Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-01-04

Or 1hE DOUBLE LIFE, THE BAILIFF
SCHEME, 'THE sUNDERED HEARTS," "THE LADY
OF KILDARE" "a LIFE STAKE" .4THE
HOUSE OF SECRETS" ETC., ETC., ETC.
I CHAPTERI-
FATEFUL CATASTROPHE.
wild storm was raging upon the Mediter
ranean Sea, near the close of a dreary Novem
Der day, and sky and waters were black will
tne gloom of the sudden and furious tempest
before which small sailing vessel was scud
ung under bare poles. Her build and rigging
proclaimed her Sandman. She was The G,.u
captain Varino master, on her way from Gag
liari to Palermo.
She had on board two seameu, and two pas
sengers.
These passengers were Englishmen, who
mad procured passage on The Gull to Paler
mo, whence they intended to embark by
steamer to Marseilles the following day.
While the Captain and his assistants were
attending to their duties, and expressing ap.
prehensions as to their safety, the two Eng
llshmen stood apart, leaning against the low
bulwarks, and surveying the wild scene around
them. Is -
These men were both young apparently OF
the same age, about three and twenty, but
evidently they were not of the same station
in life. '-O-
One, the more striking of the two, was aris-
tocratic IN his bearing, tall, slender and hand
some, with frank, smiling mouth, pair OF
fearless blue eyes, set under wide and mas
siye forehead, and tawny hair blowing back
from his face. Noble, generous and kind
hearted, he had adventurous disposition
aud a dsrntless courage.
He was Guy Tressi1ian, the only son and
heir of Sir Arthur Tressilian, Baronet, of Tres
silian Court, England
! HIS companion presented a remarkable re-
| semblance to him, being also tall and slender
and far, with tawny hair and mustache, but he
had not the frank smile the bright, fearless
look, or the Joyous spirit that characterized
young Tressilian. Young as he was, he had
seen much of the dark side of life and his ex-
pe1ences had been such as to develop in him
some OF the worst qualities of his nature.
He was Jasper Lowder, Guy Tressilians g
hired travelling companion and bosom friend.
Inc meeting and connection of the two had a
touch of romance. Young Tressilian had
spent four years in q German university,
whence he had been graduated with honor. On
leaving the university, in obedience to his
fathers written command, he had undertaken
tour of the countries inclosing the Mediter-
ranean Sea. In company with one of his late
tutors. This gentleman being unexpectedly
promoted to professorship, abandoned
Iressllian at Baden, leaving him to find another
travelling companion.
On the evening of the very day after this
desertion, as Guy Tressiian was sauntering
through the streets of Baden, he had been
assaulted by a trio of his own countrymen. all
more or less intoxicated. 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 him
self. Guy was getting the worst of he conflict,
when stranger same running to his assist
ance, and In few moments the tw o had put
the rufhanB to flight
This stranger who came so opporl unely to
Guys assistance was Jasper Lowder. His re-
tr 1to,.
latter q romantic interest. He questioned
Iowder, learned that he was poor and alone in
the world, and took him with him to his hotel
relieving that the similarity of features indi-
Gated 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
This storm is a regular Levanter," said
Lowder, clinging with both hands to the bull
warks. do you think the craft will stand it,
Tresslian Pr
ing the salt spray from his face. The Cap
tain knows the Sicilian coast perfectly. In
two hours, or less, we shall be in the bay of
Palermo. In three hours we shall be domi-
clled IN the best rooms of the hotel Trinacria,
with the best supper which Messrs Ragusa can
furnish. And tomorrow, at noon," he added,
"we shall embark for Marseiles in a Messa-
geries steamer"
And from Marseilles yOu will proceed to
England and to Tressilian Court !" said Lowder.
with some bitterness. ''And What is to be-
come of me3 I have had year 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
adventurer seeking to gain a living by teaching
English, and the same destiny is open to me
now"
Tressihan turned his handsome face upon
his companion in surprise and affectionate re-
proach.
"Jasper!" he exclaimed, 'you talk strangely.
Do you suppose have called you friend and
brother 80 long, and loved you so well, to lose
you now3 Imeant to have written to nv father
concerning you and your future, Jasper, but
his sudden recall, received yesterday, causes
me to return home without writing. I shall
telegraph from Marseilles that you will come
home with me. And you will, will you not
You will not abandon me, my friend will
charge myself with your future. Twill see that
you obtain the position to which your talents
,entitle you. You have no ties to keep you on
the Continent ?"
A strange expression passed over Jasper
mo, / have no ties" he said huskily
(" And you will go home with me? ?''
p" What Will your father say to my coming ~
demanded Lowder, g He will think your gen
erosity Quixotic. He will dismiss from his
semble his SON"
A sudden lurch of the little vessel, wave
| sweeping over her deck, interrupted the sem
/ tence. z.g f
''You wrong my father" said Tressilian,
his blue eyes kindling, when the. vessel had
rlghtcd. He is the noblest man in the
world. He will welcome my friends as his
own: You will love him, Jasper, as do, when
you know him."
"He doesn't seem very affectionate," re-
marked Lowder. s' You have been away from
your home for five years, and he has but Just
recalled you'll"
| Young Tressilian's cheeks flushed as Lowder
saw in the lurid glow that momentarily light
! ed up the tempestuous scene.
= You know, or can guess the reason, JAS
per-" he said, with something of an effort.
My father has ward, the daughter of an
old friend. All hear that wind shrek The
gale is increasing" -2
Yes," assented Lowder And the ward
is Miss Iby-the golden-haired Blanche OF
whom you have talked so much and with
whom you have exchanged letters ?'
Yes. My father formed a project to have
me marry. Blanche. He did not wish us to grow
up together, lest we should learn to regard
each other as brother and sister. When
Blanche came to live at the Court my father
sent me to Germany. The night before left
/ home, he called me into his library and told
me all his hopes and plans for my future, and
entreated me to continue worthy of his limo.
cent ward, and to keep my heart pure for her
have done so, Jasper have never yet lov.
ed any woman. And yesterday I received my
fathers summons to come home. He has re.
called me after five years of absence, I know
the wish that lies nearest his heart. He wants
me to return and marry Blanche. shrinl
from the proposed marriage. 1 dread going
home. And dread offending my dear faith
er, whom love better than any woman. Il
is hard Jasper to revolt against the homes
and plans of a kind and generous father
whose very love for me causes him to urge OF
this marriage !"
6 Is it ?" said Lowder dryly, and with
strange smile full of sneering bitterness "M,
experience has been widely different from
yours, Tressilian. Did / ever tell you of nas
father %
"No. l took it for granted that he is dead
Perhaps he is. 1 don't know" said Low
/ der, with reckless laugh. but if he is iiv
ing, he is scoundrel. Don't start, Tressilian
at my unselfish speech. Wait till you hear m,