the pathfinder-第87章

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June；　and　left　her　for　nearly　twenty…four　hours　in　a　state
of　stupor；　assisted　Mabel　in　conquering　her　own　feelings；
for　she　had　felt　called　on　to　administer　consolation　to　the
young　Indian　woman。　　This　she　had　done　in　the　quiet；
soothing；　insinuating　way　in　which　her　sex　usually　exerts
its　influence　on　such　occasions。

The　morning　of　the　third　day　was　set　for　that　on　which
the　_Scud_　was　to　sail。　　Jasper　had　made　all　his　prepara…
tions；　the　different　effects　were　embarked；　and　Mabel　had
taken　leave　of　June；　a　painful　and　affectionate　parting。　　In
a　word；　all　was　ready；　and　every　soul　had　left　the　island
but　the　Indian　woman；　Pathfinder；　Jasper；　and　our　hero…
ine。　　The　former　had　gone　into　a　thicket　to　weep；　and　the
three　last　were　approaching　the　spot　where　three　canoes
lay；　one　of　which　was　the　property　of　June；　and　the　other
two　were　in　waiting　to　carry　the　others　off　to　the　_Scud_。
Pathfinder　led　the　way；　but；　when　he　drew　near　the　shore；
instead　of　taking　the　direction　to　the　boats；　he　motioned
to　his　companions　to　follow；　and　proceeded　to　a　fallen　tree
which　lay　on　the　margin　of　the　glade　and　out　of　view　of
those　in　the　cutter。　　Seating　himself　on　the　trunk；　he
signed　to　Mabel　to　take　her　place　on　one　side　of　him　and
to　Jasper　to　occupy　the　other。

〃Sit　down　here　Mabel；　sit　down　there；　Eau…douce；〃　he
commenced；　as　soon　as　he　had　taken　his　own　seat。　　〃I've
something　that　lies　heavy　on　my　mind；　and　now　is　the
time　to　take　it　off；　if　it's　ever　to　be　done。　　Sit　down；　Mabel；
and　let　me　lighten　my　heart；　if　not　my　conscience；　while
I've　the　strength　to　do　it。〃

The　pause　that　succeeded　lasted　two　or　three　minutes；　and
both　the　young　people　wondered　what　was　to　come　next；
the　idea　that　Pathfinder　could　have　any　weight　on　his　con…
science　seeming　equally　improbable　to　each。

〃Mabel；〃　our　hero　at　length　resumed；　〃we　must　talk
plainly　to　each　other　afore　we　join　your　uncle　in　the　cut…
ter；　where　the　Saltwater　has　slept　every　night　since　the
last　rally；　for　he　says　it's　the　only　place　in　which　a　man
can　be　sure　of　keeping　the　hair　on　his　head；　he　does。　　Ah's
me！　what　have　I　to　do　with　these　follies　and　sayings　now？
I　try　to　be　pleasant；　and　to　feel　light…hearted；　but　the　power
of　man　can't　make　water　run　up　stream。　　Mabel；　you　know
that　the　Sergeant；　afore　he　left　us；　had　settled　it　'atween
us　two　that　we　were　to　become　man　and　wife；　and　that　we
were　to　live　together　and　to　love　one　another　as　long　as
the　Lord　was　pleased　to　keep　us　both　on　'arth；　yes；　and
afterwards　too？〃

Mabel's　cheeks　had　regained　a　little　of　their　ancient
bloom　in　the　fresh　air　of　the　morning；　but　at　this　un…
looked…for　address　they　blanched　again；　nearly　to　the　pal…
lid　hue　which　grief　had　imprinted　there。　　Still；　she　looked
kindly；　though　seriously；　at　Pathfinder　and　even　endeav…
ored　to　force　a　smile。

〃Very　true；　my　excellent　friend；〃　she　answered；　〃this
was　my　poor　father's　wish；　and　I　feel　certain　that　a　whole
life　devoted　to　your　welfare　and　comforts　could　scarcely
repay　you　for　all　you　have　done　for　us。〃

〃I　fear　me；　Mabel；　that　man　and　wife　needs　be　bound
together　by　a　stronger　tie　than　such　feelings；　I　do。　　You
have　done　nothing　for　me；　or　nothing　of　any　account；　and
yet　my　very　heart　yearns　towards　you；　it　does；　and　there…
fore　it　seems　likely　that　these　feelings　come　from　some…
thing　besides　saving　scalps　and　guiding　through　woods。〃

Mabel's　cheek　had　begun　to　glow　again；　and　though　she
struggled　hard　to　smile；　her　voice　trembled　a　little　as　she
answered。

〃Had　we　not　better　postpone　this　conversation；　Path…
finder？〃　she　said；　〃we　are　not　alone；　and　nothing　is　so
unpleasant　to　a　listener；　they　say；　as　family　matters　in
which　he　feels　no　interest。〃

〃It's　because　we　are　not　alone；　Mabel；　or　rather　because
Jasper　is　with　us；　that　I　wish　to　talk　of　this　matter。　　The
Sergeant　believed　I　might　make　a　suitable　companion　for
you；　and；　though　I　had　misgivings　about　it；　　yes；　I　had
many　misgivings；　　he　finally　persuaded　me　into　the　idee；
and　things　came　round　'atween　us；　as　you　know。　　But；
when　you　promised　your　father　to　marry　me；　Mabel；　and
gave　me　your　hand　so　modestly；　but　so　prettily；　there　was
one　circumstance；　as　your　uncle　called　it；　that　you　didn't
know；　and　I've　thought　it　right　to　tell　you　what　it　is；
before　matters　are　finally　settled。　　I've　often　taken　a　poor
deer　for　my　dinner　when　good　venison　was　not　to　be
found；　but　it's　as　nat'ral　not　to　take　up　with　the　worst
when　the　best　may　be　had。〃

〃You　speak　in　a　way；　Pathfinder；　that　is　difficult　to　be
understood。　　If　this　conversation　is　really　necessary；　I
trust　you　will　be　more　plain。〃

〃Well　then；　Mabel；　I've　been　thinking　it　was　quite
likely；　when　you　gave　in　to　the　Sergeant's　wishes；　that　you
did　not　know　the　natur'　of　Jasper　Western's　feelings
towards　you？〃

〃Pathfinder！〃　and　Mabel's　cheek　now　paled　to　the　livid
hue　of　death；　then　it　flushed　to　the　tint　of　crimson；　and
her　whole　frame　shuddered。　　Pathfinder；　however；　was　too
intent　on　his　own　object　to　notice　this　agitation；　and　Eau…
douce　had　hidden　his　face　in　his　hands　in　time　to　shut　out
its　view。

〃I've　been　talking　with　the　lad；　and；　on　comparing　his
dreams　with　my　dreams；　his　feelings　with　my　feelings；　and
his　wishes　with　my　wishes；　I　fear　we　think　too　much　alike
consarning　you　for　both　of　us　to　be　very　happy。〃

〃Pathfinder；　you　forget；　you　should　remember　that　we
are　betrothed！〃　said　Mabel　hastily；　and　in　a　voice　so　low
that　it　required　acute　attention　in　the　listeners　to　catch
the　syllables。　　Indeed　the　last　word　was　not　quite　intel…
ligible　to　the　guide；　and　he　confessed　his　ignorance　by　the
usual；　

〃Anan？〃

〃You　forget　that　we　are　to　be　married；　and　such　allu…
sions　are　improper　as　well　as　painful。〃

〃Everything　is　proper　that　is　right；　Mabel；　and　every…
thing　is　right　that　leads　to　justice　and　fair　dealing；　though
it　_is　painful_　enough；　as　you　say；　as　I　find　on　trial；　I　do。
Now；　Mabel；　had　you　known　that　Eau…douce　thinks　of　you
in　this　way；　maybe　you　never　would　have　consented　to　be
married　to　one　as　old　and　as　uncomely　as　I　am。〃

〃Why　this　cruel　trial；　Pathfinder？　　To　what　can　all　this
lead？　　Jasper　Western　thinks　no　such　thing：　he　says
nothing　he　feels　nothing。〃

〃Mabel！〃　burst　from　out　of　the　young　man's　lips；　in　a
way　to　betray　the　uncontrollable　nature　of　his　emotions；
though　he　uttered　not　another　syllable。

Mabel　buried　her　face　in　both　her　hands；　and　the　two
sat　like　a　pair　of　guilty　beings；　suddenly　detected　in　the
commission　of　some　crime　which　involved　the　happiness
of　a　common　patron。　　At　that　instant；　perhaps；　Jasper
himself　was　inclined　to　deny　his　passion；　through　an　ex…
treme　unwillingness　to　grieve　his　friend；　while　Mabel；　on
whom　this　positive　announcement　of　a　fact　that　she　had
rather　unconsciously　hoped　than　believed；　came　so　unex…
pectedly；　felt　her　mind　momentarily　bewildered；　and　she
scarcely　knew　whether　to　weep　or　to　rejoice。　　Still　she　was
the　first　to　speak；　since　Eau…douce　could　utter　naught　that
would　be　disingenuous；　or　that　would　pain　his　friend。

〃Pathfinder；〃　said　she；　〃you　talk　wildly。　　Why　mention
this　at　all？〃

〃Well；　Mabel；　if　I　talk　wildly；　I　_am_　half　wild；　you　know；
by　natur'；　I　fear；　as　well　as　by　habit。〃　　As　he　said　this；　he
endeavored　to　laugh　in　his　usual　noiseless　way；　but　the
effect　produced　a　strange　and　discordant　sound；　and　it
appeared　nearly　to　choke　him。　　〃Yes；　I　_must_　be　wild；　I'll
not　attempt　to　deny　it。〃

〃Dearest　Pathfinder！　my　best；　almost　my　only　friend！
you　_cannot；　do　not_　think　I　intended　to　say　that！〃　inter…
rupted　Mabel；　almost　breathless　in　her　haste　to　relieve　his
mortification。　　〃If　courage；　truth；　nobleness　of　soul　and
conduct；　unyielding　principles；　and　a　hundred　other　excel…
lent　qualities　can　render　any　man　respectable；　esteemed；
or　beloved；　your　claims　are　inferior　to　those　of　no　other
human　being。〃

〃What　tender　and　bewitching　voices　they　have；　Jasper！〃
resumed　the　guide；　now　laughing　freely　and　naturally。
〃Yes；　natur'　seems　to　have　made　them　on　purpose　to　sing
in　our　ears；　when　the　music　of　the　woods　is　silent。　　But
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