a true friend； conversed with me on the
subject。 He put it to me plainly； whether it would not
be more ginerous in me to let an officer succeed； than to
strive to make you share a hunter's fortune。 I owned the
truth； I did； and that was； that I thought it might； but
when he told me that the Quartermaster would be his
choice； I would not abide by the conditions。 No； no；
Mabel； I know Davy Muir well； and though he may make
you a lady； be can never make you a happy woman； or
himself a gentleman。〃
〃My father has been very wrong if he has said