The weekly Panola star. [volume] (Panola, Miss.) 1857-1881, 1871-01-28
CHAPTER ].
A FATEFUL CATASTROPHE.

A wild storm was ranging upon the Mediterra-
mean Sea, near the close OF a dreary November
day, and sky and waters were black with the
gloom of the sudden and furious tempest, before
which a smsll sailing vessel was s~cudding under
bare poles. Her build and rigging proclaimed her
sardlplan. She was The GaR, Captain Varino
master, on her way from Cagliari to Palermo.
She had on board two seamen, and two passen-
gers.
procured passage on The GtH 10 Palermo. whence
they intended to embark by steamer to MafSeilles,
the following day.
While the Captain and his assistants were at
tending to their duties and expressing appreher-
sions as to their safety, the two Englislmen sood
apar,, leaning against the low bulwarks, and sur
yeylng the wild scene around them.
These men We're bo,h young, apparently OF the
same age apout three and twen,y, but evidently
they were n6s OF the same station IN lille.
Ore, the more striking OF the Two, was aristo-
cratic in his earring. tail, slender and handsome,
with a frank. smiling mou,h, aplir OF fearless blue
ewes, SCI rnler a vide end passive forehead, and
tawny hair blowing back from bis face. NOBLE,
generous and kind hear,ed. he had al adventurous
lisposl ion and a daunleSs courage,
lie r,s Cry Trcssilian, the only son and heir o.
Sir Arthur ITessilian, Barones, Oh Tress'lian Court,
England.
His companion presented a remarkable resem.
blance 10 him, being also tall and slender, and
kIs MiNu tiNhN hufi bht thttbNfN ''t - N
not the frank smile, the hight, fearless lock, or
the Joyous spirit that characterized young Tres
siian. Young as he was, he had seen mucn oIthe
dark side OF lie, and his experiences had been
| such as TO develop In him some OF the WORST quar-
He was Jasper Lowder, Guy Tressilian's hired
travelling companion and bosom, friend.
The mee.ing and connection OF me TWO ned q
touch OF romance. Young Tressilian had sp-n,
four years In a German university, whence be HAD
been graduated with honor. On leaving the uni
versity, In obedience to bis fathers written COM
mand, he had undertaken a tour Of the countries
i~nclosing the Mediterranean Sea, IN company WIN
expeotedly promoted to. a professorship, abar
doned Ttessilian ut Baden, leaving him to ind
another travelling companion.
On the evening Of the very day after this deser'
tion, as Guy Tressilian was saunteungt lf0ngh tne
stree,s OF Baden, he had been assaulted by q trio
OF his own countrymen, all more or less intoxi
Gated. 1t was apparent that they took him fol
another, and Intended to wreak vengeance. upon
him. Without allowing him to speak, they forced
MIN to defend himself. Guy was getting the .worsl
q tho conflict, when a stranger came running to
MS assistance, and In a few moment the two had
put the rufians TO flight.
This stranger who came so opportunely to Guy's
assistance was Jasper Lowder. His resemblance
TO young T~ressilian awakened in the latter q 70
mant,e interest. He questioned Lowder, learned
KIM, HIM ny ,v,, M sE boot anu alone In the world, and tool
similarity, OF features indicated q similarity o
i, tastes and natures, he engaged Lowder as his iray
I enng companion, and the past year they had spen
' and employed. S s"P'o'o
rms storm isa regular Levanter.~ said Low
/, ger, clinging with both hands 70 he balwsrhs
!, DS yos think The craft will stand II, TressiianY
the salt spray RON his face. 5Tbe Can,ai, r rppnn'
my sie,han coast perfectly. In two hour. or Ia,
4 we We snail nal, s Ss Y ne hay q Palermo. In three Aoar
tel Trinacria, with the best sun,e, wh,% Ss w y.
hagusa can furnish, And to-mnorrow. Il nom
ne added, We shall embark for Msr.>sl,sas T.
n Meseageries steamer.'' Ah'es W
i ,.nd n VA IRON 70 Aarseilles yoa will proceed 10 Nm,
soriys bitterness. And i--syAst 4. ~ ,saea., ~
~ taeg have had q year Of unaf we'd bspp,ness =,
ne" comss ea 81 sae d~rudgery, The hspeisss y
- me up o. Baden, . poor saysnsnr,, s.a,ta 49,
n,ins y sesehiag English, and ~ ssas All