The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-01-05
CHAPTER l.
A FATEFUL CATASTROPHE.

November day, and sky and waters were
black with the gloom of the sudden and
furious tempest, before which a small
sailing vessel was scudding under bare
poles. Her build and rigging proclaimed
her Sandman. She was The Gull, Cap
tain Narino master. on her way from
Cagiari to Palermo.
She had on board two seamen. and
two passengers.
These passengers We're Englishmen,
who procured passage on The Gull TO Pal
ermo. whence they intended to embark
by steamer to Marseilles, the following
day.
While the Captain and his assistants
were attending to their duties, and eX-
pressing apprehensions as to their safety,
the two Englishmen stood apart, leaning
against the low bulwarks, surveying the
wild scene around them.
These men were both young, apparent
ly of the same age, about three and TWEEN
ty, 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, he had an al
venturous disposition and u dauntless
courage.
He was Guy Tressilian, the only son
and heir of Sir Arthur Tressilian, Baro-
net, of Tressilian Court, England.
His companion presented Il remarkable
resemblance to him, being also tall and
slender and fair, with tawny hair and
mustache, 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 experiences
had been such as to develop in him some
of the worst qualities of his nature.
1t was jasper Lowder, Guy Tressil-
ian's hired travelling companion and bo-
som friend.
The meeting and connection of the two
had touch OF romance. Young Tres
sillan had spent four years in German
university, whence he had been graduated
with honor On leaving the university,
in obedience with his fathers written
command, he had undertaken a tour OF
the countries inclosing the Mediterran-
can Sea, in company with one of his late
tutors. This gentleman being unexpect-
edlv promoted TO a professorship, aban-
doned Tressilian at Baden, leaving him
t. find another travelling companion.
On the evening of the very day after
this desertion, as Guy Iresslllan was
sauaterirg through the streets OF Baden,
he bad been assaulted by II trio of his
own countrymen, all more or less intOXi-
Gated. 1t WAS apparent that they took
him for another, and intended 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 run
ming to his assistance, ana IN II few mo-
ments the two had put the rufians to
flight.
This stranger who came so OPPORTUNITY
to Guys assistance was Jasper Lowder.
His resemblance to young Tressllian
awakened in the latter romantic int
rest He questioned Lowder, learned
that he was poor and alone IN the world,
and took him with him TO his hotel. Be
lieving that the similarity OF features IN
dictated a similarity OF tastes and natures,
he engaged Lowder as his travelling COM
panion, and the past year they had spent
together more like brothers than like en-
ployer and employed.
This storm is a regular Levanter,
said Lowder, clinging with both hands TO
the bulwarks. ''Do YOU think the craft
will stand it, Tressilian!"
''Oh yes" answered young Tressilian,
wiping the salt spray from bis face
''fhe 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 fur
nish. And tomorrow at noon, he
added, 1--WE shall embark for Marseilles
in Messageries steamer.
"And from Marseilles you will proceed
TO England and to Tressilian Court, said
Lowder, with some bitterness. "And l
what is to become of me Ihave had
year of unalloyed happiness, and now
comes back the drudgery, the hopeless
toll, the anxiety of the wretched old life.
You picked me up at Baden, a poor adj
venturer seeking to gain a living 10y teach
ing English, and the same destiny is open
10 me now.
Tressilian turned his handsome face
upon his companion in surprise and atfec-
tomato reproach.
"Jasper!" he exclaimed, "you talk
strangely. Do you suppose L have called
you friend and brother 50 long, and loved
you so we'll, 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. L shall
telegraph from Marseilles that you will
come home with me- And you will, Will
you not? You will not abandon me, my
friend? l 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-
tineht?"
A strange expression passed over Jas
per Lowder's face.
No, have no ties" he said huskhy.
"And you will 90 home with me
"What will your father say to my com
ing ?" demanded LOwder. lie Will
think your generosity Quixotic. lie VIII
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 Tressll-
ian. his blue eyes kindIing, when the YES
sci had righted. He is the noblest man
in the world. He will welcome my
friends as his own. You will love him,
Jasper, as do, when you know him.
HE doesn't seem very atectIonate,
remarked Lowder. You have been away
Co.. &c vaarx and he has hut lust recalled