The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-24
CHAPTER L.
A FATFFITI, CATASTROpHE.

ber day, and sky and waters were black with
the gloom of the sudden and furious tempest,
before which a small sailing vessel was
scudding under bare poles Her build and
rigging proclaimed her Sandman. She was
The Gull, Captain Varno, master, on her
way from Cagliari to Palermo.
She had on board two seaman and two pas
sengers.
These passengers were Englishmen, who had
procured passage on The Gull to Palermo,
whence they intended to embark by steamer
to Marseilles the following day.
While the Captain and his assistants were
attending to their duties, and expressing ap-
prehensions as to their safety, the two Eug-
lishmen stood apart, leaning against the 10 "
bulwarks, and surveying the wild scene around
them.
These men were both young, apparently of
the same age, about three aud twenty but
evidently they were not of the same station
in life.
One, the more striking of the two was aris-
tocratic in his bearing, tall, slender, and
handsome, with frank, smiling mouth, a
pair of fearless blue eyes, set under a wide
and massive forehead, and tawny hair blowing
back from his face. Noble, generous, aud
kind hearted, he had an adventurous disposi-
ton and dauntless courage.
He was Guy Tressilian, the only son and
heir of Sir Arthur Tressilian, baronet of
Tressllian Court, England.
His companion presented remarkable re-
semblance to him, being also tall and slender
and fair, with tawny hair and mustache, but
he had not the frank smile, the bright, fear
less look, or the Joyous spirit that character
lied young Tressilan. Young as he was, he
had seen much of the dark side of life, and
his experiences had been such as to develop
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 q touch of romance. Young Tressilian
had spent four years in a German university
whence he had been graduated with honor.
On leaving the university, in obedience to
his fathers written command, he had under
taken tour of the countries enclosing the
Mediterrap can Sea- in company with one of
his late tutors. This gentleman being unex-
pectedly promoted to professorship, aban-
doned Tressilian at Baden, leaving him 20 find
another travelling companion.
On the evening of the very day af er this
desertion, as Guy Tressilian was sauntering
through the streets of Baden, he hal 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 owreak vengeance upon him. Without al
lowing him to speak, they forced him to de-
fend himself. Guy was getting the worst of
the conflict, when a stranger came running
| to his assistance, and in few moments the
two had put the ruffians to flight.
This stranger who came so opportunely to
Guys assistance was Jasper Lowder. His
resemblance to young Tressilian awakened 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 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 en-
ployer 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 "The
/ Captain knows the Siclian coast perfectly.
In two hours, or less, we shall be in the Bay
of Palermo. In three hours we shall be domi-
ciled in the best rooms of the hotel Trina
cria, with the best supper which Messer
Ragusa can furnish. And tomorrow, at
noon, he added, ''we shall embark for Mar
seiles in Messageries steamer"
"And from Marseiles g0U will proceed to
England and to Tressilian Court" said Low
der, with some bitterness. ''And I-what is
to become of me2 have had year of un-
alloyed happiness, and now comes back the
ufuuBety, INC uOpoleSS tOll, tn6 dQAt0lloS Oh
the wretched old life. You picked me up at
Baden, a poor adventurer seeking to gain a
living by teaching English, and the same
destiny is open to me now
Tressilian turned his handsome face upon
his companion in surprise and afectionate
reproach.
'Jasper!" he exclaimed, "you talk
strangely. Do you suppose have called you
friend and brother so long, and loved you so
well, to lose you now? meant to have
written to my father concerning you and your
future, Jasper, but his sudden recall, re-
ceived yesterday, causes me to return home
without writing l shall telegraph from Mar
And you WILL will you not? You will mol
abandon me, my friend will charge my
self with your future. / will see that you
obtain the position to which your talents en-
title you. You have no ties to keep you or
the continent?"
strange expression passed over Jasper
J Lowder's face.
s'No, have no ties, he said huskily.
'And you will go home with me?"
"What will your father say to my coming !?
l demanded Lowder. she will think you
generosity Quixstic. He will dismiss from
his house the hired companion who dares t.
f resemble his SON"
A sudden lurch of the little vessel, way
: sweeping over the deck, interrupted the sen
tence.
''You wrong my father" said Tresilian
his blue eyes kindling, when the vessel ha
: righted. ''He is the noblest man in tn
; world. He will welcome my friends as hi
i own. You will love him, Jasper, as l do
when YOU know him..