The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-08-30
7HE EVENING STORY
BIancheneur.


Prince" Louis they called him up
around Port Royal. The first day the
Halifax steamer arrived, Charlotte saw
him in the hotel lobby as she was
seeking information at the desk regard
ing ways and means OF reaching lSle
des Fleurs.
1t was the name that he'd attracted
her-Island of Flowers. A girl student
who had passed the previous summer
in the bay resorts, had told her of 1t,
how it lay like a jewel in the water
how its beaches cleaned like gold III
the sunlight, and the wild, beautiful
reaches of upper salt marshes and sand
dunes banked against the distant
oceans blue.
But it is owned by perfect young
bear, Garlic Anne had added. Louis
Fontaine. He has money. and won't
take Il boarder on the place.
Charlotte never hesitated an instant
when she saw him and heard his name
spoken Leaving her two suitcases at
the desk she crossed to where he stood,
siX-foot-two, with strong, clean cut
face tanned dark by wind and sun, and
blue eyes that never left her lace as
she spoke to him.
Il am an artist and wish to live on
your island for two months, and make
sketches of it,
You will paint my island?" he asked
gravely. In pictures to sell?'
Charlotte said that was her intention.
He thought a moment. his cap held in
his hands Then he deliberately
crossed the long, narrow room and took
up her suitcases.
My mother will take you in her
home. / have my boat ready now
He had not spoken during that Won
derful first sail across the bay. Char
lotte sat where he had placed her,
Watching him at the tiller.
Madame Fontaine had been surprised
and overjoyed at the prospect of sum-
mer guest.
1T is a fairyland,' Charlotte wrote
home. Il have an upper chamber look
ing straight out to sea. and the roses
climb clear up to the window sill. white
and red ones. I like these French peo-
pie Prince Louis is like some Breton
sailor stepped out of The Iceland Fish
erman.' He calls me 'Blanchefleur.'
Isn't that charming? / shall stay until
the middle of September anyway
One night after she had been on the
island about a month she heard some
one singing. u clear, rollicking baritone.
The moonlight lay white over the
island. She looked out and saw d man
down on the beach. He had just drawn
up boat on the sand. And suddenly
the door of the cottage opened. and
the lamplight made a path of god on
the garden walk.
rs that you, Raoul?" asked Madame
softly, TREMENDOUSLY
Aye maman, with rich haul"
Hush, Louis is sleeping"
"Then wake him. We must work
all night
Charlotte listened. every nerve and
sense strained to catch more. She
heard Louis wakened and after awhile
the two went down again toward the
beach and disappeared in the darkness.
The following day she met Raoul sud-
denly as she was painting down on the
rocks. He was younger than Louis,
and his eyes appraised her with frank
admiration. Throwing himself full
length on the sand he talked, not of
her or her work. but of the island and
it's beauty. of days of stepped golden
silences, and nights of mystery out al
sea under the stars.
You are a sailor?" asked Charlotte.
"Of a sort. mann zelle. Sometimes we
fish. sometimes we sail. My brother
One skin brings sometimes thousands.
am more adventurous. I live not
from the largesse of small animals,
from their gift of life to me. Under
stand me? I am rover
Don't you like your brother?" Char
1otte asked, amusedly.
Il resent his luck" He chose his
words deliberately. I'VE have the same
when our father dies 1 buy a fine
boat. He buys the pair of foxes. Now
ne mas llaIlN foxes, and thousands L
have my boat. and nothing. He is al
ways lucky. See now?' He eyed her
with almost passionate resentment. IT
have just sailed clear south to Port
land and never have I seen woman's
face to hold one like a spell. Louis
stays here on his island, and you come
to him like a gift from Cod
Il am not a gift to Louis Fon-
tame; how ridiculous.' .
why do you think he has given
you leave to come here?" He flung
the challenge at her point blank NO
one but a FOntaine has ever stepped
foot on this island. Louis has
brought you here because at first
sight, over yonder in the town he
loves you. And I love you, mann zelle
You have eyes dark as the sea at mid
night. and your hair is light, like the
sunlight, and your skin like the little
wild rose that blooms in the Marshes
Charlotte rose SO hastily her camp
stool and parasol went over in the
sand. Fresh from Wellesley, with
every tradition of Massachusetts CO.
1onial stock inherited in her nature,
she felt suddenly helpless to cope
with the situation. And as she hest
tated, hands elenched. eyes dark with
Indignation. Louis came towards them
down the rock path from the high
huneS. He never noticed his brother,
but spoke to her
Nam 'zelle, you are angry Raoul
is our vagabond. He comes and goes
like the summer storms. We suffer
hi ir, r,ffv IN 40 I1or -