Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-05-27

taking a hand at dominoes, and call
ing to his sister Nina to serve him, as
though he were q customer too.
Meanwhile, the stranger sat in ST.
lence, waiting for his supper, with his
back leaning against the wall and his
legs stretched out towards the fire.
He was dressed in the uniform of
French colonel, though only a man Of
% or 80 at the utmost. He had q
handsome, expressive face, his eyes
frequently Frightening with some pass
ing thought But when he turned his
chances upon Nina his look grew seri-
Gus and sympathetic.
Few could have resisted studying
the face of Nina Cornillon, not merely
on account of it's beauty, but because
some trouble, sustained with brave
resolution, was portrayed in every
feature. That dreaminess in the eyes,
already referred to, which seemed to
indicate that her thoughts were wan
dering far beyond the port OF Mar
settles, was seldom suppressed except
when she was spoken to; and when
the conversation ceased, her look APP
peared to sink away again into dis
tance, while a smile would break pen
sively upon her lips, and tears glisten
upon her long black lashes.
Scarcely a word passed between the
stranger and Nina Cornillon until the
supper was cleared away, when ''mon-
sleur" lit his cigar and drew his chair
closer to the hearth. But when the
girl had served the customary cup of
coffee and was pouring out the petit
verre, thegentlemanr remarked: "Shall
| tell you, mademoiselle, where your
thoughts are traveling?"
The girl looked with puzzled ex-
preston into the strangers face.
You would, indeed, be a magician"
said she, eff you could"
'tYour thoughts" said he, care
travelling along the shores of Greece"
Nina started and changed color.
For a while she seemed too troubled
to speak. Seating herself in front of
the hearth, she looked thoughtfully
into the fire.
eff mademoiselle will trust me, the
stranger presently remarked in q soft
tone 'even though she might wish a
message taken to her lover, | will
promise to execute any errand faith
fully"
The girl glanced up with touch of
indignation in her face. But suddenly
dropping her eyes, she said with adeep
blush on her cheeks, II have no
lover"
The stranger looked grave; and
as though conscious of having made a
blunder, he FASTENED to change the
subject. II will not try any further
to read your thoughts. But tell me-"
he added, ''why does your brother
keep bOatfor hire in the harbor when
he has such an excellent little cafe to
attend to? 1t seems to me that the
work is too severe for you all by your
self"
'Ah, monsieur, you would not say
that" exclaimed Nina. eff YOU ONLY
knew how anxious we both are to
make money!
The stranger could not conceal a
look of surprise. Such sentiments, ut
tered in such an avaricious tone by a
comely girl like Nina, appeared incon-
sIstent. "4ou mean, perhaps" he
limited, ''that you do not find it con-
genial work to keep a cafe, and that
you will be glad when you can afford
to retire from business ?"
ooh, no, monsieur! That is not
what L meant. When we shall have
accumulated 10000 francs we shall
part with the money; and then
''Then, mademoiselle?"
''We shall begin again." continued
Nina, with light hearts; for if we ever
save that sum, we can purchase our
fathers liberty"
What !" cried the stranger, greatly
moved. "Is it possible that
"Hushn' Nina whispered, with her
finger to her lip, as she glanced around
at the table where her brother and his
companions were seated over their
game. whenever Prosper hears this
subject mentioned he is like a mad
man. If it interests you, monsieur,
this terrible disaster which has be-
fallen 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 a listening
attitude. His face assumed an ex-
preston OF intense concern as she pro-
ceeded.
In a low voice, frequently choked by
tears, the girl confded to the sympa-
thetic stranger her sad story. cal
ways anxious to assist his family"
Nina began, "it one day occurred to
father to buy a vessel for the purpose
Of trading along the coast of the Adri. |
ATTIC. 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 9th
ers for many years, and was we'll
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 overcom-
ing her emotion, shecontinued: "a let
ter came from father It told us only
too plainly what misfortune had over
taken him. One morning, when least
expecting such a mishap, he was at
tackled by pirates. He made a des-
perate resistance, but was eventually
OverDOWered and taken prisoner