Cooper_Pathfinder.txt topic ['13', '324', '378', '393']
already in your company."
" was a great chief," returned the woman proudly.
" had his merits, he had; and he had his demerits, too.
you are not desarted, nor will you be soon. your grief out --
let it out, according to natur', and when the proper time comes
shall have more to say to you."
now went to his own canoe, and he left the island.
the course of the day heard the crack of his rifle once
or twice; and as the sun was setting he reappeared, bringing her
birds ready cooked, and of a delicacy and flavor that might have
tempted the appetite of an epicure. species of intercourse
lasted a month, obstinately refusing to abandon the grave of
her husband all that time, though she still accepted the friendly
offerings of her protector. they met and conversed,
sounding the state of the woman's feelings; but the
interviews were short, and far from frequent. slept in one
of the huts, and she laid down her head in security, for she was
conscious of the protection of a friend, though invariably
retired at night to an adjacent island, where he had built himself
a hut.
the end of the month, however, the season was getting to be too
far advanced to render her situation pleasant to . trees
had lost their leaves, and the nights were becoming cold and wintry.
was time to depart.
this moment reappeared. had a long and confidential
interview on the island with his friend. witnessed their
movements, and she saw that her guardian was distressed.
to his side, she endeavored to soothe his sorrow with a woman's
gentleness and with a woman's instinct.
" you, , thank you!" he said; "'tis well meant, though it's
useless. it is time to quit this place. -morrow we shall
depart. will go with us, for now you've got to feel reason."
assented in the meek manner of an woman, and she withdrew
to pass the remainder of her time near the grave of .
of the hour and the season, the young widow did not
pillow her head during the whole of that autumnal night. sat
near the spot that held the remains of her husband, and prayed,
in the manner of her people, for his success on the endless path
on which he had so lately gone, and for their reunion in the land
of the just. and degraded as she would have seemed in the
eyes of the sophisticated and unreflecting, the image of was
on her soul, and it vindicated its divine origin by aspirations
and feelings that would have surprised those who, feigning more,
feel less.
the morning the three departed, earnest and intelligent
in all he did, the silent and imitative, and
meek, resigned, but sorrowful. went in two canoes, that of
the woman being abandoned: led the way, and
followed, the course being up stream. days they paddled
westward, and as many nights they encamped on islands.
the weather became mild, and when they reached the lake it was
found smooth and glassy as a pond. was the summer, and
the calms, and almost the blandness of , slept in the hazy
atmosphere.
the morning of the third day they passed the mouth of the ,
where the fort and the sleeping ensign invited them in vain to
enter. casting a look aside, paddled past the
dark waters of the river, and still followed in silent
industry. ramparts were crowded with spectators; but ,
who knew the persons of his old friends, refused to allow them to
be even hailed.
was noon when entered a little bay where the __
lay at anchor, in a sort of roadstead. small ancient clearing was
on the shore; and near the margin of the lake was a log dwelling,
recently and completely, though rudely fitted up. was an air
of frontier comfort and of frontier abundance around the place,
though it was necessarily wild and solitary. stood on the
shore; and when landed, he was the first to take him by
the hand. meeting was simple, but very cordial. questions
were asked, it being apparent that had made the
necessary explanations. never squeezed his friend's
hand more cordially than in this interview; and he even laughed
cordially in his face as he told him how happy and well he appeared.
" is she, ? is she?" the guide at length whispered,
for at first he had seemed to be afraid to trust himself with the
question.
" is waiting for us in the house, my dear friend, where you see
that has already hastened before us."
" may use a lighter step to meet , but she cannot carry
a lighter heart. so, lad, you found the chaplain at the
garrison, and all was soon settled?"
" were married within a week after we left you, and
departed next day. have forgotten to inquire about your friend
."
" , not ; the has told me all that: and then love
to hear so much of and her happiness, do. the child
smile or did she weep when the ceremony was over?"
" did both, my friend; but -- "
", that's their natur', tearful and cheerful. 's me!
are very pleasant to us of the woods; and do believe should
think all right, whatever might do. do you think, ,
that she thought of me at all on that joyful occasion?"
" know she did, ; and she thinks of you and talks of
you daily, almost hourly. love you as we do."
" know few love me better than yourself, :
is perhaps, now, the only creatur' of whom can say that. ,
there's no use in putting it off any longer; it must be done, and
may as well be done at once; so, , lead the way, and 'll
endivor to look upon her sweet countenance once more."
did lead the way, and they were soon in the presence of
. 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. the hour of '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
in her manner to and her husband. the latter she
still had a little of the reserve that usually accompanies young
wedlock; but the tones of her voice were kinder even than common;
the glance of her eye was tender, and she seldom 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. , 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.
length the moment came when must go his way.
had already abandoned the canoes, and was posted on the margin of
the woods, where a path led into the forest. he calmly waited
to be joined by his friend. soon as the latter was aware of
this fact, he rose in a solemn manner and took his leave.
"'ve sometimes thought that my own fate has been a little hard,"
he said; "but that of this woman, , has shamed me into reason."
" remains, and lives with me," eagerly interrupted our heroine.
" comprehend it. anybody can bring her back from her
grief, and make her wish to live, you can do it, ; though 've
misgivings about even your success. poor creatur' is without
a tribe, as well as without a husband, and it's not easy to reconcile
the feelings to both losses. 's me! -- what have to do with
other people's miseries and marriages, as if hadn't affliction
enough of my own? 't speak to me, , -- don't speak to me,
, -- let me go my way in peace, and like a man. 've seen
your happiness, and that is a great deal, and shall be able to
bear my own sorrow all the better for it. , - 'll never kiss you
ag'in, , 'll never kiss you ag'in. 's my hand, ,
-- squeeze it, boy, squeeze it; no fear of its giving way, for it's
the hand of a man; -- and now, , do you take it, -- nay, you
must not do this," - preventing from kissing it and
bathing it in her tears, -- "you must not do this -- "
"," asked , "when shall we see you again?"
"'ve thought of that, too; yes, 've thought of that, have.
the time should ever come when can look upon you altogether as
a sister, , or a child, -- it might be better to say a child,
since you're young enough to be my daughter, -- depend on it 'll
come back; for it would lighten my very heart to witness your
gladness. if cannot, -- farewell -- farewell, -- the
was wrong, --yes, the was wrong!"
was the last the ever uttered to the ears of
and . turned away, as if the words choked
him, and was quickly at the side of his friend. soon as the
latter saw him approach, he shouldered his own burthen, and glided
in among the trees, without waiting to be spoken to. , her
husband, and all watched the form of the , in the
hope of receiving a parting gesture, or a stolen glance of the eye;
but he did not look back. or twice they thought they saw his
head shake, as one trembles in bitterness 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.
nor his wife ever beheld the again.
remained for another year on the banks of ; and then
the pressing solicitations of induced them to join him in
, where eventually became a successful and respected
merchant. received valuable presents of furs at
intervals of years; and her feelings told her whence they came,
though no name accompanied the gift. in life still, when the
mother of several youths, she had occasion to visit the interior;
and found herself on the banks of the , accompanied by her
sons, the eldest of whom was capable of being her protector.
that occasion she observed a man in a singular guise, watching her
in the distance, with an intentness that induced her to inquire
into his pursuits and character. was told he was the most
renowned hunter of that portion of the , -- it was after the
, -- a being of great purity of character and of as marked
peculiarities; and that he was known in that region of country
by the name of the . than this .
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.
for , the double loss of husband and tribe produced the
effect that had foreseen. died in the cottage of
, on the shores of the lake; and conveyed her body to
the island, where he interred it by the side of that of .
lived to marry 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.