Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1871-01-04
CHAPTER /.
FATEFUL CATASTROPHE.

FATEFUL CATASTROPHE.
A wild storm was raging upon tn
Mediterranean Sea, near the close of
dreary November day, and sky and W
ters were black with the gloom of ID
sudden and furious tempest. before wLic
email sailing vessel was scuddin
the bare poles. Her build and riggin
proclaimed her Sandman. She wac III
GuU. Captain Varino master. on her wa,
from Cagliari to Palermo.
She had on board two seamen, and tw
passengers.
These passengers were Englishmeu
who had procured passage on The Oil
to Palermo, whence they intended to EN-
bark by steamer to Marseilles, the fol
lowing day.
While the Captain and his assistant:
were attending to their duties. and ex
pressing appreheusions as to their safety
the two Euglishmen stood apart. leaning
against the low bulwarks. aud surveying
the wild scene around them. .......
These men were both young, appar
emily of the same age, about three anC
twenty. but evidently they were not o
the aamc station in life. -t "a.
One, the more striking of the two. wa.
aristocraiic in his bearing. tall, slender
and handsome. with a fiauk, smiling
mouth, pair of fearless blue eyes. sel
under wide and massive forehead, and
tawny hair blowing back from his face
Noble, generous and kind hearted, be had
an adventurous di.posion and dauntless
courage. #.. ....I .
He was Guy Tressilian. the only son
and heir of Sir Arthur Tressilian, Baro.
net, of Tresilian Court England.
His companion presented remarkable
resemblance to him. being also tall and
slender and fair, with tawny hair and
mustache, but lie 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.
He was Jasper Lowder. Guy Tressi-
lian's hired travelling companion and bo'
som, friend.
The meeting and connection of the
two had a touch of romance. Young
Tressil,an had spent four years in Ger.
man University, whence he had beer
graduated with honor. On leaving the
university. in obedience to his fathers
written command, be had undertaken a
tour of the countries inclosing the Med
iterrnean Sea, in company with one Of
his late tutors. This gentleman being
unexpectedly promoted to professor
ship. abandoned Tressilian at Baden
leaving him to find another travelling
companion. ."r
On the evening of the very day afte,
this de-ertion, as Guy Tressilian wa,
sauntering through the streets Of Baden,
he hal been assaulted by a trio Of bis
countrymen, all more or less intoxicated
1t was apparent that they took him fol
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 assistance, and in a few moment.
the two had put the rufians to flight.
This stranger who came so opportune.
ly to Guys assistance. was Jasper Low.
der. His resemblance to young Tressi
lian awakened in the later romantic in.
ierest. 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
dicated similarity of tastes and natures,
he engaged Lowder as his travelling COM
pauion, and the past year they had spent
together more like brothers than like en-
ployer and employed.
This storm is regular Levanter.' '
said Lowder, clinging with both hands
to the bulwarks. "Do you think the
craft will stand it, Tressilian 81
"Oh. yes" answered young Tsessillan
wiping the salt spray from his fac
"The Captain knows the Sicilian coas,
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 eupper which Messer Ragusa
can furnish And tomorrow, at noon,'
lie added. " we shall embark for Marseil
les in Measageries steamer"
"And from Marseilles you will proceed
to England and TO Treesilian Court,
said Lowder. with some bitterness
"And I-what is to become of me have
Lad year Of unalloyed happiness. ani
now comes back the drudgery. the hope
less toll, the anxieties of the wretchec
] old life. You picked me up at Baden, :