the pathfinder-第94部分

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twice；　as　Mabel's　language　rose　in　intimate　association
with　her　thoughts；　he　lifted　his　eyes　to　the　floor　above
him；　as　if　he　expected　to　find　some　visible　evidence　of　the
presence　of　the　dread　Being　to　whom　the　words　were　ad…
dressed。　　Then　again　his　feelings　reverted　to　the　fair　crea…
ture　who　was　thus　pouring　out　her　spirit；　in　fervent　but
calm　petitions；　in　behalf　of　a　dying　parent；　for　Mabel's
cheek　was　no　longer　pallid；　but　was　flushed　with　a　holy
enthusiasm；　while　her　blue　eyes　were　upturned　in　the
light；　in　a　way　to　resemble　a　picture　by　Guido。　　At　these
moments　all　the　honest　and　manly　attachment　of　Path…
finder　glowed　in　his　ingenuous　features；　and　his　gaze　at
our　heroine　was　such　as　the　fondest　parent　might　fasten
on　the　child　of　his　love。

Sergeant　Dunham　laid　his　hand　feebly　on　the　head　of
Mabel　as　she　ceased　praying；　and　buried　her　face　in　his
blanket。

〃Bless　you；　my　beloved　child！　bless　you！〃　he　rather
whispered　than　uttered　aloud；　〃this　is　truly　consolation：
would　that　I　too　could　pray！〃

〃Father；　you　know　the　Lord's　Prayer；　you　taught　it　to
me　yourself　while　I　was　yet　an　infant。〃

The　Sergeant's　face　gleamed　with　a　smile；　for　he　_did_
remember　to　have　discharged　that　portion　at　least　of　the
paternal　duty；　and　the　consciousness　of　it　gave　him　incon…
ceivable　gratification　at　that　solemn　moment。　　He　was
then　silent　for　several　minutes；　and　all　present　believed
that　he　was　communing　with　God。

〃Mabel；　my　child！〃　he　at　length　uttered；　in　a　voice
which　seemed　to　be　reviving；　　〃Mabel；　I'm　quitting　you。〃
The　spirit　at　its　great　and　final　passage　appears　ever　to
consider　the　body　as　nothing。　　〃I'm　quitting　you；　my
child；　where　is　your　hand？〃

〃Here；　dearest　father　　here　are　both　　oh；　take　both！〃

〃Pathfinder；〃　added　the　Sergeant；　feeling　on　the　oppo…
site　side　of　the　bed；　where　Jasper　still　knelt；　and　getting
one　of　the　hands　of　the　young　man　by　mistake；　〃take　it
…　I　leave　you　as　her　father　　as　you　and　she　may　please　
bless　you　　bless　you　both！〃

At　that　awful　instant；　no　one　would　rudely　apprise　the
Sergeant　of　his　mistake；　and　he　died　a　minute　or　two
later；　holding　Jasper's　and　Mabel's　hands　covered　by　both
his　own。　　Our　heroine　was　ignorant　of　the　fact　until　an
exclamation　of　Cap's　announced　the　death　of　her　father；
when；　raising　her　face；　she　saw　the　eyes　of　Jasper　riveted
on　her　own；　and　felt　the　warm　pressure　of　his　hand。　　But
a　single　feeling　was　predominant　at　that　instant；　and
Mabel　withdrew　to　weep；　scarcely　conscious　of　what　had
occurred。　　The　Pathfinder　took　the　arm　of　Eau…douce；　and
he　left　the　block。

The　two　friends　walked　in　silence　past　the　fire；　along
the　glade；　and　nearly　reached　the　opposite　shore　of　the
island　in　profound　silence。　　Here　they　stopped；　and　Path…
finder　spoke。

〃'Tis　all　over；　Jasper；〃　said　he；　　〃'tis　all　over。　　Ah's　me！
Poor　Sergeant　Dunham　has　finished　his　march；　and　that；
too；　by　the　hand　of　a　venomous　Mingo。　　Well；　we　never
know　what　is　to　happen；　and　his　luck　may　be　yourn　or
mine　to…morrow　or　next　day！〃

〃And　Mabel？　　What　is　to　become　of　Mabel；　Pathfinder？〃

〃You　heard　the　Sergeant's　dying　words；　he　has　left　his
child　in　my　care；　Jasper；　and　it　is　a　most　solemn　trust；　it
is；　yes；　　it　is　a　most　solemn　trust。〃

〃It's　a　trust；　Pathfinder；　of　which　any　man　would　be
glad　to　relieve　you；〃　returned　the　youth；　with　a　bitter　smile。

〃I've　often　thought　it　has　fallen　into　wrong　hands。
I'm　not　consaited；　Jasper；　I'm　not　consaited；　I　do　think
I'm　not；　but　if　Mabel　Dunham　is　willing　to　overlook　all
my　imperfections　and　ignorances　like；　I　should　be　wrong
to　gainsay　it；　on　account　of　any　sartainty　I　may　have　my…
self　about　my　own　want　of　merit。〃

〃No　one　will　blame　you；　Pathfinder；　for　marrying　Mabel
Dunham；　any　more　than　they　will　blame　you　for　wearing
a　precious　jewel　in　your　bosom　that　a　friend　had　freely
given　you。〃

〃Do　you　think　they'll　blame　Mabel；　lad？　　I've　had　my
misgivings　about　that；　too；　for　all　persons　may　not　be　so
disposed　to　look　at　me　with　the　same　eyes　as　you　and　the
Sergeant's　daughter。〃

Jasper　Eau…douce　started　as　a　man　flinches　at　sudden
bodily　pain；　but　he　otherwise　maintained　his　self…com…
mand。　　〃And　mankind　is　envious　and　ill…natured；　more
particularly　in　and　about　the　garrisons。　　I　sometimes　wish；
Jasper；　that　Mabel　could　have　taken　a　fancy　to　you；　　I
do；　and　that　you　had　taken　a　fancy　to　her；　for　it　often
seems　to　me　that　one　like　you；　after　all；　might　make　her
happier　than　I　ever　can。〃

〃We　will　not　talk　about　this；　Pathfinder；〃　interrupted
Jasper　hoarsely　and　impatiently；　〃you　will　be　Mabel's
husband；　and　it　is　not　right　to　speak　of　any　one　else　in
that　character。　　As　for　me；　I　shall　take　Master　Cap's　advice；
and　try　and　make　a　man　of　myself　by　seeing　what　is　to　be
done　on　the　salt　water。〃

〃You；　Jasper　Western！　　you　quit　the　lakes；　the　forests；
and　the　lines；　and　this；　too；　for　the　towns　and　wasty　ways
of　the　settlements；　and　a　little　difference　in　the　taste　of
the　water。　　Haven't　we　the　salt…licks；　if　salt　is　necessary
to　you？　and　oughtn't　man　to　be　satisfied　with　what　con…
tents　the　other　creaturs　of　God？　　I　counted　on　you；　Jas…
per；　I　counted　on　you；　I　did；　and　thought；　now　that　Mabel
and　I　intend　to　dwell　in　a　cabin　of　our　own；　that　some　day
you　might　be　tempted　to　choose　a　companion　too；　and
come　and　settle　in　our　neighborhood。　　There　is　a　beauti…
ful　spot；　about　fifty　miles　west　of　the　garrison；　that　I　had
chosen　in　my　mind　for　my　own　place　of　abode；　and　there
is　an　excellent　harbor　about　ten　leagues　this　side　of　it
where　you　could　run　in　and　out　with　the　cutter　at　any
leisure　minute；　and　I'd　even　fancied　you　and　your　wife　in
possession　of　the　one　place；　and　Mabel　and　I　in　possession
of　t'other。　　We　should　be　just　a　healthy　hunt　apart；　and
if　the　Lord　ever　intends　any　of　His　creaturs　to　be　happy
on　'arth；　none　could　be　happier　than　we　four。〃

〃You　forget；　my　friend；〃　answered　Jasper；　taking　the
guide's　hand　and　forcing　a　friendly　smile；　〃that　I　have
no　fourth　person　to　love　and　cherish；　and　I　much　doubt
if　I　ever　shall　love　any　other　as　I　love　you　and　Mabel。〃

〃Thank'e；　boy；　I　thank　you　with　all　my　heart；　but
what　you　call　love　for　Mabel　is　only　friendship　like；　and　a
very　different　thing　from　what　I　feel。　　Now；　instead　of
sleeping　as　sound　as　natur'　at　midnight；　as　I　used　to　could；
I　dream　nightly　of　Mabel　Dunham。　　The　young　does　sport
before　me；　and　when　I　raise　Killdeer；　in　order　to　take　a
little　venison；　the　animals　look　back；　and　it　seems　as　if
they　all　had　Mabel's　sweet　countenance；　laughing　in　my
face；　and　looking　as　if　they　said；　'Shoot　me　if　you　dare！'
Then　I　hear　her　soft　voice　calling　out　among　the　birds　as
they　sing；　and　no　later　than　the　last　nap　I　took；　I　be…
thought　me；　in　fancy；　of　going　over　the　Niagara；　holding
Mabel　in　my　arms；　rather　than　part　from　her。　　The　bit…
terest　moments　I've　ever　known　were　them　in　which　the
devil；　or　some　Mingo　conjuror；　perhaps；　has　just　put　into
my　head　to　fancy　in　dreams　that　Mabel　is　lost　to　me　by
some　unaccountable　calamity　　either　by　changefulness　or
by　violence。〃

〃Oh；　Pathfinder！　if　you　think　this　so　bitter　in　a　dream；
what　must　it　be　to　one　who　feels　its　reality；　and　knows　it
all　to　be　true；　true；　true？　　So　true　as　to　leave　no　hope；　to
leave　nothing　but　despair！〃

These　words　burst　from　Jasper　as　a　fluid　pours　from　the
vessel　that　has　been　suddenly　broken。　　They　were　uttered
involuntarily；　almost　unconsciously；　but　with　a　truth　and
feeling　that　carried　with　them　the　instant　conviction　of
their　deep　sincerity。　　Pathfinder　started；　gazed　at　his　friend
for　full　a　minute　like　one　bewildered；　and　then　it　was　that；
in　despite　of　all　his　simplicity；　the　truth　gleamed　upon
him。　　All　know　how　corroborating　proofs　crowd　upon　the
mind　as　soon　as　it　catches　a　direct　clue　to　any　hitherto
unsuspected　fact；　how　rapidly　the　thoughts　flow　and　pre…
mises　tend　to　their　just　conclusions　under　such　circum…
stances。　　Our　hero　was　so　confiding　by　nature；　so　just；　and
so　much　disposed　to　imagine　that　all　his　friends　wished
him　the　same　happiness　as　he　wished　them；　that；　until　this
unfortunate　moment；　a　suspicion　of　Jasper's　attachment
for　Mabel　had　never　been　awakened　in　his　bosom。　　He
was；　however；　now　too　experienced　in　the　emotions　which
characterize　the　passion；　and　the　burst　of　feeling　in　his
companion　was　too　violent　and　too　natural　to　leave　any
further　doubt　on　the　subject。　　The　feeling　that　first　fol…
lowed　this　change　of　opinion　was　one　of　deep　humility　and
exquisite　pain。　　He　bethought　him　of　Jasper's　youth；　his
higher　claims　to　personal　appearance；　and　all　the　general
probabilities　that　such　a　suitor　would　be　more　agreeable　to
Mabel　than　he　could　possibly　be　himself。　　Then　the　noble
rectitude　of　mind；　for　which　the　man　was　so　distinguished；
asserted　its　power；　it　was　sustained　by　his　rebuked　man…
ner　of　thinking　of　himself；　and　all　that　habitual　deference
for　the　rights　and　feelings　of　others　which　appeared　to　be
inbred　in　his　very　nature。　　Taking　the　arm　of　Jasper；　he
led　him　to　a　log；　where　he　compelled　the　young　man　to
seat　himself　by　a　sort　of　irresistible　exercise　of　his　iron
muscles；　and　where　he　placed　himself　at　his　side。

The　instant　his　feelings　had　found　vent；　Eau…douce　was
both　alarmed　at；　and　ashamed　of；　their　violence。　　He
would　have　given　all　he　possessed　on　earth　could　the　last
three　minutes　be　recalled；　but　he　was　too　frank　by　dispo…
sition　and　too　much　accustomed　to　deal　ingenuously　by
his　friend　to　think　a　moment　of　attempting　further　con…
cealment；　or　of　any　evasion　of　the　explanation　that　he
knew　was　about　to　be　demanded。　　Even　while　he　trembled
in　anticipation　of　what　was　about　to　follow；　he　never　con…
templated　equivocation。

〃Jasper；〃　Pathfinder　commenced；　in　a　tone　so　solemn
as　to　thrill　on　every　nerve　in　his　listener's　body；　〃this　_has_
surprised　me！　　You　have　kinder　feelings　towards　Mabel
than　I　had　thought；　and；　unless　my　own　mistaken　vanity
and　consait　have　cruelly　deceived　me；　I　pity　you；　boy；　from
my　soul　I　do！　　Yes；　I　think　I　know　how　to　pity　any　one　who
has　set　his　heart　on　a　creature　like　Mabel；　unless　he　sees
a　prospect　of　her　regarding　him　as　he　regards　her。　　This
matter　must　be　clea