Litchfield enquirer., 1871-01-05
"What is your fathers name, JasperP" asked Tressilian
 Lowder's face darkened. He bit his lip

What IS your fathers name, Jasperp asked Tressilian
 Lowder's face darkened. He bit his lip savagely.
 "What have told you about myself, I 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. I don't know his real name, but I should know his face anywhere, although have not seen him in thirteen years. My moth or was actually married, Tressilian. but | never heard my fathers name The cler- gyman who married my mother was dead; ]; the witnesses also. When my grandmoth- l CT was dying, she tried to tell me the sto- ry. She had put it off too long. All that could understand of her mumblings was the name of Devereux. I shall never for get that name-'DEyEREuxr Probably 1 that was my fathers name-my own right, ! full name. But as should never find him If sought him, and as he would repulse me if did find him, stand no chance of lnheriting his property. He may be dead. He may have other sons who have succeed ed him. It is all mystery, but the prom | inent truth is that am an onteast, poor, distressed and friendless. He leaned over the buiwark, the spray rushing over his face violently. 1 Tressilian's heart warmed to him. 'My poor friend!' he said. Must say again you are not friendless while live. My father has influence enough to obtain for you government appointmennt. This tangle may straighten itself out some day. But Ii 1t does not. you are resolute enough to make your own happiness" He grasped Lowders hand, and looked with warm bright eyes, full of sympathy, into Lowders lowering face.
 There had been temporary Hull in the storm. But as the two stood there, the tempest revived and swept over the wild sea in maddened rage. There was no time for talking now. The wind rose so high that words could searca- ly have been distinguished The storm that had gone before had been but play to this awful outburst The vessel drove on, creaking and grooming, mere cookie shell on the pillows.
 "Mother of Mercies!" walled the cap- tain. '.It's all up with us, signors. I can't make out the Cape in this darkness. We shall go on the rocks. St. Anthony save us!'
 The seamen echoed his cries.
 The two young Englishmen, compre- hending their peril, clasped hands in si- lence -
 For the next few minutes it seemed that Q Pandemonium reigned.
 Then noise like the roar of cannon suddenly boomed through the storm and the darkness. The little vessel shivered, staggered, and careened upon her side.
 She had struck upon rock.
 A moment later crew and passengers were struggling in the waters.
 A few moments of buffetings and toss ings, of vain struggles and agonized, in voluntary prayer, and then Jasper Lowder felt his senses slip from him, and became unconscious.
 When he came to himself, he was lying uPo@ Q rocky beach of the Sicilian shore, sore, bruised, and weak as vt,i9u.
 He opened his eyes. The wind- had spent its fury, and now moaning along the coast with desolate, despairing vail. The waves beat against the rocks.
 Lowder struggled to his elbow.
 "Wrecked!' he muttered. 'I am cast ashore, while the others are drowned! Oh, this is terriblel I have lost my best friend to -night!'
 He moaned and wrung his hands.
 "He is dead, who would have done so much for me, and so worthless am saved! All my hopes of an easy and luxurious life must be resigned now!'
 At that moment he beheld dark object at little distance in the water. The waves hurled this object against the projecting head of runken rock. At the same in- stant Lowder recognized 1t as the body of a man.
 He crept towards it, and the waters dashed the body on the shore at his feet. He put his hands on the face. How cold and wet it was It felt like the face of a dead man! Lowder's fingers came in con- tact with the soft, silken mustache, and he knew that the body was that of Guy Tres silian!
 Of the five who had stood on the sloop's deck half-hour earlier, these two alone were left. The captain and his crew found their deaths among the cruel, yawning wa ters.
 Lowder thrust his hand under the waist the beating of his heart Despair took possession of him.
 ''Deadr he said shrilly. "Dead! And he would have done so much for me if he had lived! And his father and the young girl he was to have married will wait in vain for his coming! His place at Tressilian Court is empty. Who can fill it?"
 It seemed to him that some demon at his side echoed the question:: Who could JiH Me place tsfa racant by noble Guy 1ressitian?
 A thought came to him-a thought so strange and sinister that he shivered in- voluntarily. Again he felt of Tressilian s heart. It gave no throb against his hand.
 He passed his hand over Tressilian s head and discovered gaping wound Tn the skull The hair was clotted with blood. Putting his hand into his breast pocket. Lowder drew out his little water-proof match-safe. He opened it with tremeling fingers and struck light. The red flick CT danced on young Tressilian's s face.
 How ghastly and terrible it looked! The eyes were closed, the smile was gons. The seal of death seemed set on the noble fea- lures.
 Lowder examined the wound. It had been made by contact with the sharp rock, and even Lowder preceived it's terrible character.
 eff htpis not dead he soon will be, he muttered. ''His brain has received an aw- ful injury. He will never know who he is again. He won't live till morning, and he is perhaps dead already. He must be deadl''
 Again it seemed to him as though some demon echoed his words.
 The match dropped from his fingers into