LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 121 



and light up all the nooks and corners of his rugged breast, and 

 discover to his mind's eye that one deep-rooted memory clung there 

 still, though long neglected ; proving that, spite of time and change, 

 of life and fortune. 



" On revient toujours a ses premiers amours." 



Often and often as La Bonte sat cross-legged before his soHtary 

 camp-fire, and, pipe in mouth, watched the blue smoke curHng 

 upward in the clear cold sky, a well-remembered form appeared 

 to gaze upon him from the vapory wreaths. Then would old 

 recollections crowd before him, and old emotions, long a stranger 

 to his breast, shape themselves, as it were, into long-forgotten but 

 now familiar pulsations. Again he felt the soft, subduing influence 

 which once, in days gone by, a certain passion exercised over his 

 rnmd and body ; and often a trembling seized him, the same he 

 used to experience at the sudden sight of one Mary Brand, whos;i 

 dim and dreamy apparition so often watched his lonely bed, oi.. 

 unconsciously conjured up, cheered him in the dreary watches oi 

 the long and stormy winter nights. 



At first he only knew that one face haunted his dreams by night, 

 and the few moments by day when he thought of any thing, and 

 this face smiled lovingly upon him, and cheered him mightily. 

 Name he had quite forgotten, or recalled it vaguely, and, setting 

 small store by it, had thought of it no more. 



For many years after he had deserted his home. La Bonte had 

 cherished the idea of again returning to his country. During this 

 period he had never forgotten his old flame, and many a choico 

 fur he had carefully laid by, intended as a present for Mary Brand ; 

 and many a gdge cV amour of cunning shape and device, worked in 

 stained quills, of porcupine and bright- colored beads — the handi- 

 work of nimble-fingered squaws — he had packed in his possible 

 sack for the same destination, hoping a time would come when ht 

 might lay them at her feet. 



F 



