The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-03-17
The Last Flower
On the Azalia
IorigInal.I


In that deep yellow afternoon sunlight
peculiar 10 certain portions OF the west.
There IL but one house In sight, and that
Q log cabin. Nc fense incloses II: no
trsss shade II. The only attempt 10
beautify II 10 a row Of flowers on each
side OF the little stoop In its front
From well In the rear a young girl
v carrying watering pot 10 give the
flowers their evening sprinkling. Her
dress II q common calico, It's skirt
reaching only TO her ankles. On her
back hangs sunbonnet. thrown Oh
now that the sun has lost its power.
Tendsrly she bends over her plants.
which seem to raise their lips TO drink
In the refreshing draft. In all that
landscape there IL no other cultivated
beauty.
30 wrapt was she In her occupation
that she did not hear step behind her
till IL was very near; then, turning. she
saw figure and face before which
the beauty Of her flowers paied. TIL
this moment they had been her com.
panlons, her children. the only objects
to love In that lonely land. Hearing
a step, she turned A handsome. good
natured. boyish face, with kindly blue
eyes, was looking at her Amused at
her startled appearance and the pleas
ure she did not attempt to conceal, the
stranger unslung a rife from his back
and rested II on the ground
DO you think" he asked, that ]
could stay here all nlghtT'
'I'll see" And she went into the
house. When she returned TO say that
he could have what he wanted she
found him pouring fresh pot Of water
on her plants. which he had been to
the well 10 bring. A mother seeing one
feeding her hungry children could not
have been more affected. Indeed. ev-
erythipg about the stranger tended to
bring the girl under his magical infiu-
ence. Whence comes this young fellow
TO sympathize with the one delight Of
her lifef She neither knew nor cared
She only felt his presence.
The huntsman spent the night at the
cabin. There were no rules TO govern
the conduct Of the two, and they sat
out on the stoop under the stars till
the moon rose and ecllpscd her heaven.
ly sisters with her greater splendor
The man had been used 20 forms, but
he forgot them now. Only an hour
elapsed between bis arrival and his
first word expressing what both had
felt for that whole hour.
MAY have kissT' he asked.
He whose manner was that OF a god
to ask for a kiss from a daughter Of
the desert!
In the morning he was gone. II i
seemed to her that instead Of the sun
rising II had set. Oh. that the hunting |
grounds had lain near the cabin But
he had promised to return that way |
She did not question that he would
She simply waited and watched and
thought OF him I'll he should come.
one morning she arose threw open
he shutter and looked out The sun
was rising. and his first soft morning
'ays lent 10 the desolate scene some
hin: Ike beuuty. The few trees did
lot look 80 lonely, the uncovered coun
ry did not look 50 barren. now that
he SUMS Hight shone through mellow
ng mIsts. But II the orb OF day was
Using in the east the sun OF the girls
leart was rising In the west. Glanc'
ng thlther. she saw 1.-THE figure step
ling lightly along the road. II was the
'oung stranger and he carried some.
hing In his arms,
When she went downstairs. there on
he stoop sat the huntsman, and near
lin In an earthen pot was a plant-one
hat she had never seen before.
when on the line of the railroad"
Ie said, II sent TO the city for II. Had
not been waiting would have re-
urned earlier. for to give you one mo.
lent OF happiness is worth more than
II the game in the west"
1T is not In bloom" said the girl.
mo; It will not bloom till | come
gain, or, rather, when 1t blooms again
will come"
They spent one happy day together
len the stranger went on Autumn
sded into winter. A traveller stopped
t the cabin one day and, seeing a
anne written on a bit of wood tied to
lie plant, asked:
Has he been hereT
"Yes."
Look out for him, little girl; he's a
cart smasher Hunts hearts as he
units deer or antelope"
The girl turned pale.
"Did he give you that axaleaT" asked ,
le traveller. ,
"Yes, When does 1t bloom2" ,
''In the early spring"
From that time the girl began to wilt
seemed when the winter was passing
It and the azalea began to take on Its
w life that 1t was drawing its vigor
ON its mistress, Before the travellers
rival she had not doubted that the J
yer would come when the plant =
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