Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1870-12-29
CHAPTER |
A FATEFUL CATASTROPHE.


HOUSE OF SECRETS" ETC. ETC, ETC
CHAPTER |.
AFATEFUL CATASTROPHE.
,g A wild storm was raging upon the
Mediterranean Sea, near the close Of n
dreary November day, and sky and
waters were black with the gloom Of
the sudden and furious tempest, before
which small sailing vessel Was send
lng under bare poles. Her build and
rigging proclaimed her Sardinian.
She was The Gull, Captain Varno
master, on her way from Cogliart 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 10 MarSeillcs, the
following day. I
While the Captain and his asais-
tants were attending to their duties,
aud expressing apprehensions as TO
their safety, the two Englishmen stood
apart, leaning against the low bul.
warks, and surveying the wild scene
around them.
These men were both young, appar-
emily 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,
vas arstocratic in his bearing, tall,
slender and handsome, with q frank,
smiling mouth, 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 Lad an advcntu-
rous disposition and danntless cour'
age.
lie was Guy Tressilian, the only
son and heir of Sir Arthur Tressilian,
Baronet, of TrcssiIan Court, Eug-
land.
His companion presented remark
able resemblance to him being also
tall and slender and fair, with tawny
hair and m0ustache, but be had not
the frank smile, the bright, fearless
lock, or the joyous spirit that charter
lied Young Tressilian. Young as he
was, lie had seen much OF the dark
side Of ltr, and bis experience mad
been such as to develop in him some
of the worst qualities of his nature.
lie was Jasper Lowder, Guy Tress
ilian's hired travelling companion and
boson-iritnd.
The meeting and connection of the
two had touch of romance. Young
Tressi ian had spent -four years in a
German university whence he had
been graduated with honor. On leav-
ing the uniS crsty, in obedien C to his
fathers written command, he had un-
deltakcn q tour Of the countries in
closing the Med terranean Sea, in com.
pany with one Of his late tutors
This gentleman being unexpectedly
promoted to n -protessorship, 0ban'
donsd Tressilian at Baden, leaving
him TO find another travelling compan-
ion.
On tie evening Of the very day after
this desertion as Guy Tressiian was
sauntering through the streets Of Ba
den, he had been assaulted by q trio
OF his own countrymen, all more or
less intoxicated. 1t was apparent that
they took him for another, and lnten'
ded 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 a stranger came running to his
assistance, and in a few moments the
two had put the rutlians TO flight.
This stranger who came so oppor
tunely to Guys assistance was Jasper
Lowdcr. His resemblance TO young
! .Tressilian awakened in the latter Il 70
maEtic interest. He questioned Low
der, learned that he was poor ard alone
in the world, and took him with hin
to his hotel. Believing that the sim
ilarity of features indicated n similar
ity of tastes and natures, he engaged
Lowder as his travelling companion
. and the past year they had spent to
gether more like brothers than like EN-
, ployer and employed.
This storm is regular Levater,
: said Lowder, clinging with both hands
: to the bulwarks. "Do you think th'
craft will stand it Tressilian"
"Oh. yes," answered young Tressil
:, ian wiping the salt spray from hi
face. 1.-THE Captain knows the Sicll
. . ian coast perfectly. In two hours, o
less, we shall be in the bay of Palermo
: In three hours we shall be domicilet
in the best rooms of the hotel Trinacri
. with the best supper which Messe
0 Ragusa can furnish. And tomorrow
=. .ooo - ho oddod Gum chou amhorl