Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-09-18
II. THE OLD SAILOR.

1t WAS still stormy at MarseilIes. For some
weeks, owing to the gales which had visited
the Mediterranean, the port bad been crowd
ed with vessels, driven in by stress of wealth
er. In times like these Prosper Cornillon
reaped harvest for his boat was in demand
from morning till night 1t was firing work
but 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 elbows on the table, in q 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
COrnllon. At any moment customer might
enter; and some customers, If Nina was not
very wakeful and attentive, 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 il became 80 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 a rough coat, the collar of
which was turned mp about his neck, mystic.
riously entered the cafe. He touched his
slouching hat with his sunburnt horny hand
in feeble, hesitating manner; then choos-
ing table near the hearth, opposite to the
one upon which ProspeT's head was resting,
be sat down and began to stroke his long
white beard thoughtfully without raising his
eyes.
"With what, monsieur, can l serve you 2"
The old man answered in a low voice, with
his head still bent Cafe noir."
Nina hastened to place cup of coffee be-
fore him and when she had filled q little
glass with cognac, she resumed her seat be-
fore the hearth. The girls chair was placed
with the back towards 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, 30 deeply
was she absorbed in her thoughts.
''This is the Cafe Cornillon-is il not?"
asked the old man.
Nina started as though the voice had awAk
ened her. "Yes, monsieur" answered the
girl Tecollectiug herself and looking up
| quickly-"the Cafe Cornillon."
"Kept by Prosper Oornillon2"
"Sleeping there continued Nina, with a
little jerk of her head.
'Ah," said the old sailor, ~ am the bear
or of a message"
"To himl"
"Yes-to Prosper Oornillon."
''Shall rouse himY"
mo. l will deliver the message 10 you" +"
'It is the same thing" said the girl, with
pretty shrug of her shoulders. 81 am his
sister"
''Nina Oornillon2"
Eyes; that is my name,"
The old man leaned forward, but still with
out raising his eyes, and said in a hoarse, in
distinct voice;
"You may remember, perhaps, few
weeks ago, entertaining young soldier who
passed through this port on his way TO
Greece. Your brother conveyed him in his
boat on board the Lvada, a ship bound for
Syra."
II remember the gentleman we'll, " said
Nina, in faltering voice. "He gave Pros
per piece OF gold before parting, 10 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"
TT is from this young soldier, Colonel La
font" continued the old sailor, ''that bring
the message"
Nina looked round quickly, with sparkling
eager eyes. "What is the message, mon
sieur p
"Well," answered the old man, speaking
slowly, "his words 10 you'll mean, 10 Pros
per OOrnillon- we're words of encourage
ment You must never despair That wal
how the young colonel expressed it. Because
az he argued, the day might not be far dis
tant when your father would be set Free"
With her eyes bent thoughtfully upon thu
are, Nina said "a very kind message. How
good OF him to think of mel"
''The message was TO Prosper Cornillon.
''To think. should say, OF my brothe
Prosper. But