The Old Sailor.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 122, 3 October 1885, Page 3

The Old Sailor.

It 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 Cornilion reaped a harvest, for his boat was in .demand from morning till night, it was tiring work j but a generous impulse gave "him energy. He was toiling with the direct object of obtaining his father's freedom. One evening, worn put with his unremitting " labours, Prosper had thrown himself down, with "his elbdws l 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 his 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 Cornilion. At any moment a customer might enter ; and some customers, if Nina were 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 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 a rough coat, the collar of which was turned up about the neck, mysteriously entered the cafe. He touched his slouching hat with his sunburned, horny hand in a feeble, hesitating manner ; then choosing a table near the hearth, opposite to the one upon which Prospers head was resting, he sat down and began to stroke his long white beard thoughtfully, without raising his eyes. ••With what, monsieur, can I serve you ?" The old man answered, in a low voice, with his head still bent: " Cafe noir." Nina hastened to place a cup of coffee before him, and when she had filled a little glass with cognac, she resumed her seat before the hearth. The girl's chair was placed wtih the back toward the door. On one side of her was the table at which the old man sat sipping 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. 11 This is the Cafe Cornilion -is it not ?" asked the old man. Nina started as though the voice had awakened her. "Yes, monsieur," answered the girl, recollecting herself, and looking up quickly, " the Cafe Cornilion." " Kept by Prosper Cornilion V " Sleeping there," continued Nina, with a little jerk of the head. "Ah," said the old sailor; "I am the bearer of a message." "To him?" " Yes— to Prosper Cornilion." 11 Shall I rouse him V "No. I will deliver the message to you." "It is the same thing," said the girl, with a pretty shrug ©f her shoulders. lam his sister," "Nina Cornilion T" " Yes ; 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, a few weeks ago, entertaining a young soldier who passed through this port on his way to Greece. Your brother .conveyed him in his boat on board the Livadia, a ship bound for Syria." "I remember the gentleman well," said Nina, in a faultering voice. "He gave Prosper a piece of gold before parting, to Bustain us in our efforts to collect the large sum of money which is demanded by a Greek pirate as a ransom for our father's liberty." „ , , "It is from this young soldier, Colonel Lafont," continued the old sailor, "that I bring the message." Nina looked round quickly, with sparkling eager eyes. "What is the message, monsieur ?" " Well," answered the old man, speaking slowly, " hie words to you— l mean to Prosper Cornilion - 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 thonghtfully upon the fire, Nina said, "A very kind message. How good of him to think of me!" " The message was to Prosper Cornilion." " To think, I should say, of my brother Prosper. But—" " But," continued the old man, " I have not finished yet." "What more, monsieur?" The old sailor, lowering his tone, and speaking as though be had difficulty in not betraying some agitation, continued : It was the colonel's hope that neither of you would be despondent — that you would rather indulge the fancy that you had heard the ransom demanded by this Greek pirate had been paid —that your father had regained his liberty— that he had even started on his voyage home, and was nearing the port of Ma -settles— " Nina clasped her hands and cried, in a trembling voice, " That is what I dream of, night and day !" "Imagine, then— even imagine— that the ship has reached Marseilles — that it has entered the harbour. Nay! figure to yourself—though it may make your heart beat painfully— figure to youreelf a weatherbeaten sailor entering your cafe late one evening— a man with a grey beard and a shaky voice—" But at this point the old sailor was interrupted. Looking round, Nina uttered a cry of joy, andsprangup with outstretched arms and with the word "Father!" upon her lips. It was Captain Cornilion who had come thus as a terribly trying surprise. Yet he was so changed that even Nina had not recognised him. But the recognition was complete now j so taking his daughter in his embrace, the old sailor kissed her as he had kissed her at their parting ten long years ago. Not many weeks elapsed before Colonel Lafont again made his appearance at Maraeilles. Prosper, who happened to be in the harbour at the moment of his arrival, accompanied him in triumph to the Cafe Cornilion as soon as he landed. Nothing could exceed the gratitude which was shown by the captain and his two children toward this young soldier, who, on reaching, Greece, had. taken active steps to obtain the old soldier's release, Years Sassed before Nina learned under what ifficulties Colonel Lafont formed the resolution of restoring Captain Cornilion to his family. For he was not a rich man —he had gained promotion from the ranks as a reward for bravery— and when he had paid the ransom he had parted with nearly all the money he possessed in the world. But he loved Nina Cornilion. From the moment when, upon that stormy winter's night, Colonel Lafont entered the cafe and saw the girl standing by the hearth, he had never ceased to think of the dreamy face nor of the low, passionate voice in which she had told him the sad episode in her life.

These events happened many years ago, and Nina and her husband, Colonel AlphonseLamonte— who became a general before he waa 40— should be old people now, if they are still living. But one thing is certain— on the quay at Marseilles there still stands the little cafe, in appearance unchanged, except that it is called the Cafe Cornillon no longer.