Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1883-10-06
THE
LAST OF THE MOHICANs.
BY
j. Fenimore Cooper.
CONTINUED from last week.

INOnllnueu lrOill luSt WEEK.
"You appear to possess the privil-
edge ofcastinga VOTE" returned Hey
ward: "we are three, whilst you have
consulted no one but yourself"
Gwen SO. The first part to be OBJ
tanned is to know ones own mind.
Once sure of that,-and where woman
are concerned it is not easy,-the
next is, to act up to the decision. |
have endeavored to do both, and
here l am"
off you journey to the lake, you
have mistaken the route" said Hey
ward, haughtily; "the highway thjth-
er is at least half a mile behind you."
Given so," returned the stranger
nothing daunted by this cold recep-
ton: 81 have tarried at Edward a
week, and | should be dumb not to
inquire the road was to journey
and if dumb there would be an end
to my calling" After simpering in
small way, like one whose modesty
prohibited more open expression of
his admiration of witticism that
was perfectly unintelligible to his
hearers, he continued, "It is not pru-
dent for any one of my profession to
be too familiar with those he has to
instruct for which reason | follow not
the line of the army besides which, |
conclude that q gentleman of your
character has the best Judgment in
matters of wayfaring; have there
fore decided to join company, in order
that the ride may be made agreeable,
and partake of social communion"
"A most arbitrary, if not a hasty
decisionw exclaimed Hayward, unde-
cided whether to give vent to his grow
ing anger, or to laugh in the others
face. "But you speak of instruction
and a profession; are you an adjunct
to the provincial corps as a master Of
the noble science of defence and
offence; or, perhaps, you are one who
draws lines and angles under the pre-
tence of expounding the mathemat-
les 2"
The stranger regarded his inter-
rogator moment in wonderment; ;
and then, losing every mark of self
satisfaction in solemn humility, he
answered:
"Of offence, hope there is none
to either party; of defence, l make
none-by Gods good mercy, having
committed no palpable sin since last
entreating his pardoning grace. l
understand not your illusions about
lines and angles; and leave expound-
ing to those who have been called
and set apart for that holy office. l
lay claim to no higher gift than a
small insight into the glorious art
of petitioning and thanksgiving, as
practiced in psalmody."
"The man is most manifestly, a
disciple of Apollo" cried the amused
Alice, sand | take him under my
own especial protection. Nay, throw
aside that frown, Hayward, and in
pity to my longing ears, suffer him
to journey in our train. Besides"
she added, in a low and hurried voice,
casting glance at the distant Cora,
who slowly followed the footste ps
of their silent but sullen guide, sit
may be friend added to our strength
in time of need"
"Think you, Alice, that | would
trust those love by this secret path,
did l imagine such need could hap
pen?"
"Nay, nay, think not of it now;
but this strange man amuses me;
and if he hath music in his soul,'
let us not churlishly reject his COM
pany." She pointed persuasively
along the path with her riding-whip,
while their eyes met in look which
the young man fingered a moment
to prolong; then yielding to her gen.
tie influence, he clapped his spurs
into his charger, and in few moments
was again at the side of Cora.
81 am glad to encounter thee,
friend" continued the maiden, waving
her hand to the stranger to proceed,
as she urged her Narraganset to re-
new its amble. "Partial relatives
have almost persuaded me that | am
not entirely worthless in duet, my
self; and we may enliven our way
faring by indulging in our favorite
pursuit. 1t might be of signal ad-
vantage to one, ignorant as |, to hear