Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-12-24
CHAPTER [.
a FATEFUL CATASTROPHE.

a FATEFUL CATASTROPHE.
a wild storm was raging upon the Mediter-
ranean Sea, near the close of dreary Novem
Der day, and sky and waters were black with
the gloom of the sudden aud furious tempest
before which small sailing vessel was scud-
ding under bare poles. Her build and ringing
proclaimed her Sandman. She was Tile Gull,
Captain Varibo master, on her way from
Cagliar to Palermo.
She had on board two seamen, and TWO
passengers.
These passengers were Englishmen, who had
procured passage on The Gull to Palermo,
whence they intended to embark by steamer to
Marseilles, tho following day.
While the Captain and his assistants were
attending to their duties, aud expressing sp-
prehensions as to their safety, the two Eoglish-
men stood apart, leaning against the low bull
warks 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 of the same station in
life.
One, the more striking of the two, was
atistocratic in bis bearing, tall, slender and
handsome, with a frank, smiling mouth, q
pair of fearless blue eyes, set under wide and
massive forehead, and tsWny hair blowing back
from his face Noble, generous aud kind
hearted, he had an adventurous disposition
and dauntlc5s courage
He was Guy IresSlan, the only son and
heir of Sir Arthur TrcssiIian, Baronet, OF
'lressiIian Court Eogland
His companion presented remarkable re-
scmbance 10 him, being also tall aud 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 Ire eSsi!lan. Young as he was, he had
experience had been such as to develop in him
some of the worst qualities of his nature.
He was Jasper I4owder, Guy Tressili.n' 8
bred travelling companion and bosom 'frlend
The meeting and connection Of the two had
a touch of romance Young Tressiian had
spent four years in German university,
whepcc he had been graduated with honor
On leaving the university, 10 obedience 10 bis
fathers written command, he had under taken
a tour of the countries lncloslng the Medlter'
ranean Sea, in com pany with one OF MS late
tutors This gentleman being UNEXPECTEDLY
promoted to proiessorship. abandoned Tres
sian at Baden leaving him to ind another
travelling companion. :.
On the evening of the very day after this
desertiou, as Guy Tressilian was sauoter'ng
through the streets of Baden, he had been
assaulted by trio Of his own cOuntrymer, all
more or less intoxicated. 1t was apparent that
they took him for another, and lntended TO
wreak vengcnce upon him. Without allowing
him to speak, they forced him to defend him
self Guy was getting the worst OF the connlcs
when a stranger came running to his assistance
and in few moments the two had put the
rufhans to flight
This stranger who came 80 opportuneIy to
GUYS assistance was Jasper L)wder. HIS
resemblance to young Tresslllan awakened IN
the latter romantic interest. tie questioned
Lowder, learned that he was poor and alone
in the world, and took him with him to his
hotel. Believing that the similarity o! features
indicated similarity OF tastes and natures. 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 LevaDter," said
Lowder, cliuging with both hands to the bull
warks. DO you think the craft will stand it,
'rressiian ?"
"Oh, yes" answered young Tressilian, wip
ing the salt spray from his tace " The Cap
tain knows the Sicilian coast perfectly. ln
TWO hours or less, we shall be in the hay OF
Palermo In three hours we shall be domcl =
ed in the best rooms OF the hotel Trinacria.
with the best supper which Messer RaRuss can
furnish. ADD to morrow, at noon, be added,
we shall embark for MarseiIes in Messa-
gcrieS steamer
And from Marseilles you will proceed to
Eneland and to Tressilan Court said Low
der, with some bitterness. And l-What Is
to become OF me? [ have had year OF un
aioyeG happiness, and now comes back the
drudgery the hopeless toll, the anxietles OF
the wre!ched old life. You picked me up at
Baden, a poor adventurer seeking to gain
living by teaching English. and the same
destiny Is open to me now.
Tressilian turned his handsome lace upon
his compa MON in surprise and atectlonste
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 writ
ten to my father concerning you and your
future, Jasper, but his sudden recall, received
yesterday, causes me to return home without
writing. | shall telegraph from Marseilles
that you will come hcmr with me. And
you viii, will you not? You will not aban-
don me, my friend? [ will charge myself with
your future | will see that you obtain
ties YOU. You have no ties 10 keep you
On he Continent p
strange expression passed over Jasper
I.owder's face.
mo, | have no ties" he SAID huskiIy.
And you will 20 home with me?' o.,
What will your father say to my coming
demanded Lowder. He will think your gen
crosby Ouixotic He will dismiss from his
house the hired companion who dares to re-
semble his sou"
4 sudden Iurch of the little vessel, a wave
sweeping over the deck, interrupted the sen
tence.
t. bor - ri fNrocaiIiap his