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 or done
aught to cause you sorrow； Pathfinder； and so great is my
respect for you； so sincere my friendship； that were it not
for one I mean that no person need fear Lieutenant
Muir's influence with me I would rather remain as I am
to my dying day than become a lady at the cost of being
his wife。〃
〃I do not think you would say that which you do not
feel； Mabel；〃 returned Pathfinder earnestly。
〃Not at such a moment； on such a subject； and least of
all to you。 No； Lieutenant Muir may find wives where
he can my name shall never be on his catalogue。〃
〃Thank you； thank you for that； Mabel； for； though
there is no longer any hope for me； I could never be happy
were you to take to the Quartermaster。 I feared the com…
mission might count for something； I did； and I know
the man。 It is not jealousy that makes me speak in this
manner； but truth； for I know the man。 Now； were you
to fancy a desarving youth； one like Jasper Western； for
instance 〃
〃Why always mention Jasper Eau…douce； Pathfinder？
he can have no concern with our friendship； let us talk of
yourself； and of the manner in which you intend to pass
the winter。〃
〃Ah's me！ I'm little worth at the best； Mabel； unless
it may be on a trail or with the rifle； and less worth now
that I have discovered the Sergeant's mistake。 There is
no need； therefore； of talking of me。 It has been very
pleasant to me to be near you so long； and even to fancy that
the Sergeant was right； but that is all over now。 I shall
go down the lake with Jasper； and then there will be
business to occupy us； and that will keep useless thoughts
out of the mind。〃
〃And you will forget this forget me no； not forget
me； either； Pathfinder； but you will resume your old pur…
suits； and cease to think a girl of sufficient importance to
disturb your peace？〃
〃I never knowed it afore； Mabel； but girls are of more
account in this life than I could have believed。 Now；
afore I knowed you； the new…born babe did not sleep more
sweetly than I used； my head was no sooner on the root；
or the stone； or mayhap on the skin； than all was lost to
the senses； unless it might be to go over in the night the
business of the day in a dream like； and there I lay till
the moment came to be stirring； and the swallows were
not more certain to be on the wing with the light； than I
to be afoot at the moment I wished to be。 All this seemed
a gift； and might be calculated on even in the midst of a
Mingo camp； for I've been outlying in my time； in the
very villages of the vagabonds。〃
〃And all this will return to you； Pathfinder； for one
so upright and sincere will never waste his happiness
on a mere fancy。 You will dream again of your hunts；
of the deer you have slain； and of the beaver you have
taken。〃
〃Ah's me； Mabel； I wish never to dream again！ Before
we met； I had a sort of pleasure in following up the hounds；
in fancy； as it might be； and even in striking a trail of the
Iroquois nay； I've been in skrimmages aud ambushments；
in thought like； and found satisfaction in it； according to
my gifts； but all those things have lost their charms since
I've made acquaintance with you。 Now； I think no longer
of anything rude in my dreams； but the very last night
we stayed in the garrison I imagined I had a cabin in a
grove of sugar maples； and at the root of every tree was a
Mabel Dunham； while the birds among the branches sang
ballads instead of the notes that natur' gave； and even the
deer stopped to listen。 I tried to shoot a fa'n； but Kill…
deer missed fire； and the creatur' laughed in my face； as
pleasantly as a young girl laughs in her merriment； and
then it bounded away； looking back as if expecting me
follow。〃
〃No more of this； Pathfinder； we'll talk no more of
these things；〃 said Mabel； dashing the tears from her eyes：
for the simple； earnest manner in which this hardy woods…
man betrayed the deep hold she had taken of his feelings
nearly proved too much for her own generous heart。
〃Now； let us look for my father； he cannot be distant； as
I heard his gun quite near。〃
〃The Sergeant was wrong yes； he was wrong； and it's
of no avail to attempt to make the dove consort with the
wolf。〃
〃Here comes my dear father；〃 interrupted Mabel。 〃Let
us look cheerful and happy； Pathfinder； as such good
friends ought to look； and keep each other's secrets。〃
A pause succeeded； the Sergeant's foot was heard crush…
ing the dried twigs hard by； and then his form appeared
shoving aside the bushes of a copse just near。 As he issued
into the open ground； the old soldier scrutinized his
daughter and her companion； and speaking good…naturedly；
he said； 〃Mabel； child； you are young aud light of foot
look for a bird that I've shot that fell just beyond the
thicket of young hemlocks on the shore； and； as Jasper is
showing signs of an intention of getting under way； you
need not take the trouble to clamber up this hill again；
but we will meet you on the beach in a few minutes。〃
Mabel obeyed； bounding down the hill with the elastic
step of youth and health。 But； notwithstanding the light…
ness of her steps； the heart of the girl was heavy； and no
sooner was she hid from observation by the thicket； than
she threw herself on the root of a tree and wept as if her
heart would break。 The Sergeant watched her until she
disappeared； with a father's pride； and then turned to his
companion with a smile as kind and as familiar as his
habits would allow him to use towards any。
〃She has her mother's lightness and activity； my friend；
with somewhat of her father's force；〃 said he。 〃Her
mother was not quite so handsome； I think myself； but
the Dunhams were always thought comely； whether men
or women。 Well； Pathfinder； I take it for granted you've
not overlooked the opportunity； but have spoken plainly
to the girl？ women like frankness in matters of this sort。〃
〃I believe Mabel and I understand each other at last；
Sergeant；〃 returned the other； looking another way to
avoid the soldier's face。
〃So much the better。 Some people fancy that a little
doubt and uncertainty makes love all the livelier； but I
am one of those who think the plainer the tongue speaks
the easier the mind will comprehend。 Was Mabel sur…
prised？〃
〃I fear she was； Sergeant； I fear she was taken quite by
surprise yes； I do。〃
〃Well； well； surprises in love are like an ambush in war；
and quite as lawful； though it is not so easy to tell when
a woman is surprised； as to tell when it happens to an en…
emy。 Mabel did not run away； my worthy friend； did she？〃
〃No； Sergeant； Mabel did not try to escape； _that_ I can
say with a clear conscience。〃
〃I hope the girl was too willing； neither！ Her
mother was shy and coy for a month； at least； but frank…
ness； after all； is a recommendation in a man or woman。〃
〃That it is； that it is； and judgment； too。〃
〃You are not to look for too much judgment in a young
creature of twenty； Pathfinder； but it will come with ex…
perience。 A mistake in you or me； for instance； might not
be so easily overlooked； but in a girl of Mabel's years； one
is not to strain at a gnat lest they swallow a camel。〃
The reader will remember that Sergeant Dunham was
not a Hebrew scholar。
The muscles of the listener's face twitched as the Ser…
geant was thus delivering his sentiments； though the for…
mer had now recovered a portion of that stoicism which
formed so large a part of his character； and which he had
probably imbibed from long association with the Indians。
His eyes rose and fell； and once a gleam shot athwart his
hard features as if he were about to indulge in his peculiar
laugh； but the joyous feeling； if it really existed； was as
quickly lost in a look allied to anguish。 It was this un…
usual mixture of wild and keen mental agony with native；
simple joyousness； which had most struck Mabel； who； in
the interview just related； had a dozen times been on the
point of believing that her suitor's heart was only lightly
touched； as images of happiness and humor gleamed over
a mind that was almost infantine in its simplicity and
nature； an impression； however； which was soon driven
away by the discovery of emotions so painful and so deep；
that they seemed to harrow the very soul。
〃You say true； Sergeant；〃 Pathfinder answered； 〃a mis…
take in one like you is a more serious matter。〃
〃You will find Mabel sincere and honest in the end；
give her but a little time。〃
〃Ah's me； Sergeant！〃
〃A man of your merits would make an impression on a
rock； give him time； Pathfinder。〃
〃Sergeant Dunham； we are old fellow…campaigners
that is； as campaigns are carried on here in the wilderness；
and we have done so many kind acts to each other that
we can afford to be candid what has caused you to believe
that a girl like Mabel could ever fancy one so rude as I
am？〃
〃What？ why； a variety of reasons； and good reasons
too； my friend。 Those same acts of kindness； perhaps； and
the campaigns you mention； moreover； you are my sworn
and tried comrade。〃
〃All this sound