. The time--the place--
the route taken--the Mormon train all agreed with what we had
ascertained regarding Stebbins's first expedition across the prairies.
The Mexican had mentioned no names. It was likely he knew them not; or
if so, it was scarcely probable he could have pronounced them. But it
needed not names to confirm me in the belief that "Josh Stebbins" was
the sham-husband, and that she whom he would have betrayed--this
huntress-maiden, was the lost love of my comrade Wingrove--the sister of
my own Lilian. This would account for the resemblance that had struck
me. It no longer seemed vague, in my memory: I could now trace it
palpably and clearly.

And this was the grand beauty upon which the young backwoodsman had so
enthusiastically descanted. Often had he described it to my incredulous
ear. I had attributed his praises to the partiality of a lover's eye--
having not the slightest suspicion that their object was possessed of
such merits. No more should I question the justice of his admiration,
nor wonder at its warmth. The rude hyperbole that had occasionally
escaped him, when speaking of the "girl"--as he called her--no longer
appeared extravagant. In truth, the charms of this magnificent maiden
were worthy of metaphoric phrase. Perhaps, had I seen her first--before
looking upon Lilian--that is, had I not seen Lilian at all--my own heart
might have yielded to this half-Indian damsel? Not so now. The gaudy
tulip may attract the eye, but the incense of the perfumed violet is
sweeter to the soul. Even had both been presented together, I could not
have hesitated in my choice. All the same should I have chosen the gold
and the rose; and my heart's preference was now fixed, fondly and for
ever.

My love for Lilian Holt was a passion too profound to be otherwise than
perpetual. It was in my bosom--in its innermost recesses,
all-pervading--all-absorbing. There would it cling till death. Even in
those dread hours when death seemed hovering above my head, the thought
of Lilian was uppermost--even then did my mind dwell upon the perils
that encompassed her path. And now that I was myself delivered from
danger, had I reason to regard the future of my beloved with
apprehensions less acute? No. The horrid scheme which the trapper's
story had disclosed in respect to her sister--might not she, too, be the
victim of a similar procuration? O heaven! it was too painfully
probable. The more I dwelt upon