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"I understand you, Mabel, and have no hard feelings, Ihaven't.I sometimes think I should like to live in your neighborhood, that I might look at your happiness; but, on the whole, it's better I should quit the 55th altogether, and go back to the 60th, which is my natyve rigiment, as it might be.It would have been better, perhaps, had Inever left it, though my sarvices were much wanted in this quarter, and I'd been with some of the 55th years agone; Sergeant Dunham, for instance, when he was in another corps.Still, Jasper, I do not regret that I've known you -- ""And me, Pathfinder!" impetuously interrupted Mabel;"do you regret having known _me_? Could I think so, Ishould never be at peace with myself."
"You, Mabel!" returned the guide, taking the hand of our heroine and looking up into her countenance with guileless simplicity, but earnest affection; "how could Ibe sorry that a ray of the sun came across the gloom of a cheerless day -- that light has broken in upon darkness, though it remained so short a time? I do not flatter myself with being able to march quite so light-hearted as I once used to could, or to sleep as sound, for some time to come; but I shall always remember how near I was to being undeservedly happy, I shall.So far from blaming you, Mabel, I only blame myself for being so vain as to think it possible I could please such a creatur'; for sar-tainly you told me how it was, when we talked it over on the mountain, and I ought to have believed you then; for I do suppose it's nat'ral that young women should know their own minds better than their fathers.Ah's me! It's settled now, and nothing remains but for me to take leave of you, that you may depart; I feel that Master Cap must be impatient, and there is danger of his coming on shore to look for us all.""To take leave!" exclaimed Mabel.
"Leave!" echoed Jasper; "you do not mean to quit us, my friend?""'Tis best, Mabel, 'tis altogether best, Eau-douce; and it's wisest.I could live and die in your company, if I only followed feeling; but, if I follow reason, I shall quit you here.You will go back to Oswego, and become man and wife as soon as you arrive, -- for all that is determined with Master Cap, who hankers after the sea again, and who knows what is to happen, -- while I shall return to the wil-derness and my Maker.Come, Mabel," continued Path-finder, rising and drawing nearer to our heroine, with grave decorum, "kiss me; Jasper will not grudge me one kiss;then we'll part."
"Oh, Pathfinder!" exclaimed Mabel, falling into the arms of the guide, and kissing his cheeks again and again, with a freedom and warmth she had been far from mani-festing while held to the bosom of Jasper; "God bless you, dearest Pathfinder! You'll come to us hereafter.We shall see you again.When old, you will come to our dwelling, and let me be a daughter to you?""Yes, that's it," returned the guide, almost gasping for breath; "I'll try to think of it in that way.You're more befitting to be my daughter than to be my wife, you are.
Farewell, Jasper.Now we'll go to the canoe; it's time you were on board."The manner in which Pathfinder led the way to the shore was solemn and calm.As soon as he reached the canoe, he again took Mabel by the hands, held her at the length of his own arms, and gazed wistfully into her face, until the unbidden tears rolled out of the fountains of feeling and trickled down his rugged cheeks in streams.
"Bless me, Pathfinder," said Mabel, kneeling reverently at his feet."Oh, at least bless me before we part!"That untutored but noble-minded being did as she de-sired; and, aiding her to enter the canoe, seemed to tear himself away as one snaps a strong and obstinate cord.
Before he retired, however, he took Jasper by the arm and led him a little aside, when he spoke as follows: --"You're kind of heart and gentle by natur', Jasper; but we are both rough and wild in comparison with that dear creatur'.Be careful of her, and never show the roughness of man's natur' to her soft disposition.You'll get to un-derstand her in time; and the Lord, who governs the lake and the forest alike, who looks upon virtue with a smile and upon vice with a frown, keep you happy and worthy to be so!"Pathfinder made a sign for his friend to depart, and he stood leaning on his rifle until the canoe had reached the side of the _Scud_.Mabel wept as if her heart would break;nor did her eyes once turn from the open spot in the glade, where the form of the Pathfinder was to be seen, until the cutter had passed a point that completely shut out the island.When last in view, the sinewy frame of this extra-ordinary man was as motionless as if it were a statue set up in that solitary place to commemorate the scenes of which it had so lately been the witness.