The Panola weekly star. (Sardis, Miss.) 1882-18??, 1885-04-18
THE TWO STRANGERS.
A Story OF FiiIal Love and Of n
Lovers Devotion.

II was n fuuEh WHIT 4 hlfhi ~
slight iou Wester had been blowing All
day long but since the sun had gone
down and u had grown dark, heavy
gust fell b%oisterously up and down the
narrow old streets Of Marsellet a.
though they had lost their way Many
Of the principal thornughfarcs appeared
comparatively deserted, a. II the storm
had driven most people home Those
who yet remained out of doors seemed
10 he bent upon reaching their domi-
Giles with all possible speed There
was n solitary exception atall. pow.
erfully built man; and upon him a gust
Of wind had little more effect thsn upon
a solid rock E~nyolopod In a thick
black CLOAK, with a military cap drawn
down tightly over his forehead, he
walked along NJ q slow, measured step.
lie never once turned his head, even
when tho wind cast a singing splash Of
rain fall IN bis face. liz was 80 erect,
and strobe forward In such q steady
manner, that one would have supposed
the ecnther absent from hi- thoughts.
When be- reached the quay, he crossed
the road and stepped along the gang
way, 20 close to the edge Of the basin
that by stretching out bis hand he could
have touched tho rigging Of largo YES.
sells as be passed, The danger, even in
broad daylight. when walking so close
10 the edge, would have been great but
upon this pitch.dark. windy night. q
false step meant certain death in the
dock below.
Presently, a small boat, dimly visible
BY the light from a lantern attached 10
the bow. came slowly towards n land
Ing place several yards ahead When
the boat touched the wall of the basin,
the man qulckencd his pace, and on
reaching the spot, looked down, and
demanded, ''Who goes thereP"
prosper Cornillon." replied a voice.
The voice appeared 10 come from n fig
urc In the boat which rcsembled u black
shadow In the darkness.
els your boat for hircP"
EYES. monsieur"
There was a short pause. Then the
stranger, with n soupcon Of command In
his t0nc. said II shall want you to-
night, but not yet"
The boatman, having meanwhile made
fast his boat, took the lantern out OF
the bow and climbed slowly up the
steep wooden steps
Does the Cafe Coruillon, on this
quay, belong 10 youp"
at Is mine aud my sisters" Prosper
replied.
THAT Is lucky" said the stranger, IN
n more cheerful voice. II will sun at
your cafe before we start
Prosper Cornlllon led the way. hold.
ing the lantern so that the light was
thrown directly In their path.
The Cafe Cornillon stood In the center
Of q row Of houses facing the quay. The
frontage was n large window with
small panes Of glass, like n conscrva.
tory. Through the clean white muslin
curtains n light was shining which
illuminated y limited space Of The road
way. Stepping forward. Prosper held
open the door Of the cafe for the stranger
10 enter. II was Il snug, unpretcndinr
little cafe; long, narrow aud low.
pitched. like n cabin on board shin.
with small wooden tables aud chairs
arranged against the walls. Some half.
dozen persons. who looked like fisher.
men. were seated near the window,
drinking coffee aud eognac, and play.
ing at dominocs. They glanced up for
a moment and returned the stranger
salute and then continued their game.
AT the further end of the cafe was an
open hearth, with a fire burning brightly
In tho center; ear this hearth, engaged
IN some culinary operations. stood 4
young girl. She turned when the door
opened, and IN expression u surprise.
mixed with curiosity. gathered In her
face ~ the stranger advanced aud DO.
lilely raised his cap.
"Nina," said Prosper Corniuon. look.
Ing FROM the girl towards the customer,
''this gentleman has hired the boat. hui
he wishes for a little supper before
starting.
Inc stranger nodded approyingly.
"bciore sunrise ! must be on board.
"The name 81 the ship. MONSIEUR
asked Prosper. stroking his DARK beard
n looking with keen eyes into the
stranger lace.
The Livadia."
Tho girl looked up with n distant,
dreamy expression IN her eyes. That
ship" said she, Is though speaking hel
thoughts aloud, rather than addrcs sing
herself TO any one. ''that ship is bound
Tor some Greek port"
For SYRIA, said the stranger. prompt
". while at The same time be removed
bis cloak and sat down At a table neal
the hearth.
Prosper Cornillon turned away nm,
joined the fishermen at the other end o
the cafe. Like q true cdfciter, he wa
soon laughing with the customers. tax
ing a hand Ut dominoes. and calling 4
his sister Nina 10 serve him. as thougI
he were a customer. too.
waiting for his supper. with his bael
leaning against the wall and his lex