The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-01-03

though | have not seen him for thirteen
years. My mother was actually married,
TressiIian, but never heard my faith.
ers name. The clergyman who married
my mother was dead the witness also.
When my grandmother was dying she
tried to tell me the story. She had put
1t off too long. All that l could under
stand Of her mumbings was the name of
Devercux. | shall never forget th at
name DEvEREux Probably that
was my fathers name-my own rightful
name. But as | should never find him
and as he would repulse me if
did find him, l stand no chance of inner.
iting his property. He may be dead.
He may have other sons who have sue
ceeded him. 1t is all mystery, but
the prominent truth is that l am an out
cast, poor, disowned and friendess."
He leaned over the bulwark, the spray
dashing over his face violently.
Tressiian's heart warmed for him.
My poor friend ?" he said. Must
say again that you are not friendless
while live. My father has influence
enough to obtain for you government
appointment. This tanglc may straight.
en- itself some day. But if it don't you
are resolute enough to make your own
happiness"
He graspcd Lowder's hands and
looked with warm bright eyes, full OF
sympathy, into Lowder's lowering face.
There had been temporary lull in the
storm. But as the two stood there, the
tempest revived aud swept over the sea III
maddened 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 outburst. The
vessel drove on, creakug and grooming, u
mere cookie shell Oh the pillows
{" Mother Of Mercies !" walled the
captain. It's all up with us, signores.
can't make out the Cape in this dark.
ness. We shall 20 on the rocks. St.
Anthony save us.
The seamen echoed his cries.
The two young English neu compre-
hendirg their peril, clasped hands i'll 81
eDce.
For the next few minutes it seemed
that Il Pandemonium rigned.
Then noise like the report of canon
suddenly doomed through the storm
and the darkness. The little vessel
shivercd, staggered, and carecned upon
her side.
She had struck upon rock.
A moment later crew and passengers
were struggling in the waters.
A few moments OF Dutfetings and toss
ings, of vain struggles aud agonizcd, ill.,
voluntary prayer, and then Jasper Lowder
felt his seuses slip from him, and became
unconscious.
When he came to himself, he was lying
upon rocky beach of the Siclian shore,
sore, bruised, and weak as child.
He opened his eyes. The wind had
spent its fury, and now moaned along
the coast with desoate, despairing wall.
The waves beat against the rocks.
Lowder struggled to his elbow.
Wrecked" he muttered. l am cast
ashore, while the others are drowned!
Oh, this is terrible. I have lost my best
friend tonight"
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 aud
luxurious life must be resigned now ~
At that moment he beheld dark OBJ.
ject at little distance in the water. The
waves hurled this object against the pro.
jecting head of sunken rock. At the
same instant Lowder recognized it as the
body Of man.
He crept toward it, and tho waters
dashed the body on the shore at his feet.
He put his hands on the face. How cold
and wet it was 1t felt like the face of
dead man! Lowder's fingers came in
contact with the soft, silken mustache,
and he knew that the body was that OF
Guy Tressiian
Of the five who had stood on the sloop's
deck hali.hour earlier, these two alone
were left. The captain and his crew had
found their death, among the cruel ,yawn-
ing waters.
Lowdcr thrust his hand under the waist.
coat OF his friend, but he could not per.
ceivc the bcatin5 Of his heart. Despair
took possession Of him.
Dead !" he said shrily. 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! lis place at Tres
siliau Court is empty. Who can Gil it p
1t seemed to him that some demon at
his side echoed the question: Who can
I'LL the place left racaMt by noble Guy
Tressilian.
A Ihough t came to him--a thought SO
strange aud sinister that he shvered iu-
voluntarily. Again he felt Of Tresslliau' S
heart. 1t gave 10 throb against his nd.
He passed his hand over Trcssilian's head
and discovered IL gaping wound in his
skull. The hair was clotted with blood,
Putting his hand into his breast pocket
Lowder drew out his little waterproof
match-safe. He opened it with trembling
fingers and struck a light. The red flicker
danced on young Tres,liau's face.
How CHASTITY and terrible it looked !.
The eyes were closed, the smile was gone.
The seal Of death seemed set on the noble
features.
Lowder examined the wound. 1t had
been made by contact with the sharp
rock, and even Lowder preceived its ter.
rable character.
III he is not dead, he soon will be, he
muttered. "His brain has received an
awful injury. He will never know who
he is again. He won't live till morning,
and he is perhaps dead already. He
must be dead !"
Again it seemed to him as though some
demon echoed his words.
| IL. l..