Part 42 (2/2)
”It is no concern of Ohquamehud, whether Quadaquina is a bird, or a squirel, or a fish He will fly in the air, or swi permission from any one”
”And Ohqua wherever he goes _Ahque_! (beware) He will strike the little dog if he presses too close upon his heels” So saying, and as if to give ehtly touched the shoulders of the boy, with a shtning falling in a powder-er of Quadaquina, when he felt the touch of the rod He ju up a stone, hurled it with all his strength at Ohquamehud It ell that the Indian leaped behind a tree near which he stood, else the missile, with such true aiht have proved fatal As soon as the stone was thrown, the Indian stepped up to the boy, who stood tre no intention on the part of the latter to renew his violence, he passed close by hih, and pursued his way, Quadaquina following, though at some distance, in his steps The boy came into the hut of Peena within a short time after the entrance of the Indian, nor could the most jealous eye have detected in either a trace of what had happened Ohquanity to the seat he usually occupied, and his pipe presently sent grateful voluh the cabin He noticed, however, that when Quadaquina came in, his mother made no inquiry into the cause which had detained hiin his ue, and he fancied that if for any reason he had been watched by Quadaquina, the lesson he had just given would intiging the steps of one so vigilant as himself, and who had avowed his intention to punish the offender, if he were caught again
Quadaquina, when they were by themselves, related to his mother what he had witnessed at the Falls, but made no allusion to the quarrel betwixt Ohquamehud and hiive no account of the address to the Manito, the distance having been too great to allow him to hear the words His story caused no alarm to Peena, inasmuch as acquainted with the superstitions of the Indians, she ascribed the sacrifice to a desire to propitiate the Manito, in order to secure a fortunate journey to the western tribe
CHAPTER xxxVI
But love itself could never pant For all that beauty sighs to grant, With half the fervor hate bestows Upon the last eht, they fold Those arms that ne'er shall lose their hold; Friends hs at faith: True foes, once met, are joined till death!
BYRON'S _Giaour_
Pownal, upon parting with Esther, sought his father But the expression of his apprehensions was so vague, he was so incapable of giving his fears any definite shape, that he made no more impression than the woman The calm austerity of the Solitary's face almost melted into a smile at the idea that any event could occur except in the deters It was the pride of the human heart; it was the presumption of the human intellect that dreamed of freedom of choice or of action If individual wills were permitted to cross and jostle each other, the universe would be a scene of confusion
Freedorand, serene, supreme will es were moved by a law as certain and irresistible as that which impels worlds in their orbits The conviction was a part of Holden's self He could no more be convinced of its fallacy than of his own non-existence, and his son left him with the full assurance that, even were he to know that his life was menaced, he would be the last one to take any precautionary measures for its protection But, in truth, the fears of Poere so slight, that after an allusion to them, he forbore to dwell upon the subject, especially as the conversation took a turn as interesting to hie, my son,” said Holden, abruptly, ”to take to thee a wife, and the bounty of the good man whose name I perratify an innocent and natural desire Hath thy heart moved at all in this , and the young man blushed and hesitated as he replied, that there was yet abundant tis
”Think not,” said the Solitary, observing his son's hesitation, ”that I desire to intrude into thy confidence, though the heart of a son should be like a clear stream, the bottom of which may be seen by a father's eye I speak, because partly common fame, and partlylady's”
”And who is the lady,” inquired Pownal, laughing, ”whoallantry has so compromised?”
”Nay, if thou wilt not be frank with , ill drop the subject”
”I will be frank I will answer any question you may ask”
”Tell me, then, is there any relation between thee and Anne Bernard tenderer than that of common acquaintance?”
Pownal expected the question, and was therefore prepared
”I esteehly,” he said ”I a lady who is her superior I should consider , except the language of friendshi+p, has passed betwixt us”
”I am satisfied,” said Holden, ”and it is evidence of excellence in thyself that one possessing the lovable and noble qualities of Anne should attract thee But though, in the limited circle of the s rooive thee the hand of his only daughter?”
”I have made no pretensions to the hand of Miss Bernard; and even if I did, I see in it no presumption There is no distinction of patrician and plebeian in this country”
”There are no such names, and yet there is a distinction Will it please the rich and polished Judge to ally his daughter with the son of one likehi that sounded like arrogance or superciliousness from him, and he has uniforh for reasons of your own you have chosen to lead hitherto this life of solitude and privation, why continue to do so? Why not leave this e and the society you are capable of adorning?”
”Forbear! In this miserable hut, as thou callest it, I found the peace that passeth understanding, and its walls are to s of palaces If thou lovest Anne Bernard, as I strongly suspect, I say not unto thee cease to love her, but wait, hoarding thy love in secrecy and silence, until the fullness of the time is come
Wilt thou not pro, father, that h: then let there be no change in thy conduct If thou have the love of Anne, keep it as a precious jewel, but for the present be content with the knowledge thereof: if thou have it not, seek not thereafter I proood, nor will I unreasonably try thy patience”
Here the interview ended, and Pownal departed, wondering over the h he could not but confess to himself there was a worldly wisdom (as he supposed it to be) in the advice, not to be precipitate, but to watch the course of events