“And why part, Mark?  I see not this necessity!”

“Would you have me stay and perish? would you behold me, dragged perhaps from your own arms before the stern judge, and to a dreadful death?  It will be so if I stay much longer.  The state will not suffer this thing to pass over.  The crime is too large—­too fearful.  Besides this, the Pony Club have lately committed several desperate offences, which have already attracted the notice of the legislature.  This very guard had been ordered to disperse them; and this affair will bring down a sufficient force to overrun all our settlements, and they may even penetrate the nation itself, where we might otherwise find shelter.  There will be no safety for me.”

The despondence of the woodman increased as he spoke; and the young girl, as if unconscious of all spectators, in the confiding innocence of her heart, exclaimed, while her head sunk up in his shoulder:—­

“And why, Mark, may we not all fly together?  There will be no reason now to remain here, since the miners are all to be dispersed.”

“Well said, Kate—­well said—­” responded a voice at the entrance of the apartment, at the sound of which the person addressed started with a visible trepidation, which destroyed all her previous energy of manner; “it is well thought on Kate; there will, sure enough, be very little reason now for any of us to remain, since this ugly business; and the only question is as to what quarter we shall go.  There is, however just as little reason for our flight in company with Mark Forrester.”

It was the father of the maiden who spoke—­one who was the arbiter of her destinies, and so much the dictator in his household and over his family, that from his decision and authority there was suffered no appeal.  Without pausing for a reply, he proceeded:—­

“Our course, Mark must now lie separate.  You will take your route, and I mine; we can not take them together.  As for my daughter, she can not take up with you, seeing your present condition.  Your affairs are not as they were when I consented to your engagement; therefore, the least said and thought about past matters, the better.”

“But—­” was the beginning of a reply from the sad and discarded lover, in which he was not suffered to proceed.  The old man was firm, and settled further controversy in short order.

“No talk, Mark—­seeing that it’s no use, and there’s no occasion for it.  It must be as I say.  I cannot permit of Kate’s connection with a man in your situation, who the very next moment may be brought to the halter and bring shame upon her.  Take your parting, and try to forget old times, my good fellow.  I think well of, and am sorry for you, Mark, but I can do nothing.  The girl is my only child, and I must keep her from harm if I can.”