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