Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-09-26

an avarieious tone by a lovely girl lik,
| Nina, appeared inconsistent. You mean
perhaps, he limited, q that you DO not find
it congenial work to keep cafe, and thai
you will be glad when you can retire from
| business 81
meant. When we have accumulated 10, 0OI
francs we shall part with the money and
| then"
Then, mademoiselle2
We shall begin again. continued Nina
with light hearts; for if we save that sum
| we can purchase our fathers liber.y."
What?" cried the stranger greatly
moved is it possible that"
HGsh" Nina whispered, with her
finger to her lip. as she glanced around at
the table where her brother and his com
panions were seated over their game
whenever Prosper hears this subject men
! toned he is like mailman. II itinterests
| you, monsieur, this terrible disaster which
has befallen US. draw your chair closer and
| viii 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 deep
concern as she proceeded.
in low voice, frequently choked by
| tears, the girl c3utided 10 the SYMPATHETIC
stranger her sad story. Always anxious
to assist his family, Nina began, 81 Il one
day occurred TO father to buy vessel for
the purpose of trading along the coast of
the Adriatic. So be collected together all
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 IS a brave and honest
Captain In those seas. But not many
weeks passed before news reached us
that all was lost" Her utteranee became
thick with sobs, but speedily overcoming
her emotion she continued "a letter
came from father 1t told us only too
plainly what misfortune had befallen him.
One morning, when least expecting such a
mishap, be was attacked by pirates. He
made desperate resistance. but was event
ually overpowered and taxed 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 this letter he adds
that We must, therefore, relnquish all hope
OF ever seeing him again. The girls eyes
were blinded with tears, and for some mo-
ments she could not speak, but, by painful
effort, she succeeded at last. = We are
striving, by every honest means in our
power TO collect the money. 1t is hard
fight. This is only a very modest little
cafe, and our profits are very small. Pros
per gains a few extra francs every week
with his boat in the harbor but many more
years must pass before we can hope to &C.
complish this trying task"
How long" the stranger asked, has
your father been prisoner ?"
Ten years"
Is it possible? '
i was Is when ne went away. At
parting he kissed me on both cheeks" con-
tinued Nina smiling thoughtfully Now
am PSI
Poor childp' 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 will be sitting in the old corner
where you are seated now, as l remember
seeing him when | was child" While
she was still speaking that dreamy look,
which the stranger had observed already,
began gradually to Teappear in her dark
eyes, and she seemed gradually to lose her
self in thought.
The stranger, who felt that his presence
at her side was forgotten, rose from his
seat with suppressed sigh, and crossing
to where Nina's brother and the fishermen
still played at doIninoes, he placed his
hand upon the boatman's shoulder Mon
sieur Prosper" he said, g. ii is almost time
we started. But before We go let us drink
glass together; if" he added, looking
around, if your friends will join US so
much the better"
The fishermen expressed themselves
agreeable. So Prosper filed glasses all
round. Every one rose, "clinked" with
the stranger and wished him bon voyage.
Then Prosper Cornillon assisted "mon-
sieur to envelop himself once more in
his cloak, while Nina came timidly for
ward to take his proffered hand and bid
him adieu. And then out they stepped
into the wind and rain, followed by the
fishermen, leaving Nina all alone in the
cafe, with her hands clasped and wistful
look in her eyes.
1t was still stormy at Marseilles For
some weeks, owing to the gales which had
visited the Mediterranean, the port had
been crowded with vessels driven in by
stress of weather. 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-
blliF AapSiot L iOoiJSI ildu lllIONH ulIUSell
down, with his elbows on the table. IN q
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 weary
look too upon her face but her great,
dreamy eyes were wide open TOR although
late In the evening, ii was not yet the hour
for closing the Cafe Cornillon. At any mo-
ment 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. When it
became 50 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
slouching hat with his sunburnt horny
hand in feeble, hesitating manner; then
choosing table near the hearth, opposite
TO the one upon which Prosper's head was
resting, he sat down and began to strike his
long, white beard thoughtfully, without
raising his eyes.
With what, monsieur, can I serve
your"
The old man answered in a low voice,
Win nls nead SILL Dent, Cafe noir.
Nina fastened to placed a cup of coffee
before him, and when she had filled little
glass with cognac, she resumed her seat be
fore 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 Cornillon, is it not ?u
asked the old man
Nina started as through the voice had
awakened her. Yes, monsieur" answered
the girl. recollecting herself and looking
up quickly, "the Cafe Cornillon"
Kept by Prosper Cornillon ?"
Sleeping there" continued Nina, with a
little jerk of her head.
"Ah,' said the old sailor, II am the
bearer of q message