St. Landry democrat., 1885-04-18

IeilnqulSh all hope of ever seeing him
again. The girls eyes were blinded
with tears, and for some moments she
could not speak, but, by painful effort,
she succeeded at last. s'We are striy-
ing by every honest means in our
power, to collect the money. It is a
hard light. This is only verv modest
llttle cafe, and our profits are yery
small. Prosper gains a few extra
francs every week with his boat in the
narbor, but many years must pass be-
tore we can hope to accomplish this
trying task. y
mas your father been a prisoner?''
Ten years.
rs itpossible?''
4 was fifteen when he went away.
at parting he kissed me on both
cheeks, " continued Nina, smilinor
thoqlghtfully. "Now I am TWENTY-FIVE. 3
foor child? said the stranger. with
great tenderness.
During these years we have man
aged to save nearly three thousand
francs. Perhaps, in ten more wears. if
we are very fortunate, we shalt be able
to complete the sum, and father will he
sitting in the old corner where YOU are
seated now, as remember seeing him
when l was child.'' While she was
still speaking that dreamy look, which
the stranger had observed already, he
gan to reappear on her dark ewes. and
she seemed gradually to lose herself in
thought.
The stranger, who felt that his pres
ence at her side was forgotten, rose
from his seat with a suppressed sigh.
and. crossing to where Nina's broth |
er and the fishermen still PLAYED
at domlnoe's, he placed his hand upon
the boatman's shoulder. Monsieur |
Prosper" said he, 'sit is almost time we |
started. But before we go, let us drink
glass together; if. y he added, looking
round-''if your friends will ioin US. SO |
much the better.''
The fishermen expressed them
selves agreeable. So Prosper flied |
glasses al! round. Every one rose and
"cllnked with the stranger. at the
same time wishing him bon voyage.
Then Prosper Corn1l1on assisted
monsieur to envelop himself once
more in his cloak, while Nina came
hmldly forward to take his proffered
hand and to 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.
II. THE OLD SAILOR.
1t was still stormy at Marseilles For
some weeks owing to the gales which
lad visited the Mediterranean, the port
las been crowded with vessels, driven
n by stress of weather. In times like :
hese Prosper Cornillon reaped har-
'est; for his boat was in demand from /
morning till night It was firing work. t
'ut generous impulse gave him en- c
'rgy. He was toiling with the direct
'blect of obtaining his fathers freedom.
One evening, worn ous with his unre- 4
hitting labors, Prosper had thrown a
imself down, with his elbows on the t
able, in the corner of the cafe near the h
earth; and soon his head had sunk tt
pom his arms and he had fallen asleep. L
q front of the fire was seated his sister
lima, with weary look, too, upon her y
zee; but her great dreamy eyes were b
'ide open; for although late in the 81
vening, it was not yet the hour for t;
losing the Cafe Cornillon. At any mo- s.
lent customer might enter; and \
ome customers, if Nina was not very C
'akeful and attentive, were apt to grow O.
Inpatient; indeed, she had scarcely less fl
eace and quietness during the twenty h
'ur hours than her brother Prosper. r.
t the moment when it became so late h.
lat Nina was on the point of rising to W
lrn out the lamps and lock up for the il
ght, the door was slowly opened. An n
d sailor in rough coat, the collar of Il
hich was turned up about his neck, fo
ysterious1y entered the cafe. He st
uched his slouching hat with his sun ce
lrnt, horny hand in feeble, hesitat- n,
g manner; then choosing table near W
e hearth, opposite to the one upon Sc
hich Prosper's head was resting, he
t down and began to stroke his long, as
bite beard thoughtfully, without rals- ne
g his eyes.
!" With what, monsieur, can I serve be
u?' Ii1
The man answered in low voice, qu
tn his head still bent ''Cafe noir. y lit
Nina hastened to place cup of cof- ex
before him, and when she had nc
ed little glass with cognac. she re-
med her seat before the hearth. The
is chair was placed with the back
wards the door. On one side of her
is the table at which the old man WI
slipping his coffee; and on the other his
e was Prosper, still fast asleep. 30
oking dreamily into the fire, Nina co,
,med tn have f0rpOttap the 11rocnpoo y
both these men, SO deeply was she -: -:
sorbed in her thoughts. sal sal
This is the Cafe Cornillon, is it S VIZ
sP'' asked the old man. Wn
Iina started as though the voice had w, oO