The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-12-26
0. | took 1t for granted that he LIS

dead :, ,,,
I,owdor. with a reckless laugh. "But u
he is living, he is o scoundrel. Don't starr;
Tressilian, at my unfilial speech. wait TN
YOU hear my story. l am In desl ~, a.
mood tonight. This storm stirs up an ,ne
bad within me. AS nearly as can dis-
cover, my father was the younger SON OF
proud old county family" ru.
"You do not know, then!" asked 1res-
silian, pressing his companion n"m ';.;-,,,
.I hay, no proofs OF 1t. All pos ltiveiy
L,nr j. This. My mother was Of humble
Stat;nn. nrctty, with blue eyes and an APP
nlr.blossom face, and tender, appealing
wways. She was the daughter of widow,
residing at Brighton. The widow. my
grandmother, kept clearinghouse. and
my father, gay, daShing young fellow,
came to lodge with her. AS might have
been expected, he fell in love with his land.
iads's daughter. He offered the young g1rl
marriage, on condition that the union
should be kept secret until his affairs
frightened and he chose to divulge it. The
Young girl loved him. Her mother was
ambitious and penurious. The result was
the lover had his way, and married the
daughter OF his landlady quietly, almost Sc
cretly. Then he took his bride to London,
to cheap and obscure lodgings, where,
year later. L was born"
The wind for moment drowned his
voice. As it, presently lulled, he resumed
recklessly, and with passionate bitterness ::
"Fpr years my mother and I lived in
those stuily, obscure lodgings until her
bloom had faded, and she had grown thin
and wan and nervous. My father visited
us at stated seasons, once or twice week,
but nc never brought any OF his family to
call upon US. ! doubt if his aristocratic
relatives even suspected the existence OF
the faded wife and son Of whom he was sc.
cretly ashamed. have good reason to be-
End, where he was supposed to be a bach
eor, and that he went into fashionable So
cicty, while my poor mother and l lived
obscurelv. He was profligate and roue,
but he had an air Of fashion that awakened
nv bovish admiration, and aroused my
mothers afftctionate pride in him. She
was always pleading to be introduced to
his relatives, and to have her son publicly
acknowledged. But my father always put
her of, saying that he was not yet ready.
Worn out and despairing, my mother died
when l was ten wears DID,
Again the wind shrieked past, again the
little vessel lurched, the sea sweeping her
deck.
The captain screamed his orders to his
men, and for a few minutes disorder
reigned.
"a nasty bit of weather." said Lowder.
'And bad sky ~
"Yes. but I've seen as bad" returned
TreSsi!ian. eve shall make port all right
never fear. We must he well on toward
the Cape di Gallo. And it's only seven
miles from the Cape to Palermo"
'But the seven miles in this storm are
worse than seventy in good weather.
These coasts are dang erous, TreSsilian."
Lowder shuddcred as he surveyed sea and
sky.
:'But about your father, Jasper said
Tressilian, who had become deeply inte-
rested in his companions story. "What
did he do after your mothers death:'
q remained at the old lodgings with orr
single old servant a month or more, my
father visiting me several times, and ex-
pressing anxiety as to what he should do
with me. A week after my mothers death
he told me that his brother was dead. A
month later his father was killed by being
thrown from his horse. My father came
into riches and honors by these deaths. At
last. deciding to rid himself of me, he took
me down to Brighton to my old grand
mother. Her sons were dead; she had
given up keeping dodgers, and was grown
luiscrly. He promised her five hundred
pounds 4 year TO keep me, and to keep also
the secret of my paternity, solemnly prom
sing to acknowledge me some day rs his
son and heir. The old woman agreed to
carry out his wishes. She would have done
anything for money. l never saw my father
again. | went to school, grew up, and at
he aye OF twenty-one came into my grand
mothers money-t1e fruits Of years OF say
ng-She dying at that time. My father had
abandoned me. l did moi know
where TO seek him if had wished to.
TODD my money and came abroad. l had
been two years on the continent, and had
spent my little fortune when l met you.
The rest you know" /
An odd, romantic story! But why did
your ftthe: abandon you!"
THAT he might be freed of encumbrance
to make Il grand marriage. From what my
said ut different times, con-
cudc that my father was in love Wit -
titled lady before my mothers deati Nc
jlouOt he married this lady. j. ~ 10 I,: ~
Ibis lady's son may be his 81 -. nJ i tno
heir. My father has utter' d INnmi.dI iLe
SON of his first ha>ty ill., oISom nrI tae
have fancy that - Slliee i La, go
lay and Jaspe' naia o neG d.r pi fT'f To
deeper blackneS" - plum uI + n eta,ed No
,hance of o. r So roce;rjn m1'i n,tice ' ut his
hands," -'ci le'oN'iS Ju''t.o ~ ~
y. hat is your fathers name, Jasper?"
..kcd TreSsilian.
Lowder's face darkened. He bit his lip
savagely.
"What l have told you about myself
learned from my own observation, Or from
chance words Of my parents and grand
mother. My mothers maiden name was
Jeanette Lowder. At our London lodg-
ings my father bore the name Of Lowder.
| uon't know his real name, but l should
know his face anywhere, although have
not seen him in thirteen years. My mother
was actually married, Tressilian, but ne.
| yer heard my fathers name. The clergy
man who married my mother was dead
| the witnesses also. When my grandmother
WAS dying she tried to tell me the story.
| She had put it of too long. all that could
| understand of her mumblings was the
name of DevereauX. l shall never forget
that name-'DErEREAUxI Probably that
was my fathers name-my own rightfu
name. But as should never find him if
sought him, and is he would repulse me il
| did lind him, stand no chance Of inner.
ting his property. He may be dead. He
may have other sons who have succeeded
him. 1t is al :. mystery, but the prominent
Il ~ i. hIf ia