The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-12-26
CHAPTER I.

FATETUL CATASTROPHE.
wild storm was raging upon the Medlter-
ranean Sea, neor the close OF dreary koVem-
her day, and sky and waters were black with
the gloom of the sudden and furious tempest,
before which small sailing vessel Wes scuo
ding under bare poles. Her build and rigging!
proclaimed her Sandman. She was Ihe Gutt,
Captain Varino, master, on her way from Gag
liari to Palermo.
These passengers were Englishmen who had
procured passage on The Cult to Palermo,
whence they intended to embark by steamer
to Marseles, the following day:
Willie the captain and his assistants were at
tending to their duties, and expressing appre'
tensions as 10 their safety, the two English
mon stood apart leaning against the low bull
Harks, and surveying the wild scene around
them. r
These men were both young, apparently Of
the same age, about three and twenty, but
evidently they were not OF the same station
IN life.
tocratic in lis bearing, tall, slender ana hand.
aome. with frank, smiling mouth, pair Oh
fearless blue eyes, set under wide and mas
siye forehead, and tawny hair blowing back
from his face. Noble, generous and Kind
hearted. he had an adventurous dlspOsll!on
and q dauntleSS courage.
He was Guy TressiIian, the only son and
heir of Sir Arthur TreSsilian, Baronet, OF Tres
silian Court, England.
His COMPANION presented remarkable re-
semblance to him, being also tall and slender
and fair, with tawny hair and mollstache, but
he had not the frank smile, the bright fearless
look, or the joyous spirit that characterized
young TresSilian. Young as he was, he had
seen much of the dark SHE OF life, aud his eX
periences had been such as to develop IN him
some of the worst qualities of his nature
He was jasper Lowder, Guy Tresslian's
hired travelling companion ana bosom friend.
The meeting and connection OF the two had
touch OF romance. Young TreSsilian had
spent four years in a German university,
whence he had been graduated with Ronor.
On leaving the university. Ia oDetiencc 10 MS
fathers written command, he had undertaken
tour of the countries incl0sng the aedltef-
ranean Sea, In company with one OF his late
tutors. This gentleman being unexpectedly
promoted TO prolessorShlp, abandoled Tres
slllian al Baden, leaving him to find another
travelling companion.
On the evening OF tho very day after tins
desertion,' as Guy Tresslian was sauntering
through the streets of Baden, he had boen as
saulted by trio Of his own countrymen, all
more or les intoxicated. 1t was apparent
that they took him ior another, and intended
TO wreak vengeance upon hlm. Without allow
fnn him to speak, they forced him TO ,eieud
himself Guy was getting the worst OF the
conflict, when q stranger came running 10 his
assistance, and in few moments inc I~o nad
put the rutf1ans to fight.
This stranger who came so opportunely to
Guy's assistance was Jasper Lowder. His re-
sernblance to Young TreSsiiian awakened In
the latter a romantic interest. He questioned
I,owdcr, learned that he was poor and alone IN
the world, and took him with him to his hotel
Believing that the similarity OF features indica-
ted similarity Of tastes and natures, ne en-
gaged Lowder as his travelling companion,
~and the past year they had spent together
more like brothers than like employer and en-
sThis storm is regular Levanter,' said
Iowder, clinging with 10th hauus TO tie 5ul-
warks. "Do you think the Craft will stand IL,
Tressilian :"
"Oh, yes,n answered young Tressilian, wip-
ing the salt spray from his face. "The captain
knows the Sicilian coast perfectly. In two
hours. OF less, We shall be in The bay OF Paler-
mo. In three hours We shall be domicl!ed In
the best rooms of the hotel Trinacria, with the
best supper which Messer Ra@usa can furnish
And Tomorrow, at no0n,' he added. 1--WE shalt
embark ior Marsollles in MesSagerles stea
mer"
"And from MarseilIes you will proceed to
England and to Tresslian Court" said LowdcT,
with some bitterness Aud L-what Is TO be-
come OF me? have had u year OF nna!loycd
happiness, and nov comes back the drndSrry,
the hopeless toll, the anxieties OF the wretched
old life. You picked me up Ut Baden, u poor
sdventurer seeking TO GAN living oy teach
ing English, and the same destiny Is open o
me now
Tressllian turned his handsome face upon
his companion in surprise and afsctiOnate re-
proach.
t.Jusper :" he exclaimed, ''you talk strange
ly. Do You suppose have called you friend
and brother so long, and loved you So well, to
lose you now? 1 meant to haze written TO my
father concerning you and your future, jasper,
but his sudden recall, received yesterday,
causes me to return home without writing. |
shall telegraph c'om Marseilles that you will
come home with me. And you will, will you
not? You will not abandon me, my friend
will charge myself with yJir future. viii
SEQ hat you obtain tie position to which your
talents enlitlc You. You Fave no ues W keep
you on the Continent =
A strange expression passed ovet Jasper
Lowd.r's luce.
..No. have no ties" he said huSkily.
"-nd you will go home with me?
..What will your fdlhsr say to my coming 2"
demanded i.owdor. "He will think your gem
erosity Qnixotc. He will dismiss from his
house he hired companion who dares 10 re-
ecmue HiS SOIL"
sweeping over The deck, Interrupted the sen
tence.
"You wrong my iathcr,r said Tressiap, his
blue eyes ki,iin". which, ti!c ve.sri had right
ed HI, il The nublcst man in lie world. He
will welcome my friends Us his own. Yot
will love BIN, jasper, rs do, wien yuu KNOW
him"
"lie doesn't seem very air"ciionalc," re-
mail krd i.owdvr "Yun nave nren away ir,m
yonr home ior five years, aa'l TIC iAs bit just
recalled YOU !"
Yonng Ir,,si,ian's checks flushed, as Low
der saw IN the iurJ gov that iupiac!iaiiiy
lighted up lhc lelni:si.su,'s srrur.
you kuow. or cni G.sr.>S :Ds reason, Ja|-
per." H. said. with something y. an ciurl.
s.My father has II ward the Gulgl'c; Oian old
friend aii. hear that mind shiir%? li!cSac
is incrrasing!"
"Ycs," assen.ed Low,cr. '.AEG The ward
is Miss Irby-the golden-hsircd Blanche. Of
whom sou nave laih:d so iI'lch. tnd Win
whom you have eXcGagrd letters 2"
AYES Ny father luIincd Il pAlect 10 lave
me marry Blanche. He did not wish n> to
grow up together, lest we should learn t. re-
gard es;h other rs brother and sister. When
bIonob., o,,n,. tn 1.-Two iha cOurL tlthef