what it might, I think I could die happy. But I will ask no pledge of you, my child—I will not force you to do what you might repent. Kiss me, Mabel, and go to your Ded."

Had Sergeant Dunham exacted of Mabel the pledge that he really so much desired, he would have encountered a resistance that he might have found difficult to overcome but, by letting nature have its course, he enlisted a power ful ally on his side, and the warm-hearted, generous-minded Mabel was ready to concede to her affections, much more than she would ever have yielded to menace. At that touching moment she thought only of her parent, who was about to quit her, perhaps forever; and all of that ardent love for him, which had possibly been as much fed by the imagination as by anything else, but which had received a little check by the restrained intercourse of the last fortnight, now returned with a force that was increased by pure and intense feeling. Her father seemed all in all to her; and to render him happy, there was no proper sacrifice that she was not ready to make. One painful, rapid, almost wild gleam of thought shot across the brain of the girl, and her resolution wavered; but endeavoring to trace the foundation of the pleasing hope on which it was based, she found nothing positive to support it. Trained like a woman, to subdue her most ardent feelings, her thoughts reverted to her father, and to the blessings that awaited the child who yielded to a parent's wishes.

"Father," she said quietly, almost with a holy calm, "God blesses the dutiful daughter!"

"He will, Mabel; we have the Good Book for that." "I will marry whomsoever you desire.'

"I have no choice that is- none have asked me to have a choice, but Pathfinder and Mr. Muir; and between them, neither of us would hesitate. No, father; I will marry whomsoever you may choose."

"Thou knowest my choice, beloved girl; none other can make thee as happy as the noble-hearted guide"

"Well, then, if he wish it if he ask me again-for, father, you would not have me offer myself, or that any one should do that office for me,”. - and the blood stole across the pallid cheeks of Mabel, as she spoke, for high and generous resolutions had driven back the stream of life to her heart, 66 no one must speak to him of it; but if he seek me again, and, knowing all that a true girl ought to tell the mat she marries, and he then wishes to make me his wife, I will be his."

"Bless you, my Mabel God in heaven bless you, and reward you as a pious daughter deserves to be rewarded." "Yes, father, put your mind at peace; go on this expedition with a light heart, and trust in God. For me, you will have now no care. In the spring —I must have a little time, father but, in the spring, I will marry Pathfinder, if that noble-hearted hunter shall then desire it." "Mabel, he loves you as I loved your mother. I have seen him weep like a child, when speaking of his feelings towards you."

Yes, I believe it; I've seen enough to satisfy me that he thinks better of me than I deserve; and certainly the man is not living for whom I have more respect than for Pathfinder; not even for you, dear father."

"That is as it should be, child, and the union will be blessed. May I not tell Pathfinder this?"

"I would rather you would not, father. Let it come of itself come naturally; the man should seek the woman, and not the woman the man The smile that illuminated Mabel's handsome face was angelic, as even her parent thought, though one better practiced in detecting the passing emotions, as they betray themselves in the countenance, might have traced something wild and unnatural in it. "No, no, we must let things take their course; father, you have ny solemn promise.'

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"That will do that will do, Mabel; now kiss me; God bless and protect you, girl; you are a good daughter." Mabel threw herself into her father's arms, -it was the first time in her life, and sobbed on his bosom like an infaut. The stern old soldier's heart was melted, and the

tears of the two mingled; but Sergeant Dunham soon started, as if ashamed of himself, and gently forcing his daughter from him, he bade her good night, and sought his pallet. Mabel went sobbing to the rude corner that had been prepared for her reception, and in a few minutes the hut was undisturbed by any sound, save the heavy breathing of the veteran

CHAPTER XX.

Wandering, I found on my ruinous walk
By the dial stone, aged and green,
One rose of the wilderness left on its stalk,
To mark where a garden had been.

CAMPBELL

Ir was not only broad daylight when Mabel awoke, but the sun had actually been up some time. Her sleep had been tranquil, for she rested on an approving conscience, and fatigue contributed to render it sweet; and no sound of those who had been so early in motion had interfered with her rest. Springing to her feet, and rapidly dressing herself, the girl was soon breathing the fragrance of the morning, in the open air. For the first time she was sensibly struck with the singular beauties as well as with the profound retirement of her present situation. The day proved to be one of those of the autumnal glory so common to a climate that is more abused than appreciated, and its nfluence was in every way inspiriting and genial. Mabel was benefited by this circumstance, for, as she fancied, her heart was heavy on account of the dangers to which a father, whom she now began to love, as women love when confidence is created, was about to be exposed.

But the island seemed absolutely deserted. The previous night, the bustle of the arrival had given the spot an appearance of life that was now entirely gone; and our heroine had turned her eyes nearly around on every object in sight, before she caught a view of a single human being to remove the sense of utter solitude. Then, indeed, she beheld all who were left behind, collected in a group, around a fire which might be said to belong to the camp. The person of her uncle, to whom she was so much accuscomel, reassured the girl, and she examined the remainder

with a curiosity natural to her situation. Besides Cap and the quartermaster, there were the corporal, the taree soldiers, and the woman who was cooking. The huts were silent and empty, and the low, but tower-like summit of the block-house rose above the bushes, by which it was half concealed, in picturesque beauty. The sun was just casting its brightness into the open places of the glade, an 1 the vault, over her head, was impending in the soft sublimity of the blue void. Not a cloud was visible, and she secretly fancied the circumstance might be taken as a harbinger of peace and security.

Perceiving that all the others were occupied with that great concern of human nature, a breakfast, Mabel walked unobserved towards an end of the island, where she was completely shut out of view by the trees and bushes. Here she got a stand on the very edge of the water, by forcing aside the low branches, and stood watching the barely perceptible flow and re-flow of the miniature waves that laved the shore; a sort of physical echo to the agitation that prevailed on the lake fifty miles above her. The glimpses of natural scenery that offered, were very soft and pleasing; and our heroine, who had a quick and true eye for all that was lovely in nature, was not slow in selecting the most striking bits of landscape. She gazed through the different vistas formed by the openings between the islands, and thought she had never looked on aught more lovely.

While thus occupied, Mabel was suddenly alarmed by fancying that she caught a glimpse of a human form among the bushes that lined the shore of the island that lay directly before her. The distance across the water was not a hundred yards; and though she might be mistaken, and her fancy was wandering when the form passed before her sight, still she did not think she could be deceived. Aware that her sex would be no protection against a rifle-bullet, hould an Iroquois get a view of her, the girl instinctively drew back, taking care to conceal her person as much as possible by the leaves, while she kept her own look riveted on the opposite shore, vainly waiting for some time in the expectation of the stranger. She was about to quit her