Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1909-06-18
CHAPTER XIV.
IN THE WILD AzALEA.

In the late spring and early sum-
mer the Seven mountains burst sud
denly from their sombre melancholy
and bury themselves for q month in
a wealth OF efflorescence such as one
may ooh for In vain elsewhere north
OF the tropics. The wild gaps and run
become choked with mighty masses of
pink and white that fill even those long
accustomed To IT with wonder. First
comes the miracle OF the dogwood, the
spangling OF the forest with s~potless
white; then the miracle OF the azalea
when the swart hillsides break sudden
ly into pillows OF fire; then the miracle
OF the laurel with it's great masses
OF bloom like baskets OF flowers set
here n there amid the rocks: and
then the miracles of miracles OF the
~rhodendron which fills gap and tangle
and scaur with great banks of un-
broken snow. One might be contented
TO live IL months in the dun solitudes
for the SAX of this one marvellous
month OF flowers.
One visiting in mid-June the mouth
OF Roaring Run will find 1t transformed
almost beyond belief. The fantastic
w%eatherings are empowered in laurel;
the tangle along the Run is a bank OF
solid bloom; n among the cedar
scrubs still shoulders the last OF the
azalea. 1t is a transformation. indeed,
one that no familiarity can ever strip
OF It's semblance Of miracle.
The morning after the pow-wowing
at Roaring Run broke free-skied and
smokeless. BY midday there was no
trace OF the storm. The mountains lay
soft and warm in the spring sun I'm
der its radiance the azalea shot up it's
radiance until ii dominated ridge
and bottom and gap. Along the trough
or Plum Run where 1t flowers in great
est profusion, IL rolled In pillows Of
flame. and ever among II and around
IL, III a deliberate contrast, glistened
the stars of the dogwood. AS Tom
Farthing stood on the crest of Raccoon
ridge Ii seemed TO him as if the noun
tains were in gala dress: green and
brown with fringings OF scarlet and
spanglings OF white.
He was hot and restless. He had
struck up into the ridges after the
Sunday dinner In sheer unrest. on and
on he had tramped without aim or
thought. a mass of color in the sharp
OF the V caught his eye and automati-
cally he turned toward it. AT one place
In an angle OF the rocks the efflores-
seemed TO eliminate. 1t was like
a huge centerpiece or a single giant
blossom. 1t cooled and rested him. He
stood wondering a moment, drinking
In the sweet reek of it, then sat down
in the middle OF the plot, his back
against the sandstone. All was still
save Tor the drone OF the stream near
by n the voice OF q warbler in the
heart Of the tangle.
Uuconsciously, for the thousandth
time, he began to go over the prob
lem whicn was dominating him. What
had become of her? Why had she
left him SO? What was tho mys-
terry OF II all? The brook purled
on; the bird sang over and over
its simple note, and his thoughts be-
came ever more vague and more vague.
He awoke with a start. He was con-
scious of some sharp, sudden noise
close by him, but all was silent when
ne opened his eyes. He was strangely
confused. Everything seemed changed
the sun vas lower; the shadows had
shifted greatly: there was a different
light in the atmosphere. A vague inn
preston or some presence close at hand
caused him To turn his head.
why Iona" he cried In startled
voice, lis 1t you? Is IL really you?p
She did not swe For a moment
she stood as On that first evening by
the ~brooksiee, wher he had come sud-
denly upon her. II he moved she
would vanish.
But how came 20 way up here?'
He did not wait for her to answer; he
made a swift bound through the azalea
and stood beside her. did you know |
was here? Did YOU"
No
Then it's an accident? You just hap
pened to eome??"
Yes"
You were walking and saw this
bunch OF honeysuckle? Is that why?,
abruptly In the direction OF Heller's
Ridge, and began almost to run
through the tapgle.
Iona. don't" he pleaded why do
but bounded Ut the rocks.
wait. Iona, please but she did not
stop. 1t was as II she were afraid OF
him. She cast a swift glance back
and quickened her pace. He was gain
ing on her. AT the SUNNI she
stopped abruptly and faced him.
Wen rest a minute here" she
announced decisively. perching herselt
on a rock.
Tell me-, Iona. what the matter is,
Why do you always run from me
Tell me. Iona He came close 10 her
and looked up into her face.
There's a comfortable seat there
She pointed TO a rock opposite hers
AS he turned he noted that she was
pale. and that there We're flushed spots
In her cheeks.
You are not we'll, Iona. Tell ME
what Is itT' He did not take the seat
but came near to her again.
It's nothing she said absently. She
was looking far out over the valley
which ley bathed ia the evening" light
: The u was Just on the horizon The
stiffness OF the Sabbath evening la,
like a spell From the far away farm
houses and roads there arose no sount
save the faint s'pe-pe-pe-pe" n a xom
an calling Eer chickens, and the low
monotone OF the Run purring with sof
throat. like q kitten half asleep BY itl
mother. A breath Of the hot cloveI
fields. 80 faint as to be only half per
cetved foated up over the scrub csk'
and the rocks.
Iona, I want 20 tell you-
See" she broke In sharply. Ism
IL beautiful? It's like q great Mar
Isn't its" He followed her Ease on
over the valley.
Yes: but Lona-
IA hap Ia four colors: clover. corn