Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1871-01-03
CHAPTER l.
A FATErUL CATASTROPHE.

A wild storm was raging upon the
Mediterranean Sea, near tho close Of
dreary November day, and sky and
waters were black with the gloom Of
the'sudden and furious tempest, before
which small sailing vessel was scud-
dirk under bare poles. Her build and
rigging proclaimed her Sandman. She
was The Gull, Captain Varino master,
on her way from Cagliari to Palermo.
She had on board two seamen, and
two passengers.
The passengers were Englishmen,
who had 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 attending to their duties. and eX-
pressing apprehensions as to their
safety, the two Englishmen stood
apart, leaning against the low bull
warks, 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
the same station in life. 3. LE
One, the more striking of the two,
was aristocratic In his bearing, tall,
slender and handsome, with 4 frank,
smiling mouth, a 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 adven-
turous disposition and dauntless cour-
age.
He was Guy Tressillian, the only
son and heir Of Sir Arthur Tressillian,
Baronet, of fTressillian Court, England.
His companion presented n remark
able resemblance to him, being also
tall and slender and fair, with tawny
hair and mustache, but he had not the
frank smile; the bright fearless look
the Joyous spirit that characterized
young rressilllan. Young rs 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 Tres
sillian's hired travelling companion
and bosom-friend. $50. -.
The meeting and connection Of the
two had touch of romance. Young
Tressillian had spent four years In
German university, whence he had
been graduated with honor. On leay-
ing the university, in obedience to his
fathers written command, he had un-
dertaken tour Of the countries inclos-
ing the Mediterranean Sea, In COM
pany with one Of his late tutors. This
gentleman being unexpectedly promo
ted to aprofessorship, abandoned Tres
sillian at Baden, leaving him to find
another travelling companion.
On the evening Of the very day after
his desertion, as Guy Trsssillian was
sauntering through the streets of Ba-
den, he had been assaulted by trio OF
his own countrymen, all more or less
intoxicated. twas 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
the worst Of the conflict, when u
stranger came running to his assist
ance, and In a few moments the two
had put the rullians to fight.
This stranger who came 80 oppor-
tunely to Guys assistance was Jasper
Lowder. His resemblance to young
Tressillian awakened in the latter
romantic interest. He questioned Low
der, learned that he was poor and
alone In the world, and took him to
his hotel. Believing that the similar
ity OF features indicated similarity Of
tastes and natures, he engaged Lowder
as his travelling companion, and the
past year they had spent together more
like brothers than like employer and
employed. -.
'arhls storm Is q regular Laventer,"
said I.owder, clinging with both hands
to the bulwarks, "Do you think the
craft will stand 1t, Tressillian?
lob, yes" answered young Tressil-
ian, wiping the salt spray from his
face. ''rhe Captain knows the Sicilian
coast perfectly. In two hours, or less,
we shall be in the bay of Palermo. In
three hours we shall beS domiciled in
the best rooms of the hotel Trinacria,
with the best supper which Messer
Ragusa can furnish. And tomorrow,
at noon, F" he added, 1--WE shall embark
for Marseilles in Messageries steam
er." ...
"And from Marseilles you will pro-
ceed to England and to Tressilian
Court" said Lowder, with some Bit
terness. "And I-what Is to become
of fme? Ihave had year Of unalloyed
happiness, and now comes back the
drudgery, the hopeless toll, the ankle
ties Of the wretched old life. You
picked me up at Baden, poor ad-
venturer seeking to gain n living BY
teaching English, and the same destiny
u open to me now"
Tressilian turned his handsome face
upon his companion in surprise and
affectionate reproach.
'Jasper!" :" he exclaimed, 'tyou talk
strangely. Do you suppose have
called you friend and brother so long,
and loved you so we'll, to lose you
now? meant to have written to my
father concerning you and your future.
Jasper, but his sudden recall, received
Yesterday, causes me to return home
without writing. / shall telegraph
from Marseilles that you will come
homo with me. And you will, will
YOU not? Twill charge myself with
your future. will see that You OBJ
tain the position to which your talents
entitle YOU. You have no ties to keep
YOU on the Continent?"
A strange expression passed over
Jasper LoWder's face. 80
'No, have no ties, he said huskily:
Sand you will 60 home with me y
"What will your father say to my
coming ?" demanded Lowder. "He
win think your generosity Quixotic.
He will dismiss from his house the
hired companion who dares to resemble
A sudden lurch of the little vessel,
wave sweeping over the deck, inter-
ruptod the sentence.
aYou wrong my father" said Tres
silian, his blue eyes kindling, when