The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1871-01-07
CHAPTER l.

A wild storm was raging upon Inc Meult0i =
ranean Sea, near the close of dreary Novem-
ber day, and sky and waters were black with
the gloom of the sudden and furious tempest,
before which a small sailing vessel was scud-
ding under bare poles. Her build and rigging
proclaimed her Sandman. She was The GuA,
Captain Varino master, on her way from Gag
liari to Palermo.
She had on board two seamen, and two pas
sengers.
These passengers were Engllshmen, who haa
procured passage on The Gull to Palermo,
whence they intended to embark by steamer
to Marseilles, the following day.
While the Captain and his assistants were at
tending to their duties, and expressing appre-
tensions as to their safety, the two English
men stood apart, leaning against the low bull
warks, and surveying the wild scene around
them.
These men were both young apparently of
the same age, about three and twenty, but evil
IDENTIFY they were not of the same station in
life.
One, the more striking of the two, was aris-
tocratc in his bearing, tall, slender and hand
some, with frank, smiling mouth, pair OF
fearless blue eyes, set under wide and mas
sive forehead, and tawny hair blowing back
from his face. Noble, generous and kind
hearted, he had an adventurous disposition
and a dauntless courage.
heir of Sir Arthur Tressilian, Barenet, ofTres-
silian Court, England
His companion presented remarkable re-
semblance to him, being also tall and slender
and fair, with tawney hair and mustache, but
he had not the frank smile, the bright, tear-
less look, or the joyous spirit that character
lied young Tress:lian. Young as he 49, 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.
He was Jasper Lowder, Guy Tresslllan's
hired travelling companion and bosom friend
The meeting and connection OF the two had
a touch of romance. Young Tressilian had
spent four years in a German university,
whence he had been graduated with honor
On leaving the university, in obedience to his
fathers written command, he had undertaken
a tour of the countries inclosing the Medlterra-
mean Sea in company with one of his late tu-
tors. This gentleman being unexpectedly pro-
NOTED to professorship, abandoned Iresslllan
at Baden, leaving him to find another travel
ing companion.
On the evening of the very day after this de-
sertion, as Guy Tressilian was sauntering
through the streets of Baden, he had been as
saulted By trio of his own countrymen, all
more or less intoxicated. 1t was apparent that
thew took him for another, and intended to
wreak vengeance upon him. Without allowing
him to speak, they forced him to defend HIM
self. Guy was getting the worst OF the conflict
when stranger came running to his assls-
tanee. and in a few moments the two had put
the ruffians to flight.
This stranger who came so opportunely to
GUYS assistance was Jasper Lowder. His re-
semblance to young Tressilian awakened IN
the latter romantic interest. He questioned
Lowder, learned that he was poor and alone
in the world, and took him with him to his
hotel. Believeing that the similarity OF fea-
,,,D itxyO Of
lures, ne engaged Lowder as his travelling
companion, and the past year they had spent
together more like brothers than like employ
er and employed.
"This storm is a regular Levanter," said
Lowder, cinging with both hands to the bull
warks. "Do you think the craft will stand
it, Tressilian?
the salt spray from his face. "The Captain
knows the Sicilian coast perfectly. In two
hours, or less, we shall be in the bay OF Paler-
mo. In three hours we shall be domiciled in
the best rooms of the hotel Trinacria, with the
best supper which Messer Ragusa can furnish.
And tomorrow, at noon," he added, 1--WE shall
embark for Marseilles in Messageries steamer y
sAnd from Marseilles you will proceed to
England and to Tresslian Court" said Lowder,
with some bitterness. "And I-what is to
become of me have had year of unalloyed
happiness, and now comes back the drudgery,
the hopeless toll, the anxieties of thewretched
old life You picked me up at Baden. a
poor adventurer seeking to gain living by
teaching English, and the same destiny is open
| to me now."
Tressilian turned his handsome face upon
his COMPANION in surprise and affectionate re-
proach.
"Jasper !" be exclaimed. "you talk strange
ly. Do you suppose have called you friend
and brother so long, and loved you so well, tc
] lose you now I meant to have written to my
farther concerning you and your future, Jasper
but his sudden recall, received yesterday, caus
| es me to return home without writing. 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 VIII
charge myself with your future. | will see
that you obtain the position to which your tai
ents entitle you. You have no ties to keep you
| on the Continents?
A strange expression passed over Jasper
| Lowder's face.
"No, have no ties" he said huskily.
| "What will your father say to my coming 2
demanded Lowder. "He will think your gen
erosity Quxotic. He will dismiss from hi
house the hired companion who dares to re
semble his SON"
A sudden lurch of the little vessel, wav'
sweeping over the deck, interrupted the sen
| tence.
| WIOuR my ld1hOiJ Soio II iiOooiN"At
blue eyes kindling when the vessel had right
ed. "He is the noblest man in the world
He will welcome my friends as his own. Yo'
will love him, Jasper, as do, when you know
him."
"He doesn't seem very affectionate," remak
ed Lowder. "You have been away from you
home for five years, and he has but just recall
ed you
Young Tressilian's cheeks flushed, as Low
der saw in the lurid glow that momentarll.
lighted up the tempestuous scene.
"You know, or can guess the reason, Jasper,
he said, with something of an effort. "My ia
ther has a ward, the daughter OF an old friend
All! hear that wind shrek? The gale !
increasing 2"
"Yes," assented Lowder. "And the ward
Miss Irby-the golden-haired Blanche OF whom
/ you have talked so mnch, and with whom yo
have exchangedletters?
eyes. My father formed a project to hay
me marry Blanche He did not wish us t
grow up together, lest we should learn to re
Sard each other as brother and sister. VINE
blanche came to live at the Court my lathe
sent me to Germany. The night before | lei
home, he called me into his library and tol
me all his hopes and plans for my tuture' an
entreated me to continue worthy OF his lnno
cent ward, and to keep my heart pure Tor hel
1 /