Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-12-31
CHAPTER /.
A FATEFUL CATASTROPHE.

Far L SAlAsihoIhE.
| wild storm was raging upon the Mediter
ranean Sea, near the close of dreary No
| vember day, and sky and waters were blacl
with the gloom of the sudden and furious
| tempest, before which small sailing vesse
was scudding under bare poles. Her built
and rigging proclaimed her Sandman. Sh,
was The Gull, Captain Varino master, OF
| her way from Cagliari to Palermo.
She had on board two seamen, and tive
passengers.
These passengers were Englishmen, wht
had procured passage on The Gull to Palermo
whence they intended to embark by steamer
| to Marseilles, on the following day.
While the Captain and his assistants were
attending to their duties, and expressing ap
prehensions as to their safety, the two Eng
lishmen stood apart, leaning against the low
bulwarks, and surveying the wild scene
| around them.
These men were both young, apparently o.
the same age, about three and twenty, bu
evidently they were not of the same station ir
life.
One, the most striking of the two, was aris
tocratic in his bearing, tall, slender ant
handsome, with frank smiling mouth q
pair of fearless blue eyes, set under wide
and massive forhead, and tawny hair blowing
back from his face. Noble, generous and
kind-hearted he had an adventurous DISPOSE
ton and dauntless courage.
He was Guy Tressiian, the only son and
heir of Sir Arthur Tressilian, Baronet, OF
Tressilian Court, England.
His companion presented remarkable re-
semblance to him, being also tall and slender
and fair, with tawny hair aud moustache, but
he had not the frank smile, the bright, fear
less look, or the joyous spirit that character
lied young Tressilian. Young as he was, he
had seen much of the dark side of life, and
his experiences had been such as to develope
in him some of the worst qualities of his
nature.
He was Jasper Lowder, Guy Tressilian's
hired travelling companion and bosom-friend.
The meeting and connection of the two
had touch of romance. Young Tressilian
had spent four years in German university,
whence he had been graduated with honor.
On leaving the university, in obedience to his
fathers written command, he had undertaken
tour of the countries inclosing the Mediter-
ranean Sea. in company with one of his late
tutors. This gentleman being Unexpectedly
promoted to professorship, abandoned Tres
silian at Baden, leaving him to find another
travelling companion.
On the evening of the very day after this
desertion, as Guy Tressilian was sauntering
through the streets of Baden, he had been
assaulted by trio of his own countrymen,
all more or less intoxicated. 1t was apparent
that they took him for another, and intended
to wreak vengeance upon him. Without
allowing him to speak, they forced MIN to de-
fend himself. Guy was getting the worst OF
the conflict, when stranger came running to
his assistance, and in few moments the two
had put the ruffians to flight
This Of uh al, %
Guys assistance was Jasper Lowder. His
resemblance to young Tressilian awakend in
the latter romantic interest. He 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 fea-
lures indicated a similarity of tastes and ma
lures, he engaged Lowder as his travelling
companion, and the past year they had spent
together more like brothers than like employer
and employed.
''This storm is regular Levanter," said
Lowder, clinging with both hands to the bull
warks. ''Do you think the craft will stand
it, Tressilian?"
"Oh, yes," answered young Tressilian,
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 be dom
L
with the best supper which Messer Ragusa
can furnish. And tomorrow, at noon," he
added, 1--WE shall embark for Marscillis in a
Messageries steamer"
''And from Marseillies you will proceed to
England and to Tressilian Court" said Low
der, with some bitterness. "And What is
to become of me? have had year of unal-
loyed happiness, and now comes back the
drudgery, the hopeless toll, the anxietes of
the wretched old life. You picked me up at
Baden, poor adventurer seeking to gain a
living by teaching English, and the same des-
tiny is open to me now"
Tressilian turned his handsome face upon
his companion in surprise and affectionate
reproach.
'Jasper!" 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? l meant to have written to
my father concerning you and your future,
Jasper, but his sudden recall, received yes
terday, causes me to return home without
writing. shall telegraph from 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 your
future. l will see that you obtain the posi-
tion TO which your talents entitle you. You
have no ties to keep you on the continentf"
A strange expression passed over Jasper
Lowders face.
"No, have no ties" he said huskily.
"And you will go home with me?"
"What will your father say to my coming!"
demanded Lowder. "He will think your gen.
erosty Quixotic. He will dismiss from his
house the hired companion who dares to re-
semble his SON"
A sudden lurch of the little vessel, wave
sweeping over the deck, interrupted the SEN
tence.
"You wrong my father" said Tressilian,
his blue eyes kindling, when the vessel had
righted. "He is the noblest man in the world.
He will welcome my friends as his own. You
will love him, Jasper, as l do, when you
know him..
''He doesn't seem very affectionate," re-
marked Lowder. "You have been away from
your home for five years, and he has but just
recalled you"
Young Tressilian's cheeks flushed, as Low
der saw in the lurid glow that momentarily
lighted up the tempestuous scene.
"You know, or can guess, the reason, Jas
per-" he said, with something of an effort.