r and coxcombry of the
younger men, or watched the gambols of several dark-eyed little
children--embryo buffalo-hunters and voyageurs--whose mothers had
brought them to the fort to get a last kiss from papa, and witness the
departure of the boats.

Several tender scenes were going on in out-of-the-way places--in angles
of the walls and bastions, or behind the gates--between youthful couples
about to be separated for a season. Interesting scenes these of pathos
and pleasantry--a combination of soft glances and affectionate, fervent
assurances; alternate embraces (that were _apparently_ received with
reluctance, but _actually_ with delight), and proffers of pieces of
calico and beads and other trinkets (received both _apparently_ and
_actually_ with extreme satisfaction) as souvenirs of happy days that
were past, and pledges of unalterable constancy and bright hopes in days
that were yet to come.

A little apart from the others, a youth and a girl might be seen
sauntering slowly towards the copse beyond the stable. These were
Charley Kennedy and his sister Kate, who had retired from the bustling
scene to take a last short walk together, ere they separated, it might
be for years, perhaps for ever! Charley held Kate's hand, while her
sweet little head rested on his shoulder.

"O Charley, Charley, my own dear, darling Charley, I'm quite miserable,
and you ought not to go away; it's very wrong, and I don't mind a bit
what you say, I shall die if you leave me!" And Kate pressed him
tightly to her heart, and sobbed in the depth of her woe.

"Now, Kate, my darling, don't go on so! You know I can't help it--"

"I _don't_ know," cried Kate, interrupting him, and speaking
vehemently--"I don't know, and I don't believe, and I don't care for
anything at all; it's very hard-hearted of you, and wrong, and not
right, and I'm just quite wretched!"

Poor Kate was undoubtedly speaking the absolute truth; for a more
disconsolate and wretched look of woe-begone misery was never seen on so
sweet and tender and lovable a little face before. Her blue eyes swam
in two lakes of pure crystal, that overflowed continually; her mouth,
which was usually round, had become an elongated oval; and her nut-brown
hair fell in dishevelled masses over her soft cheeks.

"O Charley," she continued, "why _won't_ you stay?"

"Listen to me, dearest Kate," said Charley, in a very husky voice.
"It's too late to draw back now, even if I wished to do so