The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-12-31
CHAPTER l.
FAITHFUL CATASTROPHE.


mean Se,, near the close If II dreary November
day, aud sky and waters were black with the
gloom of the sudden and furious tempest, before
which :, small sailing vessel was scucdlng under
bare poles Her build and rigging proclaimed
her Sandman. She WIS Tile GuA, Captain Va
rino master, on her way from Caglia'i to Paler-
mo-
sensers.
The.e passengers were Engli.hmeD, who had
procured passage on The GIRL to Palermo whence
they Intended to embark by steamer to Mar
seiiles the following day
While the Captain aud his assistants were at
tending to their duties, aud expressing appre-
hen,ions as to their safety, the two EnglIsh,neu
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 EVIL
IDENTITY they were not of the same station in life.
Oae the more striking of the two, was aristo-
cratic III his be ring, tall, slender and handsome,
with frank, smiling mouth, Il pair of fearless
blue eyes, set under wide and massive fore
head, and tawny hair blowing back from his
face Noble generous and kind hearted, he had
an adventurous disposition and dauntless cour-
age.
He was Guy Trassilian, the only son and heir
of SIR Arthur Tressiliau, .ronet, of Tresslian
Court England.
His companion. presented a remarkable resem.
blance to him, being also tall and slender and
fair with tawuy hair ana uOustache, but he had
not the frank SMILE the bri. ht fearless look, or
the Joyous spirit that characterized young Tres.
Silian. Young he Was, he had seen much of
the dark side of lite. aud his experiences had
been such to develop in him some of the worst
qualities of lis nature.
He WAS Jasper L,wder, Guy Tressilian's hired
travelling companion and bosom.friend.
The meeting and connection of the two had
touch of romance. Young Tressiian had
spent four years in Germ III university, whence
he had been graduated with honor. On leaving
the university, in obedience to his fathers writ
ten command, he had undertaken tour of the
countries inclo.ing the Mediterranean Sea, in
company with Que of his late tutors This gen.
tleman being Unexpectedly promoted to pro.
fessorship, abandoned Tressilian at Baden, leav-
ing him to find another travelling companion.
On the evening of the very day after this de.
sertion, as Guy TIessilian was sauntering
through the streets Of Baden, he had been az
saulted by trio OF his own countrymen, all
more or less intox cated. 1t was apparent that
they took nim for another, and intended to wreak
vengeance upon him. Without allowing him to
speak, they forced him to defend himself. Guy
was getting the worst of the conflict, when
stranger Came running to his assistance, and in
afew moments the two had put the rufflans to
light.
This stranger who came 80 OPPORTUNITY to
Guys assistance WAS Jasper Lowder His re-.
semblance TO young Tressilau awakened ia the
latter romantic interest Ho questioned Low.
der, learned that he WAS poor and alone in the
world, and took him with him to his hotel Be.
Loving tina: the similarity of features indicated
similarity Of tastes and natures he engaged
Lowdcr ms his travelling companion, and the
past year they had spent together more like
brothers than employer and employed.
"Ths storm il II regular Levsnter," said Low.
der, clingiDg with both hands to the bulwarks
ado you think the Graf, will stand it, Tressilian?"
''Oh, yes, answered youn; TressiIian, wipiny
che s.lt spray from his face The Captain
knows the Sicilian coas. perfectly. In two
hours, less, We shall be in the bay of Palermo.
In three hours We shall b. domiciled in the best
rooms Of the hotel Trinaceia, with the best sun.
per which Messer R.gusa can furnish And to.
morrow, he added, I'VE shall embark for Mar.
Seilies in II Mes-ageries steamer"
And from Marseilles y0u will proceed to
England and to Tressilian Court, said Lowder,
with some bitterness. And I-whst is to be.
come OF me? l have had year of unalloyed
happiness, and now comes back the drudgery,
the hopeless toll, the anxieties of the wretched
old life. You picked me up at Baden, Door
adventurer seeking to gam living by teaching
Eeglish, aud the same destiny is open to me
now."
Tressilian turned his handsome face upon his
oompanion in surprise and atfectionate reproach
Jasper !" he exclaimed. "you talk strangely.
Do you suppose have called you friend aud
brother so long, and loved you so we'll, to lose
you now' l meant to have written to nv ia.
ther concerning you and your future, Jasper,
out his sudden recall received yesterday, causes
me to return home wihou. writiny. shall
telegraph from Marseilles that you will ooms
with me. Aud you will, will you not? You
Will not abandon me- my friend 2 l will charge
myself with your future. I will see that YOU
ootnin the position to which your talents entitle
tinent!'
mo, have no ties" he said huskily.
Ana you will 20 home with me ~
w hat will your father LAY to my coming ?"
demanded Lowder. "He will think YOUR Gen.
erosi'y au,xotc, lie will dismiss from his
mouse The hired companion who dsres 70 resem.
Die hs son"
sndden lurch Of the little vessel. n wave
sweeping over the deck, interrupted the sen.
tence.
"fou wrong my father said Trcssilian. his
blue eyes kindling, when the vessel had rivhted
"he is the noblest IN in the world. He will
welcome my friends az his own. You will love
aim, Jasper, AS | do, when you know him."
lie don't seem very aifectionate," remarked
1|owder. You have been away from your bo,u,
Tor i've year., and he has bu, Just recalled Won !"
Aoanv iresslllan's checks flushed, as Lowde,
saw IN the iurid glow that momentarily lighted
up the tempestuous scene
lyon know, or can guess, the ransom Jasnsr "
he said, with something of an effort. INV "a.
sher has ward, the daughter of an old friend -
All hear that wind shrek Tho ,,al, 10 Ia,