The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-07-12
BY
Charles Tenny Jackson

Indeed. from her slipper toes 20 the
Wild blackberry bloom In her hair.
She led the procession that escorted
uk Yankee fcl.los.
Other guests we're arriving, main.
~ leAn-hippcd market hunters from
the eeep swamp who beachod their
piroguea and came up In their very
tight trousers and well.washed
denima. Softly they greeted US. and
bfighteyed they peered within the
hall. To each up rose Papa Prosper
and the baron. one on either aide
OF the door. and welcomed them
with their grandest airs. Neither
would be outdone. II Mcssieur lie
Baron bowed twice. Papa bowed
thrice. and being as lean as the
worthy baron was fat. he could bow
Just twice as far IN half the time.
Wondrous was their moonlight
and the south wind from their sea-
1 watched all that gentle youth
within until the dingy hall fell away
In long ylstas oyeraFched BY dreams
and then ! was aware that my
eyes were upon Clell aud Laure.
They were swinging slowly in the
soft light: with his all fair case.
looking down AT her upturned face.
and she answering him with that
air OF distinction. OF whimsical ap-
peal and caressing which she could
use.
Virgil was watching them also.
saw the dumb wistfulness OF the
man who had given his youth to
fighting years and had. along the
way. forgotten something that
might have made them fairer. He
did not dance: he declined both the
baron's studied opportunities and
Laure's testing glances.
Presently | saw the baron signal
the girl. a shrug that indicated WI.
liams. And she seemed 10 hesitate.
watching across her fan. and then.
at a more decided and silent re-
quest from the old man. she slipped
across TO Virgil. She tapped his
sleeve. with smile. He turned.
startled at the manifest invitation.
"Ah. II yon won't dance with me.
come try the sherbet anisette. Z"
She laughed rs n daring him to uu.
bend. Wont YOU, now. m'sieu?
Come-for tonight. a truce. Come
ON the other gallerie. where the
sherbet Is. And there's a little
seat We will not talk OF Isle
Bonne-only nom do Dieu' What
folly to sue us. II has been ours
since tho days OF the viceroys OF
Spain"
He went along with her .rire
hesitant now Mt her ardent intent
to please him. knew he was be.
wildered by the closeness OF her.
fer airs, at once barbaric and
quantity OF an exquisite and van
ished breeding. touched with the
pertness of today. For she could
show all OF these at times. | was
moro astonished as noted her
evenings transformation. She wore
her gown--the simple rich gown of
the Comus ball imported by that
Now Orleans aunt-with an odd and
merry nonchalance In that rough
room IN an endeavor to mako the
other girls feel at ease.
Within tho wide hall tho dronlng
waltzes went on; but out here in
the cool dark | was all but asleep
with the peace OF Laure's ISLE one
could Just make out that she was
leaning TO Virgil from the gallerie.
My eyes wandered sleepily to the
left where was the impenetrable
cypress jungle. A pink bloom was
against or behind Il. And while |
watched this. some one came along
the gallerie and leaned to me. It
was Cell. and he mouoned TO the
forest.
"The marsh is burning. Big Jim
says II must be beyond the canal.
and the wind is right to bring 1t in.
Where's Williams"
There" | motioned 10 them.
But Clell did not 30 on.
Tell him" Clcll muttered. the
dynamite boat is in the main ditch
not thirty yards from the dredre-
aud In the fire.linc as that wind
holds"
Virgil must have heard him. He
was on his feet and by us. staring