The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-12-26
CHAPTER /.
. rATETJ~I, CATASTROPHE.

ferrlnrln
,'nr,hor day. and the sky and waters were
,1anr with the gloom Of the sudden and
t,,r;o,s tempest. before which small sail
~. ,."sseI was scuddug under bare poles.
uer hniId and rigging proclaimed her Sar-
dinian, She was The Gull, Captain Narino,
master. on her way from Cacliari t. Paler-
mo. A.. ~
passengers. r,..,.
had procured passage on The Gull to Paler-
mo. whence they Intended to embark by
steamer to MarscilleS the following day.
While the captain and his assistants were
attending to their duties, and expressing
apprchenSions Is to their safety, the two
Englishmcn stood apart, leaning against the
low bulwarkS. and surveying the wild scene
around them.
These men were both young. apparently
Of the same age--about three and twenty
but evidently they were not CT tue same
station in life.
One-the more striking of the two-waS
sri>tocratic in hi, bearing, tall, slender, and
handsome, with 4 frank, smiling mouth, Il
pair of fearless blue eyes. set under wide
and massive forehead, and tawny hair blow
inc back from his face. Noble, generous,
and kind-heartcd. he had an adventurous
disposition and dauntlesS courage.
lie was Guy TreSSiian, the only son ana
heir OF Sir Arthur TreS>ilian, Baronet, OF
TreS>ilian Court, England.
His companion presented remarkable
resemblance to him. being also tall and
slender and fair, with tawny hair and mus
tache: but he had not the frank smile. the
bright, fearless look, or the joyous spirit
that characterized young Trcssilian. Young
as he was, he had seen much OF the dark
side Of life. and his experiences had been
sucn rs TO dcvelope in him some Of the worst
qualities Of his nature.
He was Jasper Lowder, Guy TreS>iian' s
hired travelling companion and bosom
friend.
The meeting and connection Of the two
had touch OF romance. Young TreSSllian
had spent four years in n German unlver-
sitv, whence he had been graduated with
honor. On leaving the university, IL obe-
dience to his fathers written command, he
had undertaken tour of the countries In
closing the mediterranean Sea, III company
with one Of his late tutors. This gentle
man being UNEXPECTEDLY promoted 10 pro-
icssorship, abandoned TreSSiIian at Baden,
leaving him TO lind another travelling com
panion.
On the evening of the very day after this
desertion, as Guy Tressilian was saunter-
ing through the streets Of Baden, he had
been assaulted by a trio of his own coun-
trymcn, all more or less intoxicated. 1t
was apparent that they took him Tor an
other, and intended to wrcak vengeance
upon him. Without allowing him TO speak,
they forced him 10 defend himself. Guy
was getting the worst OF the conflict, when
8 stranger came running to his assistance,
and in 4 few moments the two had put the
rutfianS to flight.
The stranger who came so opportuncly
- -. Vrg,N -,ls
His resemblance to Young TrcsSlian awak-
ened in the latter romantic interest. lie
questioned Lowder, learned that he was
poor and alone in the world, and took him
with him TO his hotel. Believing that the
similarity Of features indicated Il similarity
of tastes and nature, he engaged Lowdcr is
his travelling companion. and the past year
they had spent together more like brothers
than like employer and employed.
This storm is a regular Levanter," said
Lowder, ciinging with both hands to the
bulwark>. "Do You think the craft will
stand it, Tres>iliau
"Oh, yes answered young TreS>ilian,
wiping the salt spray from his face. 1.-The
captain knows the Sicilian coast perfectly.
In two hours or less we shall be in the bay
of Palermo. In three hours we shall bc
domiciled in the best rooms OF the hotel
Trinacria, with the best supper which
MesscI AaSuSa c.s!l luiHiSu' Auu to-ulOl"
row, ut noon" he added, "We shall cm-
bark for Narseillcs in Mcssageries
s,eamer.'
'And from MarSeilles you will proceed to
England and to Tressilian Court" said
Lowder, with some bitterness. "And Z
what is to become of me | have mad Il year
Of unalloyed happiness, and now comes
back the drudgery, the hopeless toll, -
anXieties Of the wretched old lie ne
picked HE up at Baden, Il poor ~ You
seeking to gain living by ;.!enturef
now" .Iy is open to mt
his comnanion Il his handsome face upor
reproach. III surprise ana anectloha''
strar yer!" he exclaimed, "you tall
.gely. Do you suppose 1 have chlle
lou friend and brother so long, and love
you so well, to lose you now! l meant t
have wcltten to my father concerning yO
and your future, Jasper, but his sudden re
call, received yesterday, causes me to re
turn home without writing. shall tell
graph from Marseilles that you will com
home with me. And you will, will 70
not? You will not abandon me, my friend
/ will charge myself with your future.
will see that YOU obtain the position
which your talents cntille You. You hay
no ties TO keep you Oh the Continent:
A strange expression passed over Jaspe
Lowder's face.
"No, / have no ties" he said huskiy.
"And YOU will 90 home with me-"
"What will your father say TO my CON
ing!" demanded L0wder. He will thin
your generosity QuiXotic. He will dsmis
from his house the hired companion VIII
dares to resemble his Son-'
A sudden lurch OF the little vessel, way
ht4 nf,.rr ,t.4l
sentence.
"You wrong my father" said TresSilian
his blue eyes kindlng, when the vessel ha
righted. "He is the noblest man in tn
world. He will welcome my friends as hi
own. You will love him, Jasper, as l do
when you know him"
He doesn't seem very atfectionate," II
marked Lowder. you have been ava
from your home for five years, and he la
but just recalled you!"
Young Tresslllan's cheeks flushed,
Lowder saw in the lurid glow that MT
mentarily lighted up the tempestuou seen
"You know, or can guess, the reasol
JASPER" he said, with something OF q
effort. "My father has ward, the dau@ht,
of an old friend. All! hear that win
shrek The gale is increasing
EYES," assentcd Lowder. -" And tn
ward is Miss Irby-the golden-haire
Blanche Of whom you have talked so mucL
and with whom you have exchanged le
ersY
"Yes. My father formed a project t
have me marry Blanche. lie did not wis
us to grow Altogether, lest we should lear
to regard each other us brother and sister
When Blanche came to live at the Coul
nv father sent me to Germany. The mgl
before I left home, he called me into bis
brary, and told me all his hopes and plan
for ny future, and entreated me to COZ
l.. =. pT