"
"I am Judith, and Judith only," returned the girl positively -"until
the law gives me a right to another name. Never will I use that
of Thomas Hutter again; nor, with my consent, shall Hetty! Hutter
was not even his own name, I find, but had he a thousand rights to
it, it would give none to me. He was not my father, thank heaven;
though I may have no reason to be proud of him that was!"
"This is strange!" said Deerslayer, looking steadily at the excited
girl, anxious to know more, but unwilling to inquire into matters
that did not properly concern him; "yes, this is very strange and
oncommon! Thomas Hutter wasn't Thomas Hutter, and his darters
weren't his darters! Who, then, could Thomas Hutter be, and who
are his darters?"
"Did you never hear anything whispered against the former life of
this person, Deerslayer?" demanded Judith "Passing, as I did, for
his child, such reports reached even me."
"I'll not deny it, Judith; no, I'll not deny it. Sartain things
have been said, as I've told you, but I'm not very credible as to
reports. Young as I am, I've lived long enough to l'arn there's two
sorts of characters in the world - them that is 'arned by deeds,
and them that is 'arned by tongues, and so I prefar to see and
judge for myself, instead of letting every jaw that chooses to wag
become my judgment.
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