Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-12-29
CHAPTER /.

" II LJ6 III StGhe, 1Ht IIOhSo
of Secrets" Etc, Etc, Etc,
CHAPTER I.
FATEFUL CATASTROPHE.
A wild storm was raging upon the
Mediterranean Sea, near the close of a
dreary November day, and sky and wat
ers were black with the gloom of the
sudden and furious tempest, before which
small sailing vessel was scudding under
bare poles. Her build and rigging pro-
claimed her Sandman. She was The
Gull, Captain Varino master, on her way
from Cagliari 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 Marse;.les, the following
day.
While the captain and his assistants
were attending to their duties, and ex-
pressing approximations as to their safety,
the two Englishmen 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 and twenty,
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, pair of fearless blue eyes, set
under wide and massive forehead and
tawny hair blowing back from his face.
Noble, generous and kind hearted, he had
an adventurous disposition and dauntess
courage.
He was Guy Tressilian, the only son
and heir of Sir Arthur Tressilian, Baronet,
of Tressllian Court, England.
His companion presented remarkable
resemblance to him, being also tall and
slender and fair, with tawney hair and
mustaohe, but he had not the frank smile,
the bright, fearless look, or the joyous
spirit that characterized young Tressilian.
Young as he was, he had seen much of the
dark side of life, and his experience had
been such as to develop in him some of
the worst qualities of his nature.
He was Jasper Lowder, Guy Tres,
silian's hired travelling companion and
bosom-friend~
The meeting and connection of the two
had touch of romance. Young Tres
silian had spent four years in German
university, whence he had been graduated
with honor. On leaving the university,
IN, ohaAiapno 20 bic 20 flar'c
mand, he had undertaken a tour of the
countries inclosing the Mediterranean Sea;
in company with one of his late tutors.
This gentleman being Unexpectedly pro-
noted 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 a trio of his own
countrymen, all more or less intoxicated.
1t was apparent that they took him for
another, and intended to wreak vengence
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 as
sistance, and in few moments the two
had put the ruffians to flight.
This stranger who came so opportuuely
to Guys assistance was Jasper Lowder.
His resemblance to young Tressilian
awakened in the latter a 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 features indicated a
similarity of tastes and natures, he engag-
ed Lowder as his travelling companion,
and the past year they spent together
more like brothers than like employer and
employed.
"This storm is a regular Lavanter,"
said Lowder, clinging with both hands to
the bulwarks. Do you think the craft
will stand it. TressilLan ?'
ooh, yes" answered young Tressilian,
wiping the salt spray from his face. "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 domiciled in the best rooms of the hotel
Trinacria, with the best supper which
Messer Ragusa can furnish. And to NOR
row, at noon," he added, " we shall en-
bark for Marseilles in Messageries
steamer
"And from Marseilles you will proceed
to England and to Tressilian Court, said
Lowder, with some bitterness. And |
what is to become of me? | have had
year of unalloyed happiness, and now
comes back the drudgery, the hopeless
toll, the anexieties 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 open
to me now"
Tressilian turned his handsome face up
on his companion in surprise and affection
ate reproach.
casper !" 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? l meant
to have written to my father concerning
you and your future, Jasper, but his sud
den recall, received yesterday, causes me
to return home without writing. | shall
telegraph from Marseilles that you will
come home with me. And you will, will
you HOT Ou Will uOG dUduuOll me, my
friend? [ will charge myself with your
future. | will see that you obtain the
position to which your talents entitle you
You have no ties to keep you on the Con-
tinent ?"
A strange expression passed over Jasper
Lowder's face.
Ono, I have no ties" he said huskily.
Sand you will go home with me ?
What will your father say to my COM
ing 2" demanded Lowder. "He will
think your generosity Quixotic. He will
dismiss from his house the hired compan-
ion who dares to resemble his son"
A sudden lurch of the little vessel,
wave sweeping over the deck, interrupted
the sentence.
"You wrong my father" said Tres
silian, his blue eyes kindling, when the
vessel had righted. He is the noblest
y