the pathfinder-第99部分

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lain　at　the　garrison；　and　all　was　soon　settled？〃

〃We　were　married　within　a　week　after　we　left　you；　and
Master　Cap　departed　next　day。　　You　have　forgotten　to　in…
quire　about　your　friend　Saltwater。〃

〃Not　I；　not　I；　the　Sarpent　has　told　me　all　that：　and
then　I　love　to　hear　so　much　of　Mabel　and　her　happiness；
I　do。　　Did　the　child　smile　or　did　she　weep　when　the　cere…
mony　was　over？〃

〃She　did　both；　my　friend；　but　　〃

〃Yes；　that's　their　natur'；　tearful　and　cheerful。　　Ah's
me！　they　are　very　pleasant　to　us　of　the　woods；　and　I　do
believe　I　should　think　all　right；　whatever　Mabel　might　do。
And　do　you　think；　Jasper；　that　she　thought　of　me　at　all
on　that　joyful　occasion？〃

〃I　know　she　did；　Pathfinder；　and　she　thinks　of　you　and
talks　of　you　daily；　almost　hourly。　　None　love　you　as　we
do。〃

〃I　know　few　love　me　better　than　yourself；　Jasper：
Chingachgook　is　perhaps；　now；　the　only　creatur'　of　whom
I　can　say　that。　　Well；　there's　no　use　in　putting　it　off　any
longer；　it　must　be　done；　and　may　as　well　be　done　at　once；
so；　Jasper；　lead　the　way；　and　I'll　endivor　to　look　upon　her
sweet　countenance　once　more。〃

Jasper　did　lead　the　way；　and　they　were　soon　in　the　pres…
ence　of　Mabel。　　The　latter　met　her　late　suitor　with　a　bright
blush；　and　her　limbs　trembled　so；　she　could　hardly　stand；
still　her　manner　was　affectionate　and　frank。　　During　the
hour　of　Pathfinder's　visit　（for　it　lasted　no　longer；　though
he　ate　in　the　dwelling　of　his　friends）；　one　who　was　expert
in　tracing　the　working　of　the　human　mind　might　have　seen
a　faithful　index　to　the　feelings　of　Mabel　in　her　manner　to
Pathfinder　and　her　husband。　　With　the　latter　she　still　had
a　little　of　the　reserve　that　usually　accompanies　young　wed…
lock；　but　the　tones　of　her　voice　were　kinder　even　than
common；　the　glance　of　her　eye　was　tender；　and　she　sel…
dom　looked　at　him　without　the　glow　that　tinged　her　cheeks
betraying　the　existence　of　feelings　that　habit　and　time　had
not　yet　soothed　into　absolute　tranquillity。　　With　Path…
finder；　all　was　earnest；　sincere；　even　anxious；　but　the　tones
never　trembled；　the　eye　never　fell；　and　if　the　cheek　flushed；
it　was　with　the　emotions　that　are　connected　with　concern。

At　length　the　moment　came　when　Pathfinder　must　go
his　way。　　Chingachgook　had　already　abandoned　the　canoes；
and　was　posted　on　the　margin　of　the　woods；　where　a　path
led　into　the　forest。　　Here　he　calmly　waited　to　be　joined
by　his　friend。　　As　soon　as　the　latter　was　aware　of　this　fact；
he　rose　in　a　solemn　manner　and　took　his　leave。

〃I've　sometimes　thought　that　my　own　fate　has　been　a
little　hard；〃　he　said；　〃but　that　of　this　woman；　Mabel；　has
shamed　me　into　reason。〃

〃June　remains；　and　lives　with　me；〃　eagerly　interrupted
our　heroine。

〃So　I　comprehend　it。　　If　anybody　can　bring　her　back
from　her　grief；　and　make　her　wish　to　live；　you　can　do　it；
Mabel；　though　I've　misgivings　about　even　your　success。
The　poor　creatur'　is　without　a　tribe；　as　well　as　without　a
husband；　and　it's　not　easy　to　reconcile　the　feelings　to　both
losses。　　Ah's　me！　　what　have　I　to　do　with　other　people's
miseries　and　marriages；　as　if　I　hadn't　affliction　enough　of
my　own？　　Don't　speak　to　me；　Mabel；　　don't　speak　to　me；
Jasper；　　let　me　go　my　way　in　peace；　and　like　a　man。　　I've
seen　your　happiness；　and　that　is　a　great　deal；　and　I　shall
be　able　to　bear　my　own　sorrow　all　the　better　for　it。　　No；
…　I'll　never　kiss　you　ag'in；　Mabel；　I'll　never　kiss　you　ag'in。
Here's　my　hand；　Jasper；　　squeeze　it；　boy；　squeeze　it；　no
fear　of　its　giving　way；　for　it's　the　hand　of　a　man；　　and
now；　Mabel；　do　you　take　it；　　nay；　you　must　not　do　this；〃
…　preventing　Mabel　from　kissing　it　and　bathing　it　in　her
tears；　　〃you　must　not　do　this　　〃

〃Pathfinder；〃　asked　Mabel；　〃when　shall　we　see　you
again？〃

〃I've　thought　of　that；　too；　yes；　I've　thought　of　that；　I
have。　　If　the　time　should　ever　come　when　I　can　look　upon
you　altogether　as　a　sister；　Mabel；　or　a　child；　　it　might　be
better　to　say　a　child；　since　you're　young　enough　to　be　my
daughter；　　depend　on　it　I'll　come　back；　for　it　would
lighten　my　very　heart　to　witness　your　gladness。　　But　if　I
cannot；　　farewell　　farewell；　　the　Sergeant　was　wrong；　
yes；　the　Sergeant　was　wrong！〃

This　was　the　last　the　Pathfinder　ever　uttered　to　the　ears
of　Jasper　Western　and　Mabel　Dunham。　　He　turned　away；
as　if　the　words　choked　him；　and　was　quickly　at　the　side
of　his　friend。　　As　soon　as　the　latter　saw　him　approach；　he
shouldered　his　own　burthen；　and　glided　in　among　the
trees；　without　waiting　to　be　spoken　to。　　Mabel；　her　hus…
band；　and　June　all　watched　the　form　of　the　Pathfinder；　in
the　hope　of　receiving　a　parting　gesture；　or　a　stolen　glance
of　the　eye；　but　he　did　not　look　back。　　Once　or　twice　they
thought　they　saw　his　head　shake；　as　one　trembles　in　bitter…
ness　of　spirit；　and　a　toss　of　the　hand　was　given；　as　if　he
knew　that　he　was　watched；　but　a　tread；　whose　vigor　no
sorrow　could　enfeeble；　soon　bore　him　out　of　view；　and
was　lost　in　the　depths　of　the　forest。

Neither　Jasper　nor　his　wife　ever　beheld　the　Pathfinder
again。　　They　remained　for　another　year　on　the　banks　of
Ontario；　and　then　the　pressing　solicitations　of　Cap　in…
duced　them　to　join　him　in　New　York；　where　Jasper　even…
tually　became　a　successful　and　respected　merchant。　　Thrice
Mabel　received　valuable　presents　of　furs　at　intervals　of
years；　and　her　feelings　told　her　whence　they　came；　though
no　name　accompanied　the　gift。　　Later　in　life　still；　when
the　mother　of　several　youths；　she　had　occasion　to　visit
the　interior；　and　found　herself　on　the　banks　of　the　Mo…
hawk；　accompanied　by　her　sons；　the　eldest　of　whom　was
capable　of　being　her　protector。　　On　that　occasion　she　ob…
served　a　man　in　a　singular　guise；　watching　her　in　the　dis…
tance；　with　an　intentness　that　induced　her　to　inquire　into
his　pursuits　and　character。　　She　was　told　he　was　the　most
renowned　hunter　of　that　portion　of　the　State；　　it　was　after
the　Revolution；　　a　being　of　great　purity　of　character　and
of　as　marked　peculiarities；　and　tbat　he　was　known　in　that
region　of　country　by　the　name　of　the　Leather…stocking。
Further　than　this　Mrs。　Western　could　not　ascertain；
though　the　distant　glimpse　and　singular　deportment　of
this　unknown　hunter　gave　her　a　sleepless　night；　and　cast　a
shade　of　melancholy　over　her　still　lovely　face；　that　lasted
many　a　day。

As　for　June；　the　double　loss　of　husband　and　tribe　pro…
duced　the　effect　that　Pathfinder　had　foreseen。　　She　died
in　the　cottage　of　Mabel；　on　the　shores　of　the　lake；　and
Jasper　conveyed　her　body　to　the　island；　where　he　interred
it　by　the　side　of　that　of　Arrowhead。

Lundie　lived　to　mary　his　ancient　love；　and　retired　a
war…worn　and　battered　veteran；　but　his　name　has　been
rendered　illustrious　in　our　own　time　by　the　deeds　of　a
younger　brother；　who　succeeded　to　his　territorial　title；
which；　however；　was　shortly　after　merged　in　one　earned
by　his　valor　on　the　ocean。







End