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