the pathfinder-第58部分

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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　sounds　well；　so　far　as　you　and　I　are　consarned；
but　they　do　not　touch　the　case　of　your　pretty　daughter。
She　may　think　these　very　campaigns　have　destroyed　the
little　comeliness　I　may　once　have　had；　and　I　am　not　quite
sartain　that　being　an　old　friend　of　her　father　would　lead
any　young　maiden's　mind　into　a　particular　affection　for　a
suitor。　　Like　loves　like；　I　tell　you；　Sergeant；　and　my　gifts
are　not　altogether　the　gifts　of　Mabel　Dunham。〃

〃These　are　some　of　your　old　modest　qualms；　Pathfinder；
and　will　do　you　no　credit　with　the　girl。　　Women　distrust
men　who　distrust　themselves；　and　take　to　men　who　dis…
trust　nothing。　Modesty　is　a　capital　thing　in　a　recruit；　I
grant　you；　or　in　a　young　subaltern　who　has　just　joined；
for　it　prevents　his　railing　at　the　non…commissioned　officers
before　he　knows　what　to　rail　at；　I'm　not　sure　it　is　out　of
place　in　a　commissary　or　a　parson；　but　it's　the　devil　and
all　when　it　gets　possession　of　a　real　soldier　or　a　lover。
Have　as　little　to　do　with　it　as　possible；　if　you　would　win　a
woman's　heart。　　As　for　your　doctrine　that　like　loves　like；
it　is　as　wrong　as　possible　in　matters　of　this　sort。　　If　like
loved　like；　women　would　love　one　another；　and　men　also。
No；　no；　like　loves　dislike；〃　　the　Sergeant　was　merely　a
scholar　of　the　camp；　　〃and　you　have　nothing　to　fear　from
Mabel　on　that　score。　　Look　at　Lieutenant　Muir；　the　man
has　had　five　wives　already；　they　tell　me；　and　there　is　no
more　modesty　in　him　than　there　is　in　a　cat…o'…nine…tails。〃

〃Lieutenant　Muir　will　never　be　the　husband　of　Mabel
Dunham；　let　him　ruffle　his　feathers　as　much　as　he　may。〃

〃That　is　a　sensible　remark　of　yours；　Pathfinder；　for　my
mind　is　made　up　that　you　shall　be　my　son…in…law。　　If　I
were　an　officer　myself；　Mr。　Muir　might　have　some　chance；
but　time　has　placed　one　door　between　my　child　and　myself；
and　I　don't　intend　there　shall　be　that　of　a　marquee　also。〃

〃Sergeant；　we　must　let　Mabel　follow　her　own　fancy；　she
is　young　and　light　of　heart；　and　God　forbid　that　any　wish
of　mine　should　lay　the　weight　of　a　feather　on　a　mind　that
is　all　gaiety　now；　or　take　one　note　of　happiness　from　her
laughter！〃

〃Have　you　conversed　freely　with　the　girl？〃　the　Sergeant
demanded　quickly；　and　with　some　asperity　of　manner。

Pathfinder　was　too　honest　to　deny　a　truth　plain　as　that
which　the　answer　required；　and　yet　too　honorable　to　betray
Mabel；　and　expose　her　to　the　resentment　of　one　whom　he
well　knew　to　be　stern　in　his　anger。

〃We　have　laid　open　our　minds；〃　he　said；　〃and　though
Mabel's　is　one　that　any　man　might　love　to　look　at；　I　find
little　there；　Sergeant；　to　make　me　think　any　better　of　my…
self。〃

〃The　girl　has　not　dared　to　refuse　you　　to　refuse　her
father's　best　friend？〃

Pathfinder　turned　his　face　away　to　conceal　the　look　of
anguish　that　consciousness　told　him　was　passing　athwart
it；　but　he　continued　the　discourse　in　his　own　quiet；　manly
tones。

〃Mabel　is　too　kind　to　refuse　anything；　or　to　utter　harsh
words　to　a　dog。　　I　have　not　put　the　question　in　a　way　to
be　downright　refused；　Sergeant。〃

〃And　did　you　expect　my　daughter　to　jump　into　your
arms　before　you　asked　her？　　She　would　not　have　been　her
mother's　child　had　she　done　any　such　thing；　nor　do　I　think
she　would　have　been　mine。　　The　Dunhams　like　plain
dealing　as　well　as　the　king's　majesty；　but　they　are　no
jumpers。　　Leave　me　to　manage　this　matter　for　you；　Path…
finder；　and　there　shall　be　no　unnecessary　delay。　　I'll　speak
to　Mabel　myself　this　very　evening；　using　your　name　as
principal　in　the　affair。〃

〃I'd　rather　not；　I'd　rather　not；　Sergeant。　　Leave　the
matter　to　Mabel　and　me；　and　I　think　all　will　come　right　in
the　ind。　　Young　girls　are　like　timorsome　birds；　they　do
not　over…relish　being　hurried　or　spoken　harshly　to　nither。
Leave　the　matter　to　Mabel　and　me。〃

〃On　one　condition　I　will；　my　friend；　and　that　is；　that
you　will　promise　me；　on　the　honor　of　a　scout；　that　you　will
put　the　matter　plainly　to　Mabel　the　first　suitable　oppor…
tunity；　and　no　mincing　of　words。〃

〃I　will　ask　her；　Sergeant；　on　condition　that　you