St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-05-31
taken to her lover, I will promise to execute
4 e..s4 !.


FASTENED to change the subject. 81 will not
try any further to read your thoughts. But
tell me" he added, "why does your brother
keep boat for hire in the harbor when he
has such an excellent little cafe to attend to?
1t seem to me that the work is too severe for
you all by yourself"
'.Ah, monsieur, you would not say that, !"
exclaimed Nina, ''if you only knew how
anxious we both are to make money!"
The stranger could not conceal look of
surprise. Such sentiments, uttered in such
an avaricious tone by a comedy girl like
Nina, appeared Inconsistent. ''You mean,
perhaps" he limited, that you do not find
it congenial work to keep cafe. and that
you will be glad when you can afford to re-
tire from business"
ssOh, no, monsieur! That is not what
meant. When we shall have accumulated
10000 francs we shall part with the money;
and them" ,f
-''Then. mademoiselle?"
''We shall begin again, continued Nina,
with light hearts, for if we ever save that
sum, we can purchase oilr fathers liberty"
What" cried the stranger, greatly
moved. us it possible that-"
''Hush!'' Nina whispered, with her finger
to her lip, as she glanced at the table where
her brother and his companions were seated
over their game. whenever Prosper hears
this subject mentioned heis like mailman.
If it interests you, monsieur, this terrible
disaster which has befallen us, draw your
chair closer and will tell you in few
words how it all happened"
The stranger came nearer to Nina's side
and leaned forward in listening attitude.
His face assumed an expression of intense
concern as she proceeded.
In low voice, frequently choked by tears,
the girl confided to the sympathetic stranger
her sad story. 'sAlways anxious to assist
his family, Nina began, sit one day oc-
CURED to father to buy vessel for the pur-
pose of trading along the coast of the
Adriatic. So he collected together all
that he was worth, made capital bargain,
and set sail in his little ship, confident
that his venture would be successful. He
had traded in the Adriatic for others
for many years and was well known
as a brave and honest captain in
those seas. But not many weeks passed
before news reached us that all was lost. :"
Her utterance became thick with sObs, but
speedily overcoming her emotion, she con-
tinued: ga letter came from father. 1t
told us only too plainly what misfortune
had overtaken him. One morning, when
least expecting such mishap, he was at
tackled by pirates. He made a desperate
resistance, but was eventually overpowered
and taken prisoner. They carried him to
Tripoli. The sum which is demanded for
his ransom is so exOrbitant that it will be
impossible for him ever to raise it. In his
letter he adds that we must, therefore, re-
linquish all hope of ever seeing him again. !"
The girls eyes were blinded with tears,
and for some moments she could not speak,
but, by painful effort, she succeeded at
last. eve are striving by every honest
means in our power, to collect the money.
1t is hard fight. This is only very
modest little cafe. and our profits are very
small. Prosper gains few extra francs
every week with his boat in the harbor, but
many more years must pass before we can
hope to accomplish this trying task"
''How long" the stranger asked, ''has
your father been a prisoner"
''Ten years.
SIS it possible?"
81 was fifteen when he went away. At
parting he kissed me on both cheeks" con-
tinued Nina, smiling thoughtfully. 'Now
/ am 25."
''Poor child" said the stranger with great
tenderness.
''During these years we have managed to
save nearly 5000 francs. Perhaps in ten
more years, if we. are very fortunate, we
shall be able to complete the sum, and
father shall be sitting in the old corner
where you are seated now, as 1 remember
seeing him when l was a child" While
she was still speaking, that dreamy look
which the stranger had observed already,
began to reappear in her dark eyes, and she
seemed gradually to lose herself in thought
The stranger, who felt that his presence
at her side was forgotten, rose from his seat
with a suppressed sigh, and, crossing to
where Nina's brother and the fishermen
upon the mans shoulder. Monsieur Pros
per-" said he, sit is almost time we
started. But before we go let us drink a
glass together; if" he added, looking
arOund-ssif your friends will join us so
much the better"
The fishermen expressed themselves
agreeable. So glasses were filled all round.
Every one rose and ''cIicked' with the
stranger, at the same time wishing him
bon voyage.
Then Prosper Cornillon assisted ''lnon-
sieur'' to envelope himself once more in his
cloak, while Nina came timidly forward to
take his prOffered hand and to bid him
.adieu. And then they stepped out into the
wind and rain, followed by the fishermen,
leaving Nina alone in the cafe with her
handsc lasped and wistful look in her
eye.
THE OLD SAILOR.
1t was still stormy at Marseilles. For
some weeks, owing to gales which for some
time had visited the Mediterranean, the
port had been crowded with vessels driven
by stress of weather. In times like these
Prosper COrnillon reaped a rich harvest, for
his boat was in demand from morning till
night. 1t was firing work, but a generous
impulse gave him energy. He was toiling
with the direct object of obtaining his
fathers freedom.
One evening, worn out with his unremit-
ting labors, Prosper had thrown himself
down with his elbow Oh the table, in COR
ner of the cafe near the hearth; and soon
his head had sunk upon his arms and he
had fallen asleep. In front of the fire was
seated his sister Nina, with weary look,
too, upon her face; but her great dreamy
eyes were wide open; for, although late in
the evening, it was not yet the hour for
closing the Cafe Cornillon. At any moment
a customer might enter; and some custom
ers, if Nina was not very wakeful and at
tentive, were apt to grow impatient; indeed
she had scarcely less peace and quietnesS
during the twenty-four hours than her
brother Prosper. At the moment when it
became so late that Nina was on the point
of rising to turn out the lamps and lock up
for the night. the door was slowly opened.
An old sailor in rough coat, the collar of
which was turned up about his neck, mys-
teriously entered the cafe He touched his
slouched hat with his sunburnt horny hand
in feeble, hesitating manner; then choos-
ing table near the hearth, opposite to the
one on which Prosper's head was resting,
he sat down and began to stroke his long
white beard thoughtfully, without raising