Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-01-05

saving that he was not yet ready. Worn out anu
despairing, my mother died when l was Ten years
Again the wind shrieked past, again the little
vessel lurched, the sea sweeping her deck. ~
The captain screamed his orders TO his men, ana
for few minutes disorder reigned. tt
"a nasty bit of weather." said Lowder. Anu
q bad sky.-
f" We shall make port all right, never fear. we
must be well on toward the Cape dt gallo. ana
it : only seven miles es from n 'es caPs e
than seventy IN good weather These coasts are
Lowder shuddered rs he surveyed sea and sky.
But about your father, Jaspert" said Tressilian,
who had become deeply interested in his compan'
ions story. What did he d. after your mothers
ii remained at the old lodgings with our single
old servant month or more, my father WISHING
me several times, and expressing anxiety as 10
what he should do with me; week o at.er my
dead. A month later, his father WAS killed BY
being thrown from HE horse. My father came
into riches and hono,s By these deaths d A. last =,
Brighton, to my old grandmother. Her sons were
dead; she had given up keeping dodgers, ana was
grown miserly. He promised nef nve hanaIeo
pounds o year to keep me, and to keep also the
secret Of my paternity. sOlennly promising TO &C
knowledge me some day as his son and heir me
old woman agreed to carry out his wishes. Sne
would have done anything for money. never
saw my father again. l went to school, grew pp,
and at the age Of twenty-0ne came into my grand
mothers money, the fruits Of years Of SAYING, she
dying at that time. My father had dehoeraiely
abandoned me. 1 did not know where TO seek
him, II had wished to. took my money and
came abroad had been two years on the Cont
nent, and had spent my little fortune when met
you. The rest you know"
An odd, romantic story' But why did your
That he might he freed Of encumbrance to
make grand marriage. From what my grand
mother said at different times, conclude that my
father was In love with titled lady before my
hose 1aa d.Nph ha lAd
Ii he lives, this lady may be his acknowledged
heir. My father has utterly disowned the son OF
his first nasty ill-starred marriage. have fancy
that shall meet him some day." and Jasper's
brow darkened TO deeper blackness. " However,
stand no chance Of ever receiving justice at his
hands"
Tresslian.
Lowder's face darkened. tie bit Ills up saw
agey.
from my own observation, 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
Lowder. l don't know his real name, but
should know his face anywhere, although have
not seen him in thirteen years. My mother was
actually married, Tyessiqn, but ! 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 had put it Oft too long. All that
| could understand of her mumblings was the
name of Devereux. l shall never forget that
name DEyEREUxr Probably that Was my ia
should never find him If sought him, and as he
would repulse me If did find him, stand no
chance Of inheriting his property. He may be
dead He may have other sons who have sue
ceeded him. II is all a mystery, but the prom
nent truth Is that am an outcast, poor, disowned
and friendless." ..
He leane d over the bulwark, the spray dashlng
over his face violently
Tressilian's heart warmed to him
MY poor frendl'' he said. Must say again
you are not friendless while live. My father has
Influence enough to obtain for you government
appointment. This tange may straghtcn itself
out some day. But If ii dent, you are resoiute
enough to make your own happiness"
He grasped Lowder's hand, and looked with
warm bright eyes, full of sympathy Into Lowder's
lowering face.
There had been temporary lull In the storm.
But rs 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 50 high that words would scarcely car have Ave
fore had been but play to this awful outburst The
vessel drove on, creaking and grooming, a mere
cookie shell on the pillows .,..
all up with us, signores. can't make out the Cape
in this darkness. We shall 80 on the rocks, st.
Anthony save us!"
The seamen echoed his cries.
The two young Englishmen, comprehending
their peril, clasped hands in silence.
For the next few minutes 1t seemed that a Pandc-
monium reigned. stsl.t
Then a noise like the report Of cannon sudden
ly doomed through the storm and the darkness.
The little vessel shiyered, staggered, and careened
upon her side.
She had struck upon a rock I.-.tts.tw t#. a.
moment later crew and passengers were strug-
Cling in the waters.
few moments of bufetings and tossiBgs, OF
vain struggles and agonized, involuntary prayer,
and then Jasper Lowder felt his senses slip from
him, and became unconscious.
When he came to h mself, he was lying upon
rocky beach OF the sicilan shore, sore, bruised,
aud weak as child.
He opened his eyes. The wind had spent Its fury,
and now moaned along the coast with a desolate,
despairing wall. 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 IL terrible!
have lost my best friend to night"
He mOaned and wrung his hands. t1H
- lie is dead, who would have done so much for
me, and 80 worthless am sayed All my hopes
of an easy and luxurious life must be resigned
now!"
tie distance in the water The waves hurled this
object ainst the projecting head Of sunken rock.
AT the same instant Lowder recognized 1t as the
He crept toward It, and the waters dashed the
body on the shore at his feet. He put his hands
the face. How cold and wet 1t was IL felt like
the face of q dead man! LOwder's fingers came In
contact with the soft siikeu mustache, and he
knew that the body was that of Guy Tressilan.
Of the five who had stood on the sloops. deck
haf-hour earlier, these two alone were left The
the cruel, yawnng waters.
Lowder thrust his hand under the waistcoat Of
his friend, but he could not perceive the beating
OF his heart. Despair took possession OF him.
" Deadly he said, shrilly. . Dead! And he
would have done so much for me II he had live d
And his father and the young girl he to have
married will wait In vain for his coming. His
place at Tressilian Court Is empty Who can Ill
ity"
II seemed to him that some demon at his eide
echoed the question: Wh0 cOutd aH TIE phdce I'm
gqcdnt By MATTE Guy Iiesstisda.F
A thought came TO hm--a thought 40 strange
and sinister that he shivered involuniarly. Again
he felt Of Tressilians heart II gave throb against
his hand lie passed his hand over Tressilian's
head and discovered gaping wound IN the skull.
The hair was clotted with blood
Putting hs hand into his breast pocket, Lowder
drew out his little waterproof match safe. lie
opened II with trembling fingers and struck
fight The red flicker danced on young Tressilian's
face. M .Eg.
How chastity and terrible It looked! The eyes
were closed. the smile gone. The seal OF
death seemed set on the noble features.
Lowder examined the wound. II had been made
by contact with the sharp rock, and even L0wder
perceived Its terrible character.
s. II he In not dead he soon will be" he mnttered.
" His brain has received an awful injury lie will
never know who he II again. He won't live till
morning, and he v perhaps dead already. He must
be dead"'
Again it seemed to him as though some demon
echoed his words.
t~h H~,, a. n s,Sz -