Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1898-05-06
AN ISLAND ROMANCE.

An old traveller who, as special cor
respondent, story writer and theatrical
manager, has visited ne; rly every part
of tho globe, In the person of J. Charles
Davis Is now here for tho purpose Of
paving the way for J. Choevcr Goodwin
nnd Woolson Morse's musical comedy,
Lost, Strayed or Stolen" He thus de-
scribes one of the odd corners of the
world:
Probably the q~unintcst and most in
teresting island that dots tho waters Of
the world is what was known until aft
er tho last English victory over tho
French as the Isle dc Franco. II is Aiau.
ritius. French in everything but govern
ment, which is English.
Mnuritius Is the home Of romance and
q veritablo gold mine for the story teller
and novel writer. IL is the scene Of good
old Father st. Picrre's Paul and Nir-
ginia," and tho visitor to Port Louis,
the metropolis and principal seaport,
who would attempt to leave tho island
without driving oct and visiting the
grave Of Pnul and Virginia would be
considered an unronantic. unsympa-
thetic heather. 1t is situated in n peace
full valley and reached by IA short drive
from tho capital.
This little island is ono of tho most
cosmopolitan places in existence
French, English, German. Spanish,
italian and "a few American merchants
are engaged in business in tho BAZAAR
u1-..n el. r..,N.- F-,,.e v.~ls1a Aa,-.
Malnys, Persians. the natives Of dada
gnscar, coolies from the Malnbar coast.
Moors from tho strnit Of Gibraltar and
the natives Of upper IndiG elbow each
other in the market places, aud ont
hears the language of every laud in q
half dozen blocks.
Tho supcrstitions Of every country
and the weird tales growing u Of tint
traditions Of all lands have been
brought to the island. taken root and
grown TO be observed by the lower
classes Of nll nations, and consequently
the leland has become the favCrite hunt.
ing ground Of the story teller in search
of genuine novelty. particularly In the
weird and mysterious vein. Besant and
Rice obtained the story Of My Little
Girl" from Mnuritius. Ii wEs here that
the story of the Coco dc Nero" Lad it,
birth. Here the legged of the enchanted
caveTns yawning for the reccl ton OF
shipwrecled ~SuilCrs, with their two
gates. ono leading to tho celestial EN-.
pire and the other to hndes, is repeated
and believed, and those who cross the
island To its northern and most inhabit.
I'd shore can see two great openings,
tho bottom of each being below the low
water mark and the top being high
enough to admit the rigging of u sail.
ing vessel, awaiting for him to choose
which way he will 90, but with nc
guidcrost or trademark to assist him
in his choice.
Although tho government of Mnuri
titus is English tho official language is
French, aud in order to travel without
Inconvenience one must speak il well,
hut in order TO get ut the weird and
mysterious it is necessary to have an
interpreter who is an East Indian and
who appreciates the value Of getting AT
tho bottom Of u subject nfter having
bnce entered into IL. While returning
from a visit TO the famous gardens of
Curpepe l halted ut q little refrcshment
house, and In conversation with the
proprietor discovered that he was not
only an old resident. but a man well
versed in tho folklore of the island and
one who would talk If allowed to.
It is needless to say that | allowed
him TO, and while we were enjoying
some really delicious Manila cheroots
under tho shade of a great banyan tree,
just back Of his house. no told me the
following story;
Shortly after it became impossible
for many members Of the old French
nobility 20 live comfortably in In belle
France a country nobleman, accom-
panied only by the young and beautiful
daughter, left the mother country be-
hind and arrived at Port Louis with lit
tie excepting the family jewels, plate
and honor. The father and daughter
brought with them an old priest who
had been Ninette's instructor and al
most constant companion since the
ehild's dying mother confded her while
but a tOddling infant to the good old
mans care With a few house servants
the oun vet mp modest establishment
On the northern part Of the island. pur-
chased a small plantation and began the
cultivation Of sugar cane. which is the
principal industry of the country.
Under the fostering care of her father.
the priest and the old family servants
Rinette grew TO womanhood without
having often erosged the boundary lines
Of the little polarization on which they
lived. Her fayorite recreation was read
ing, and she INDUCED this education OF
pasiime in a bowerlike nook on the very
face Of the cliff ~overhansing the ocean.
Hero she would spend the delightfully."-
balmy afternoons watching she native
craft either going TO sea, sailing away
INTO the bIne distance until their lateen
sails locked like the wings of a flock OF
Sea gulls or coming up out Of the blue
waters Of the Indian ocean and growing
larger and more distinct until the song
vi the native sailors could be distinctly
heard ia her cliff top nook.
she reached the age Of 10 when one
morning she encountered a young stran,
ger In the person Of the son Of a wealthy
planter who lived many miles over the
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