The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-24
CHAPTER I.

Sea near the close Of q dreary November day,
and sky and waters were black with the gloom Of
tho sudden and furious tempest, before which o
small sailing vessel was scudding under bare poles.
Her build and rigging proclaimed her Sandman
She was The Gull, Captain Varlno, master, on her
way from Cagliari TO Palermo.
She had on board Two seamen ana tw passcn-
gers.
These passengers were Englishmen, who had pro.
cured passage on The Gun to Palermo, whence they
INTENDED 10 embark by steamer 70 AIarseiles the io
loving day.
Wnlle the Captain and his assistants were attend
Ing 10 tler aukes ana expressing apprehenslons as
70 lheir saiey, the Two Engishmen stood apart,
leaninlng against TIE low bulWaras, and Surveying
the wild sctne around them.
These men were Dotn young, apparently OF the
same age, aDou three and twenty, but evidently
they were not OF the same station Ia lie.
one, the more striking OF the two was arstocratlc
in his bearing, tall slender I'd handsome WITH a
Tank, Smiling mouth, u par OF fearless blue eyes.
hair blowing back from his face. Noble, generous
ana KIND hearted, he had IN adventurous DISPOSE.
lon ana uauntess courage.
lie was Guy Tressillau, the only son ana heir of
Sir Arthur Ifesstian, Baronet, of lrosshan Court,
England.
HIS campanion presented remarkable resem-
blance 10 nun, beng also tall and slender and lair
with taWny hair aud musache, but he had not the
frank smile tae bright, fearless look, the joyous
spirit that characterized young Tresslan. Ioang
as nc was, he had seen such OF the dark side OF he
and his experiences had been much AS to develop
In him some OF The worst qualities OF ms nature.
lie was Jasper Lowder. Gay lressilans hired
travelling companion ana bosom friend.
The meeting ana connection OF the two had q
touch OF romance. Young Iressilau had spent
tour years In German university, whence he hao
been graduated with honor, On leaving the uni
versity, IN obed ence TO his fathers written com.
mand, he had undertaken tour Of the countries
enclosing we Meaiteftanean sea- III company win
one OF ms late tutors. 1hls gentleman, beng uneX
pectedly promoted 10 prOfessorshIp abandoned
Tressian at Baden, leaving mia to lind another
On the evening OF The very day after this deser-
non, as Guy Iressilnn was saunteiing through The
streets OF Baden, he had been assaulted by a trio
OF his own couutrymen, all more or less intoXi-
Gated. IL was apparent that they took MN
for another, and intcndel 10 wreak vengeance
upon him. without Miowing him time to speak
they forced HIM 10 defend himself Guy was getting
tue worst OF the conflict, when stranger came run
ming to his assistance and IN few moments tne
two had put the rulians To flight.
rms Stranger VINO came SO opportunity to Guys
assistance was Jasper Lowder HIS resemblance to
young Ife5slllan awakened IN the latter romantic
interest lie questioned Lowdcr, learned that he
was poor ana alone IN the world, and TOOK him with
INN 10 his hotel. Believing thai the similarity OF
features indicated similarity OF tastes and natures,
he engaged Loweer rs his travelling companion,
and the past year they nad spent together more like
brothers than ike employer and employed
rms storm Is regular Leyanter,u said Lowder,
cinging with botn hands To the Dulwarks.
500 you think the craft VIII stand It, TressIllan ~
ION, yes, an sWered young Itessilian wpng the
salt spray from mis- face. The Captain knows the
shall be IL the bay OF Palermo. In three hours we
shah he doinlcied IN the best rooms OF the Horel
Trinacrih with the best supper which Messee Ragusa
can furnish. And tomorrow, At noon,n he added,
eve shall embark for MarselIes In Messagerles
steamer
"And from Marseles you viii proceed to England
and 10 Tressilian Courto said Lowoer, with some
bitterness. "Ald what Is 10 become OF me- |
have had q year OF unalloyed happiness ana now
comes back the drudgery, the hopeless toll, the
anXietes OIL the wreched old life. You picked up
at baden, poor adyeuturer seeking 10 gam living
me nown
rressilan turned MS handsome face upon his CON-
panion in surprise and afrcctonate reproach.
"Jasper - ne exclaimed, you talk strangely. DO
you suppose have called you friend aud brother
meant to have wri ten to my father concerning you
and your future, Jasper, but his sudden recall re-
ceived yesterday, causes TO return home without
writing. shan telegraph from Marseilles that you
| Will come home with me. And you WILL VIII YOU
nors You WIN not abandon me, my fiiendS 1 VIII
charge myself VITA your future. win that you
obtain the position 10 which your talents enttle YOU
You have no ties 10 Keep you on the Continent ~
strange expression passed over Jasper .owder's
face.
mo, have no ties, = he SAIL buskily.
"And you VIII 90 holS WITH me III
"What Will your father say 70 my coininggr de-
manded Lowder. ale Will think your generosity
QulAoric He Will dismiss from his house the hired
Companion who dares 10 resemble his son.
A sudden lurch OF the little vessel, a wave sweep
ing over the deck, Interrupted the sentence
"fou wrong my iather,n said Tressan, his blue
eyes kindllng, when the vessel had rgaed. ale IS
the nobest man III the world. lie will welcome nay
nlends as his own. fou WIZ love hun, Jasper, rs |
do, when you know him.
ale doesn't seem very afectonaten remarked
Lowder. "iou nave been away from your home Tor
five years, and he has but Just recalled you?n
Young Trcssilan's cheeks flushed as Lowdcr saw
in the lurd glow that momenanly Lighted up the
tempestuous scene.
said, with something OF an effort. '.My father has
ward, the dau2hter OF an old friend. An hear that
wind shrek The gale ~ lnc:easing.r
.Yes," assented Lowuer. "And the ward IS Miss
Irby-the godeI-hared Blanche OF whom you have
talked 50 much, and with whom you have exchanged
etters.o
Eyes. My father formed project to have me
marry Blanche. lie did not wish us to grow up to-
gether lest should learn to regard eacn other as
brotner and sister, When Blanche came TO live at
the Court my father sent me to Germany. The night
before LETT home he called me into his library and
told me all his hopes and plans FOR my future and
entreated me to continue worthy OF his innocent
ward, and to keep my heart for her. have done
So Jasper. have never yet loved any woman. And
yesterday received my 1atner's summons TO come
home. lie has recalled me after five years OF ab-
sence. know the wish that lies nearest his heart.
He wants me To return anu marry Blanche. shrink
from the proposed marriage. | dread going home.
And dread offending my dear father, whom love
better than any woman. II Is hard jasper TO re-
volt against the hopes ana plans OF kind ana gem
erons iatner, whose very love FOR me MIN to
urge on tins mifriage.n
smile jul or sneering bitterness. "My experience
has been widely dlnerent from yours, Tressilian.
Did ever ten you OF my iailery''
no. took IL Tor granted that he is dead
"Pelhaps ne IS don't know said lowler, with
a reckless laugh But If he is living ne is scoun
drel. Don't start, Tressll.an, my undlia speech
Wait TIL you near my story. 1 am In desperate
mood tonight. TINS storm strs up all the bad
within me- As nearly az | can discover, my lahcr
the younger son Vi proud old county
family .y-~.-.-.a,rr,>,.. '---'r
"You do not know, then r. asked TressIlian press.
Ing his companions nand.
81 have no proofs Of u. All positively know is
this. MY mother was OF humble station, pretty with
blue eyes and an apple-blossom lace, and tender,
apD1allng ways. She was the daughter Of Il widow
residing az Brighton. The widow, my grandmother,
kept lodging house, and my father, gay, dashng
young fellow, came TO lodge with her. As might
have been expected he fell in love with bis land.
lady's daughter. lie offered the young girl mar
rage, on condition that the union should be kept
secret until his affairs frightened and he chose 10
divulge II. The young girl loved hun. Her mother
was ambitious and penurIous. The result was the
lover had ms way, and married the daughter OF ms
andlady quietly, almost secretly. Then he TOOK his
bride to LONDON 10 cheap and obscure lodgings,
where, year later, was BORN
Tue wind Tor q moment drowned his voice. As lt
presently uiled, he resumed iec.llessly and with
passionate bitterness
"For years my mother and lived IN those stnffy
nLgcure lldul until her llnA,u lllnl and