the pathfinder-第57部分

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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　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