The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-01-03
CHAPTER 1.
A fATEPuL CATASTROPHE.

FAITHFUL CATASIkOPHk
A wild storm was raging upon the
Mediterranean Sea, near the close of q
dreary November day, and sky and wa
tiers were black with the gloom Of the
sudden and furious tempest, before which
small sailing vessel was scudding under
bare poles. Her build and rigging pro.
claimed her Sandman. She was the
The Gull, Captain Varino master, on
her way from Cagliari to Palermo.
She had on board two seamen, and two
passengers.
These passengers were Englishmen, who
had procured passage on The Gail to
Palermo, whence they intended by
steamer to Marseiles, the following day.
While the Captain and his assistants
were attending to their duties, and ex-
pressing appreheusions as to their safety,
tle two Englishmen stood apart leaning
against the low bulwarks, and surveying
the wild scene around them
These men were both young, apparent
y Of the same age, about three and
twenty, but evidently they were not oil
Tue SAME StdtlOu III HE.
One, the more striking of the two, was
aristocratic in his bearings, tall, slender,
and handsome, with frand, smiling
mouth, pair Of fearless blue eyes, sci
under wide and massive forehead, and
twany hair blowing back from his face
Noble, generous and kind hearted, he had
an adventurous disposition and daunt.
less courage.
He was Guy Tressiian, the only son
and heir of Sir Arthur Tressilan, Baro.
net Of Tressilian court, England.
His companion presented a remarka.
BILE resemblance to him, being tall and
slender and fair, with twany hair and
mustache, but he had not the frank
smile, or the joyous spirit that character.
lied young Tressilian. Young as he was,
he had seen much Of the dark side of lift ,
and his experience had been such as to
develop in him some Of the worst quail.
ties Of his nature.
He was Jasper Lowder, Guy Tressi.
lian's hired travelling companion and
bosom-friend.
The meeting and connection between
the two had a touch Of romance.
Young Tressilian had spent four years
iu German university. whence he had
been graduated with honor. On leaving
the university, in obedience to his faith
er's written command, he had undertaken
tour of the countries inclosing the
Mediterranean Sea, in company with one
of his late tutors. This gentleman being
unexpectedly promoted to a professor.
ship, abandoned Tressilian at Baden ,leav-
ing him to find another travelling compan.
ion.
On the evening of the very day after
this desertion, as Guy Tressilian was
sauntering through the streets of Baden,
he had been assaulted by 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 tho worst of
the conflict, when a stranger came run.
ming to his assistance, and in few mo-
ments the two had put the ruffians to
flight.
This stranger who came so opportunc.
ly to Guys assistance was Jasper Low der.
His resemblance to young Tressilan
awakened in the latter romantic inter.
est. He questioned Lowder, learned that
be was poor and alone in the world, and
took him with him to his hotel. Be.
lieving that the similarity of features in.
Dictated similarity of tastes and ma.
lures, he engaged Lowder as his travel.
ling companion, and the past year they
had spent together more like brothers
than like employer and employed.
This storm is regular Lcvanter,"
said Lowder, clingiug with both hands to
the bulwarks. "Do you thing the craft
will stand it, Tressilian 2"
"Oh, yes" answered young Tressilian,
wiping the salt spray from his face.
1.-THE Captain knows the Sicliau coast
perfectly. In two hours, or less, we shall
be in the bay OF Polermo. In three
hours We shall be domiciled in the best
S1oms Of the hotel Trinacria, with the
best supper which Messer Ragusa eau
furnish. And tomorrow, at noon" he
added 1--WE shall embark for Marseiles
in Messageries steamer"
And from Marseiles you will proceed
TO England and to Tresslian Court" said
Lowder, with some bitterness. And
what is to become Of me? / have had
year of uuallowed happiness, and now
comes back the drudgery, the hopeless
toll, tho anxieties of the xretched old
life. You picked me up at Baden. a
poor adveuturer seeking to gain living
by teaching English, aud the same desti.
ny is open to me now"
Tressilian turned his handsome face
upon his companion it surprise and ahsc-
tionato reproach.
Jasper" he exclaimed, "you talk
strangely. Do you suppose l have called
you friend and brother SO long, and loved
you go 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 not2 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
Continent 2"
A strange expression passed over Jas,
per Lowder's face.
mo, l have no ties" he said huskily
And you will come home with me p
What will your father say to my
coming?" demanded Lowder He will
think your generosity Quixotic. He
will dismiss from his honse the hired
companion who dares resemble his SON
A sudden lurch of the little vessel, {
L.. - -.