Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-01-06
CHAPTER I.
A FATEFUL CATASTROPHE.


dreary November day. and sky and wa.
tiers were black with the gloom of the
sudden aud furious tempest, before which
small sailing vessel was scudding I'M
Ter bare poles. Her build and rigging
proclaimed her Sandman. She was The
Gail. Captain Varino. master. on her way
from Cagliari to Palermo.
She had on board two seamen, and two
passengers.
These passengers were Engiishmon,
who had procured passage on The GuU to
Palermo. whence they intended to EN-,
lark by steamer to Marseilies, the follow
ing day,
While the Captain and his assistants
were attending to their duties. and OK
pressing apprehensions rs To their safety,
the two Englishmen stood apart, leaning
against the low bulN arks, and surveying
the wild scene around them.
These men were both young, appar-
emily of the same age, about three and
twenty, but evidently they were not of
same station in lite.
One, the molc striking OF The two. was
aristocra,ic in his bearing. tall. slender
and handsome, with hank, smiling
mouth. pair of fearless blue eyes. set
under wide and massive forehead, and
tawny hair blowing back from his face.
Noble. generous and kind hearted, he had
an adventurous disposition and = daunt.
less courage.
lie was Guy Tressjlian, the only son
and heir of Sir Arthur TresSihau, Baro-
net. OF TicSSilian Court. England.
HIS companion presented remarkable
resemblance 20 him. being also tall and
slender and fair. with tawny hair and
mustache. hut he had mol the frank smile,
the bright fearless look. or the JOYOUS
spirit tha, characterized young Trcssilian
Young us he was, he had seen much OF
dark side of lite, aYd MS experiences had
been such as to develop in him some OF
worst qualities OF his nature.
He was Jasper LowdG, Guy Trc,siiian's
hired travelling companion and bosom
friend.
The meeting and connection of the two
had 4 touch of romance. Young Tres
silian had spent four years in u German
university, whence he had graduated with
honor On leaving the university. in
obedience to his fathers written com
mand. he had undertaken tour of the
countries inclosiug the Mediterranean
Sea, in company with one of his late tn.
tors. This gentleman being unexpected
ly promoted to a proiessorship, abandon,
ed Tressilian al Baden. leaving him to
find another travelling companion.
On the evening of the very day after
this deseriion, aS Guy TreSsilian was
saunteriug through the streets of Baden,
he had been assaulted by a trio OF his own
countrymen, all more OF less Intoxicated.
II was apparent that they took him tor
another, and intended to wreak ven
geance upon him. Without allowing
him to spelk, they forced him To defend
himself Guy WAS getting the worst of
the conflict. when stranger came run
ming to his assistance. ana in few mo-
ments the two had put the ruffians to
flight.
This stranger who came so opportune-
~ to Guys assistance was Jasper Lowder.
His resemblance to young Trcssilian
awakened in the latter romantic inter-
est. He questioned I.owder, learned that
he was poor and alone in the world. and
took him with him to his hotel Belicv-
ing that the similarity Of features indicat
ed similarity of tastes AMI natures, he
engaged Lowder as his travelling com
panion, and the past yeaI they had spent
together more like brothers than like EN-
plOyer and employed
This storm is regular Leyantcr,"
said LOwdcr, clinging with both hands to
bulwarks. "Do You think the craft will
stand it. Trcssilian?7
"Oh, yes" answered young Tressilian,
wiping the salt spray from his face. The
Captain knows The Sicihan coast perfect.
ly. In two hours, or less, VIC shall be in
the bay of Palermo. In three hours we
shall be domiciIcd in the best rooms OF
the hotel Trinacria, with the best supper
which Messer RaSuSa can furnish. And
tomorrow. at noon," he added, eve
shall embark for MarseiIles in Mesa
geries steamer"
And from MarseiIlcs y0a will proceed
TO England and TO TressiIian Court" said
Lowder, with some bitterness And I
what is to become Of me? ! have had
agar of unallOyed happiness. and now
comes back the drudgery. the hopeless
toll, the anxieties of the wretched old
life. You picked me up at Baden, a
poor adsenturer seeking to gain living
by teaching English. and the same des-
tiny is open to me now
Tressilian turned his handsome face up
on his companion in surprise and affec-
tionate reproach.
jasper he exclaimed. 'you talk
strangely. Do You suppose have called
Vol, friend and brother so lorc orI lo,.ol
you so well. to lose you now? meant
to have written to my father concerning