Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1871-01-06
CHAPTER 1.

CIIAPTERI.
ArArEFUL CATASTROPHE.
A wild storm was raging upon the
Mediterranean 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 small sail.
ing vessel was scudding under bare
poles. Her build and rigging pro.
claimed her Sandman. She was
The CHI, Captain Varino master.
on her way from Cagliari to Paler.
mo.
She had on board two seamen.
and two passengers.
These passengers were English.
men, who had procured passage on
The G"U to Palermo, whence they
intended to embark by steamer to
Marseilles, the following day.
While the Captain and his assist
ants were attending to their duties,
and expressing apprehensions as to
their safety, the two Englishmen
stood apart, leaning against the low
bulwarks, and surveying the wild
scene around them.
These men were both Young, ap.
parcntlv of the same age, about three
and twenty, but evidently they were
not of the same station in life.
One, the more striking of the two,
was aristocratic in his bearing, tall,
slender and handsome, with a frank
smiling mouth, pair of fearless
blue eyes, set under wide and
massive forehead, and tawny hair
blowing back from his face. No.
bic, generous and kind hearted, he
had an adventurous disposition and
a dauntless courage.
He was Guy Tressilian, the only
son and heir of Sir Arthur Tressil-
ian, Baronet, of Tressilian Court,
England.
His companion presented re-
markable resemblance to him, be-
ing also tall and slender and fair,
with tawny hair and moustache, but
he had not the frank smile, the
bright, fearless look, or the joyous
spirit that characterized young Tres
silian. Young as 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
silian's hired travelling companion
and bosom friend.
The meeting and connection OF
the two had touch of romance.
Young Tressilian had spent four
wears in German university,
whence he had been graduated with
honor. On leaving the university,
in obedience to his fathers written
command, he had undertaken a tour
of the countries inclosing the Med
itcrranean Sea, in company with one
of his late tutors. This gentleman
being unexpectedly promoted to a
protessolship, abandoned Tressilian
at Baden, leaving him to find an
other travelling companion.
On the evening Of the very day
after this desertion, as Guy Tressil-
ian was sauntering through the
streets Of Baden, he had been as
saulted by trio of his own coun-
trvmen all more or less intoxica-
ted. 1t was apparent that they took
him for another, and intended to
wreak vengeance upon him. With
out allowing him to speak, they
forced him to defend himself. Guy
was getting the worst of the con-
tlict. when stranger came running
to his assistance, and in a few mo-
ments the two had put the ruffians
to flight.
This stranger who came so OPP
portunely to Guys assistance was
Jasper Lowdcr. His resemblance
to young Tressilian awakened in the
latter a romantic interest. lie qucs-
toned Lowder, learned that he was
poor and alone in the world, and
took him with him to his hotel. Be
lieving that the similarity of tea-
lures Indicated a similarity of tastes
and natures. lie engaged Lowder as
his travelling companion, and the
past year they hal spent together
more like brothers than like employ
er and employed.
"This storm is regular Levant-
er," said Lowder. clinging with
both hands to the bulwarks. "Do
you think the craft will stand it,
Tressilian?"
"Oh, yes" answered young Tres
silian, wiping the salt spray from
his face. "Thc Captain knows the
SiciIian coast perfectly. In two
hours, or less, we shall be in the bay
of Palermo. In three hours we shall
be domicilcd in the best rooms of
the hotel Trinacria, with the best
supper which Messer Ragusa can
furnish. And tomorrow, at noon,' y
he added, 1--WE shall embark for Mar
scilles in a Messageries steamer.
"And from Marseilles yom will
proceed to England and to TressiI-
ian Court" said Lowdcr, with some
bitterness. "And what is to be-
come of me? l 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,
poor adventurer seeking to gain a
living by teaching English, and the
same destiny is open to me now"
Trcssilian turned his handsome
face upon his companion in surprise
and affectionate reproach.
"Jasper!" he exclaimed, "you talk
strangely. Do you suppose ! have
called you friend and brother so
long, and loved you SO we'll, to lose
Won nowf I meant 10 have written