my mark. She is book-learned, and I am
not; and she paints, and is a musician too and has all the
accomplishments. She was an only child, and her father was quite another
sort of person from his brother who now has her in management."

"She is an orphan, then?"

"Yes, poor girl, and she feels pretty clearly that this isn't the sort
of country in which she has a right to live. I like her very well, but,
as I say, she's a little above me; and, besides, you must know, 'squire,
I'm rather fixed in another quarter."

They had now reached the chamber of our hero, and the servant having
placed the light and retired, the parties took seats, and the
conversation recommenced.

"I know not how it is, Forrester," said the youth, "but there are few
men whose looks I so little like, and whom I would more willingly avoid,
than that man Rivers. What he is I know not--but I suspect him of
mischief. I may be doing wrong to the man, and injustice to his
character; but, really, his eye strikes me as singularly malicious,
almost murderous; and though not apt to shrink from men at any time, it
provoked something of a shudder to-day when it met my own. He may be,
and perhaps you may be able to say, whether he is a worthy person or
not; for my part, I should only regard him as one to be watched
jealously and carefully avoided. There is something creepingly malignant
in the look which shoots out from his glance, like that of the
rattlesnake, when coiled and partially concealed in the brake. When I
looked upon his eye, as it somewhat impertinently singled me out for
observation, I almost felt disposed to lift my heel as if the venomous
reptile were crawling under it."

"You are not the only one, 'squire, that's afraid of Guy Rivers."

"Afraid of him! you mistake me, Forrester; I fear no man," replied the
youth, somewhat hastily interrupting the woodman. "I am not apt to fear,
and certainly have no such feeling in regard to this person. I distrust,
and would avoid him, merely as one who, while possessing none of the
beauty, may yet have many of the propensities and some of the poison of
the snake to which I likened him."

"Well, 'squire, I didn't use the right word, that's certain, when I said
afraid, you see; because 'tan't in Carolina and Georgia, and hereabouts,
that men are apt to get frightened at trifles. But, as you say, Guy
Rivers is not the right kind of man, and everybody here knows it, and
keeps clear of him. None cares to say