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

! II. THE OLD SAILOR.
1t was still stormy at Marseilles.
For some weeks, owing to gales which
! 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 de-
mand 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 faith
er's freedom.
One evening, worn out with his unre-
mitting labors, Prosper had thrown
himself down, with his elbows on the
table, In a corner 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 a weary look,
| too, upon her tace; but her great
dreamy eyes were wide open for al
though late in the evening, it was not
yet the hour to close the Cafe Cornil-
Ion. At any moment a customer
might enter; and some customers, if
Nina was not wakeful and attentive,
were apt to grow impatient; indeed,
she had scarcely less peace and quiet
ness 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 col
lar OF which was turned up about his
neck, mysteriously entered the cafe.
He touched his slouched hat with his
sunburnt, horny hand in feeble, hes
itating manner; then choosing Il table
near the hearth, opposite to the one
upon which Prosper's head was rest
ing, he sat down and began to stroke
his long white beard thoughtfully,
without raising his eyes.
"With what, monsieur, can I serve
your"
The old man answered in a low voice,
with his head still bent: ''Cafe noir."
Nina FASTENED to place a cup Of cot
fee before him, and when she had filled
little glass with cognac, she resumed
her seat before the hearth. The girls
chair was placed with the back toward
the door. On one side of her was the
table at which the old man sat slipping
his coffee; and on the other side was
Prosper, still fast asleep. Looking
dreamily into the fire, Nina seemed to
have forgotten the presence of both
these men, SO deeply was she absorbed
in her thoughts.
"This is the Cafe Cornillion, is it
not" asked the old man.
Nina started as though the voice had
awakened her. eyes, monsieur" an
swered the girl, recollecting herself and
looking up quickly-''the Cafe Cornil-
lOn.'
except by Prosper Cornillon?"
"Sleeping there" continued Nina,
with little Jerk of her head
"Ah," said the old sailor, II am the
bearer Of a. message
"To him?'
"Yes-to Prosper Cornillon."
FFShall [ rouse him ?"
''No. [ will deliver the message to
you"
Otis the same thing" said the girl,
with a pretty shrug of her shoulders.
II am his sister,
'Nina Cornillon?"
eyes: that is my name"
The old man leaned forward. but
still without raising his eyes, and said.
in a hoarse, indistinct voice: "You
may remember, perhaps, few weeks
ago, entertaining young soldier who
passed through this port on his way
to Greece. Your brother convened
him in his boat on board the Livadia,
aship bound for SYRIA"
II remember the gentleman we'll"
said Nina in q faltering voice. aHe
gave Prosper a piece Of gold before
parting to sustain us in our efforts to
collect the large sum of money which
is demanded by Greek pirate as a
ransom for our fathers liberty"
at is from this young soldier, Col.
Lafont," continued the old sailor.
that l bring the message"
Nina looked round quickly, with
sparkling, eager eyes. "What is the
message, monsieur ?"
"Well," answered the old man,
speaking slowly, "his words to you-I
mean to Prosper Cornillon-were
words of encouragement. You must
never despair! That was how the
young colonel expressed it. Because.
as he argued, the day might not be
far distant when your father would be
set Free"
With her eyes bent thoughtfully up
on the FIRE, Nina said: ga very kind