Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1871-01-03
on the coutinen. and had spent my

on.t the Continent, and had spent my
little fortune when / met you. The
rest you know -ysE 49,.
can odd, romantic story! But why
did your father abandon you 2"
"That he might be freed Of encum-
brance to mako q grand msrriage:
From what my grandmother SAID at
different times, I conclude that my
father was In love with a titled LADY
before nv mothers death. No doubt
he married this lady. Ifhe lives, this
lady's son may be his acknowledged
heir. My father has utterly disowned
the son Of his first hasty, ill-starreo
marriage. I have fancy that snail
meet him some day." and Jasper's
brow darkened to deeper blackness.
However, stand no chance OF ever
receiving justice at his hands, -
"What is your fathers name, Jas
per?" asked Tressilian. gsU- -. -
Lowder's face darkened. He bit his
lip sayagely. >.
.'What have told you about myself
/ learned from my own observation,
or from chance words Of my parents
and grandmother. My mothers maiden
name was Jeanette Lowder. At our
London lodgings, my father bore the
name of Lowder. L don't know his
real name, but should know his face
anywhere, although l have not seen
him In thirteen years. My mother was
actually married, Tressilian, but l
never heard my fathers name. The
clergyman who married my mother
was dead; the witnesses also. When
my grandmother was dying she tried
to tell me the story. She had put lt
off too long. All that could under
stand OF her mumblings was the name
Of Devereux. I shall never forget that
name-'DEvEREUX!' y Probably that
was nay fathers name-my own right
full name. But as should never find
him If sought him, and us he would
repulse me Ii | did find him, | stand no
chance ofinheriting his property. He
may be dead. He may have other
sons who have succeeded him. 1t isall
a mystery, but the prominent truth ts
thatI am an outcast, poor, disowned
and frisndless." a-e.r.r-- ..r.n. -.
He leaned ever the bulwark, the
spray dashing over his face violently.
Tressilian's heart warmed to him.
.'My poor frlend!" he said. "Must
I say again You are not friendless while
I live. My father has influence
enough to obtain for youa government
appointment. This tangle may
straighten itself out some day. But II
it don't, you are resolnte enough to
make your own happiness"
He grasped Lowder's hand, and
looked with warm bright eyes, full Of
sympathy, into Lowder's lowering
face.
There had been temporary lull In
the storm. But rs the two stood there,
the tempest revived and swept over
the wild sen in Inaddened rage. -
There was no time for talking now.
The wind rose so high thai words
would scarcely have been distinguish
ed. The storm that had gone before
had been but play to this awful out
burst. The vessel drove OIL, creaking
and groaning, a mere cookie she'll OH
the pillows.
'.Mothsr Of Mercies! u" walled the
captain. "It's all up with us, sig
nores. can't make out the Cape In
this darkness. We shall 60 on the
rocks. st. Anthony save US % a. = &
The seaman echoed his cries.
The two young Englishmen, COM
pretending their peril, claspcd hands
In silence.
For the next few minutes it seemed
that Pandemonium reigned. ,'
Then anoise like the report OF a
cannon suddenly doomed through the
storm and the darkness. The little
vessel shivered. staggered, and careen-
ed upon her side.
She had struck upon n rock.
A moment later crew and passengers
were struggling In the waters. !.
A few moments of buffetings and
tossiugs, of vain struggles and agon-
lied, Involuntary prayer, and then
Jasper Lowder felt his senses slip
from him, and became unconscious.
When he came to himself, he was
lying upon a rocky beach Of the
Sicilian shore, sore, bruised, and weak
as a child. r... .sa
He opened his eyes. The wind had
spent Its fury, and now moaned along
the coast with desolate, despairing
wall. The waves beat against the
rocks. ~ % -.
Lowder struggled to his elbow.
"Wrecked 7" he muttered. ~ nm
cast ashore, while the others are
drowned! Oh, this Is terrible I
have lost my best friend tonight J"
He moaned and wrung his hands.
"He Is dead, who would have done
so much for me, and ! so worthless
am saved! All my hopes of an easy
and luxurious life must be resigned
now!" ..........,. .-..r ..-
At that moment he beheld dark
object at q little distance In the water.
The waves hurled this object against
the projecting head of a sunken rock.
At the same instant Lowder recognized
it as the body Of man. q '.F7r r'.s
He crept toward it, and tho waters
dashed the body on the shore at his
feet. He put his hands on the face.
How cold aud wet 1t was !! 1t felt like
the face Of dead man! Lowder's
fingers came In contact with the soft,
silken mustache, aud he knew that the
body was that of Guy Tressilian!
or the five who had stood on the
sloop's deck u half-hour earlier, these
two alone were left. The captain and
his crew had found their.deaths among
the cruel, yawning waters.
Lowder thrust his hand under the
waistcoat of his friend, but he could
not perceive the beating of his heart.
Despair took possession of him.
'Dead!" he said shrilly. "Dead |!
And he would have done so much for
me If he had lived And his father
and the young girl he was to have
married will walt in vain for his COM
ing His place at .Tressilian Court is
empty. Who can fill its" ...-
1t seemed to him that some demon
at his side echoed the question: IHho
could I'LL the place left vacant BY noble
Guy TresstlidnS ,s,.a.l
A thought came to him-a thought
so strange and sinister that he shivered
involuntarily. Again'he felt Of Tres
silian's heart. It gave no throb against
his hand. He passed his hand over
Tressilian's head and discovered a
gaping wound In the skull. The hair
was ciotted with blood. -
Putting his hand into his breast
pocket. LoWder drew out his little wa