Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1914-11-06

In n U among ever wooded hills
They passed the region where the
cruel ak had swung and SCARED; the
trees became bigger. the forest denser
Here and there they came to a rapids
where the canoes had to be lifted and
! carried.
Her almost awed perception of each
unfolding beauty touched him. On a
5utting point they found a deserted
little. cabin, some trapper's winter
abode. There the journey ended. Wher
the hut had been cleaned out. they dis
missed the guide with orders to re
turn every three weeks with fresh
supplies.
Mindful of his resolve, he planned
their days carefully. thinking only thai
they might be perfect for her.
| The man was swept out OF himself
out OF his groove Of thought, as never
before. His struggles and victories
and dtsappointments yeceded; they
seemed part Of another existence. Il
he thought Of them briefly at all, II
was but as q price well paid for his
freedom. He did not guess that the
habit of thinking infinitely for hel
happiness was slowly prying loose
other and firmly fixed habits.
Two moons waxed and waned. The
guide came with supplies, and again
a second time. On his third appear
ance, the time set for their departure
Mark without consulting Kazia, SEN
him back. She did not seem to notice
the change in plan.
On the day when the guide should
have returned again, he did not come,
That evening a storm arose such as
rarely visits even those northern
woods. Mark and Kazia we're out on
the lake for a lazy after-supper paddle,
watching the masses Of black cloude
gather over the hills at the head OF
the lake. There was a rumble of dis.
ant thunder.
Suddenly, overtaking the mountain
GUS vapor, appeared a lower plane OF
clouds. flying before a wind hat struck
h water and sem a line of white
churning down the lake. They we're
not far out, but though they padded
swiftly, their light craft was tossing
like a cork before they reached shore.
They made their landing, dragged the
canoe to safety and fed to the cabin
just as a wall Of green and darkness
swept down upon them.
The fury war soon spent. The storm
passed beyond the lake. Still they
watched, in one of their long silences.
She sighed and stirred, looking UP
at him. Il wonder" She paused.
"Yes?"
Have l hurt your"
Hurt me?"
by loving you. BY coming here"
mo-" he cried. How could any
one be harmed by a perfect love? And
it has been perfect. l can never for
get"
His heart ached with a deep poign-
IN tenderness for her. They we're
silent again. I. . But after a time
.drowsiness overcame him and he slept.
She did not sleep. Until morning
she kept her vigil beside him. Some
times she would lean over and touch
his outflung hand.
When he awoke the was we'll up
w the hills. kazia was standing in
the doorway, looking down the lake.
She heard him stir and turned. He
saw her eyes.
II believe you haven't slept at ALI"
She did not answer that. but smiled.
pointing.
The guide is coming. Let us hurry.
It is time for US to go"
mol" He sprang to his feet.
Please" she put out an appealing
hand. "let us not talk OF 1t, but hurry.
We must 60. I've thought it out. and
it Is best"
They breakfasted hurriedly and be-
gan the brief preparations to leave.
putting the cabin in order and stow
ing into the canoes the little they
would need on the trip down the river.
They were soon ready.
They were about to embark when
Kazia, without explanation, turned and
went back to the cabin. Many min
utes passed and she did not reappear.
Then Mark followed her. He found
her lying prone on the pile Of pine
boughs that had been their couch, face
buried in her arms. Harsh dry sobs
shook her.
With b cry he dropped to his knees
beside her, gently stroking her hair,
trying to soothe her grief. He pleaded
with her to stay.
Soon she had regained control. She
sat up, facing him.
How can you think Of going? Back
there we won't ind it az 1t has been
here"
I'VE must" she answered. And
now, while it's still perfect. It has
been that-not q thing to regret. I've
crowded into two months happiness
enough for a lifetime. If l must pay
for 1t, l am willing. And you
have given 1t to me. Do you think /
haven't seen how you've watched over
me, thought only of me, to make 1t
perfect for me? I car never forget
that. And maybe, some day, l shall
have the chance to repay you. l pray
that / may have the chance
st is l who will have to repay you.
But why leave such happiness! Let
us stay here. where love 10 free and
clean and strong"
IF we only could! But we must go.
Because it wouldn't stay perfect There
are storms even in the wilderness. A
time would come-you are q man
when love wouldn't be enough. You
would begin to want other men. You
would chafe against the loneliness and
inaction. We would go gladly then
and we could look back on this only
~ . dream that failed. But now-oh,
/ shall have something to rememberi