Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1871-01-06

10. And It's only seven miles IRON
the Cape to Palermo"
"But the seven miles in this storm
are worse than seventy in good
weather. These coasts are danger
Gus, Tressilian."
Lowder shuddered as he survey.
ed sea and sky.
"But about your father, Jasper?''
said Tressilian, who had become
deeply interested in his companions
story. "What did he do after your
mothers death?"
"I remained at the old lodgings
with our single old servant month
or more, my father visiting me sew
cral times. and expressing 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
bv being thrown from his horse.
| NV father came into riches and hon
ors by these deaths. At last, deci-
ding to rid himself of me, he took
me down to Brighton, to my old
grandmother. Her sons were dead;
she had given up keeping dodgers,
and was grown miserly. He prom
ised her five hundred pounds year
to keep me, and to keep also the Sc
cret of my paternity, solemnly prom
ising to acknowledge me some day
rs his son and heir. The old wo-
man 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 the age of twenty-onc came
into my grandmother's money, the
fruits of years of saving, she diving
at that time. My father had dclib-
eratcly abandoned me. l did not
know where to seek him, if l had
wished to. I took my money and
came abroad. l had been two years
on the Continent, and had spent my
! little fortune when ! met you. The
rest you know"
can odd, romantic story! But
why did your father abandon you?''
"That he might be freed from
encumbrance to make grand mar
riage. From what my grandmoth-
cr said at different times, conclude
that my father was in love with 4
titled lady before my mothers
death. No doubt he married this
lady. If he lives, this lady's son
may be his acknowledged heir
My father has utterly disowned the
son of his first hasty, ill-starred
marriage. l have a fancy that
shall meet him some day" and JAS
par's brow darkencd to deeper
blackness. "IIowcver, l stand no
chance of ever receiving justice at
his hands"
"What is your fathers name,
Jaspar?" asked Tressilian.
Lcwdcr's face darkcned. lie bit
his lip savagely.
"What l have told you about my
self, / learned from my own obser-
vation, or from chance words of my
parents and grandmother. My
mothers maiden name was jeanette
Lowder At our London lodgings,
my father bore the name of Lowdcr.
l don't know his real name, but
should know his face anywhere,
although ! have not seen him in
thirteen years. My mother was ac-
tually married, Tressilian, but l
never heard my fathers name. The
clergyman who married my mother
was dead; the witnesses also.
When my grandmother was dying
she tried to tell me the story. She
put it off too long. All that l could
understand Of her mumblings was
the name Of Devereux. | shall new
er forget that name-'DEvEREUX!'
Probably that was my fathers name
my own rightful name. But as |
should never find him if l sought
him, and as he would rcpulse me If
| did find him, stand no chance of
inheriting his property. He may
be dead. He may have other sons
who have succeeded him. 1t is all
a mystery, but the prominent truth
is that am an outcast, poor, dis
owned and friendless."
He leaned over the bulwark. the
spray dashing over his face violent
ly.
Tressilian's heart warmed to
him.
"My poor friend!" he said.
"Nfust l say again you are not
fricndless while | live? My father
has influence enough to obtain for
You government appointment.
This tang!e may straighten itself
out some day. But if it don't, you
are resolute enough to make your
own happiness"
He grasped Lowder's hand, and
looked with warm bright eyes, full
of sympathy, into L"wder's lower
ing face.
There had been a temporary lull
in the storm. But as the two stood
there, the tempest revived and
swept over the sea in maddcned
rage.
There was no time for talking
now. The wind rose so high that
words would scarcely have been
distinguished. The storm that had
gone before had been but play to
this awful ouiburst. The vessel
drove on, creaking and groaning,
mere cockle shell on the pillows.
"Mother of Mercicsr' walled the
captain. ''lt's all up with us, sig
nores. can't make out the Cape
in this darkness. We shall go on
the rocks. st. Anthony save u.s."
The seamen echoed his cries.
The two young Englishmcn, com
prchen ling their peril, clasped
hands in silence.
For the next few minutes it
seemed that Pandcmonium reign
ed.
Then noise like the report of a
cannon suddenly doomed through
the storm and The darkness. The
little vessel shivcrcd, staggered and
careencd upon her side.
She had struck upon a rock.
A moment later crew and passen-
gers were struggling in the water.