Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1870-12-30

THE HOUSE OF SECRETS, ETC.,
ETC, ETC.
CHAPTER I.
FATEFUL CATASTROPHE.
A wild storm was raging upon the Med
iterranean Sea, near the close of dreary
November day, and sky and waters we're
black with the gloom of the sudden and
furious tempest. before which small sail
ing vessel was scudding under bare poles.
Her build and rigging proclaimed her Sar-
diDian. She was The Gull. Captain Va
rino. master. on her way from Cagliari to
Palermo.
She bad on board two seamcn, and two
passengers.
These passengers were Englishmen.
who had procured passage on The Gull
to Palermo. whence they intended to en-
bark by steamer to Marseilles, the follow
ing day.
While the Captain and his assistants
were attending to their duties, and ex-
pressing apprehensions as to their safety.
the two En- nglishmen stood apart. leaning
against the low bulwarks. and surveying
the wild scene around them.
These men were both young, apparent
ly of the same age, about three aud twen-
ty. but evidently they were not Of the
same station in life.
One. the more striking of the two. was
aristocratic 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 and kind hearted. he had an ad-
venturous disposition and dauntless cour-
|age.
He was Guy Tressilian. the only son
and heir of Sir Arthur Tressilian, Baron
ct, of Tressilian Court, England.
His companion presented remarkable
resent blance to him, being also tall and
slender and fair, with tawny hair and
mustache, but he had not the frank smile.
the bright, fearless look, or the JOYOUS
spirit that characterized young Tressiian
Young as lie was. be had seen much of
the dark side of life. and bis experiences
had been such as |. ,H.pin him some
OF the worst qualities Of his nature.
He was Jasper Lowder. Guy Tressi-
liau's hired travelling companion and bo-
som friend
The meeting and connection of the two
had touch of romance. Young Tressi-
lian had spent four years in German
university, VIII ence be had been gradual
ed with honor On leaving the universi-
y. in obedience to his fathers written
command, he had undertaken tour OF
the countries inclosing the Mediterranean
Sea, in company with ore of his late tu-
tors. This gentleman being unexpected
ly promoted to a profrssnrship. abandoned
Tressilian at Baden, leaving him to find
another travelling compauion.
On the evening of the very day after
this desertion, as Guy Tressiian was saun-
t-ring through the streets of Baden, he
had been assaulted by trio of his own
country men, all more or less intoxicated.
1t Was apparent that they took him for
another. aud int nded to wreak vengeance
upon bim. Without allowing him to
speak, they forced him to defend himself.
Guy was getting the worst of the conflict.
when stranger came running to bis as
sistance, aud in few moments the two
had put the rufhans to flight.
This stranger who came so opportunely
to Guys assistance was Jasper Lowder.
His resemblance to young Tressilian a.
wakened in the latter a romantic interest
He questioned Lowder, learned that he
was poor and alone in the world, aud took
him with him to his hotel. Believing tha,
the similarity of features indicated sim.
ilarity Of tastes aud natures. be engaged
Lowder as his travelling companion, and
the past year they had spent together more
like brothers than like employer and EN-.
ployed.
This storm is regular Levanter,
said Lowder. clinging with both hands te
the bulwarks. DO you think the craft
will stand it, Tressilian p
"Oh. yes" answered young Tressilian
wipiDg the salt spray from his face. 1.-The
Captain knows the Sicilian coast perfectly
In two hours. or less. we shall be in The
bav Of Palermo. In three hours we shal
he domicileo ~ the best rooms of the ho
tel Tripacria. with tut best supper which
Messer Ragusa can furnish. And to-mor'
row, at uoon." be added. 1--WE shall eia
bark for Marseilles in Messageries steam
er."
''And from Marseilles you will proceed
to England and to Tressilian Court" sale
Lowder. With some bitterness. ''And
what is to become Of me? have hac
year of unalloyed happiness. aud nov
comes back the drndgery. the hopeless
toll, the anxieties of the wretched old life
You picked me up at Baden. poor ad
venturer seeking to gain living by teach
ing English, and the same destiny is oper
to me now"
Tressilian turned his handsome fac'
upon his companion in surprise and affec
tioDate reproash.
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