Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-01-05
CHAPTER /.
A FEARFUL CATASTROPHE.

terranean Sea, near the close Of dreary
November day, and sky and waters were
black with the gloom of the sudden and flu
rious tempest, before which a small sailing
vessel was scudding 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.
These passengers were Englishmen, VINO
had procured passage on The GaH 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 APP
prehensions as to their safety, the two Eng
lishmen stood apart, leaning against the low
bulwarks, and surveying the wild scene
around them
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.
One, the more striking of the two, was
aristocratic in his bearing, tall, slender and
handsome, with frank, smiling mouth,
pair Of fearless blue eyes, set under a wide
and massive forehead, and tawny hair blow
ing back from his face Noble, generous and
kind hearted. he had an adventurous dispo-
sition and "a dauntless courage.
He was Guy Tressilian, the only son and
heir of Sir Arthur Tressllan, Baronet, OF
Tressllan Court, England.
His companion presented a remarkable re-
eemblance to him, being also tall and slender
and fair. with tawny hair and mustache, but
he had not the frank smile, she bright, fear
less look, or the joyous spirit that character
lied young Trcssilian. Young as he was, he
had seen much of the dark side Of life, and
his experiences had been such as TO develop
,,ct ln lf "A
ture.
He was Jasper Lowder. Guy Tressiian's
hired travelling companion and bosom
friend.
The meeting and connection of the two
had touch of romance. Young Tressillan
had spent four years IN a German university,
whence he had been graduated with honor
On leaving the university, in obedience TO
his fathers written command, he had under
taken tour of the countries inclosing the
Mediterranean Sea, in company with one Of
his late tutors. This gentleman being uneX-
pcctedly promoted 10 a protes5orship, aban
doned Tressian 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 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 al
lowing him to speak, they forced him to de
fend himself Guy was getting the worst OF
the conflict, when stranger came running
to his assistance. and in few II o lents the
two had put the rutiians b. flight
This stranger who came so opportunelv to
GUYS assistance was Jasper Lowlcr. His
resemblance to young Tressilian awakened
in the latter o romantic interest. He ques-
toned Lowder, learned that he was poor and
alone IN the world, and took him with him
to his hotel, Believing that the similarity 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 en- /
ployer and employed.
"rhis storm is regular Levanter," said
Lowder, clinging with both hands to the bal /
wsrks. " DO you think the craft viii stand
A., Tressiliau2"
a." ON, yes" answered young Tressilau, !
wiping the salt spray from his face The
Captain knows the Slcilian coast perfectly. |
In two hours, or less. we shall be in the bav
of Palermo. In three hours we shall be
domctled in the best rooms of the ..hotcl
Trnacria, with the best supper which. Messer
Ragusa can furnish And tomorrow, at
noon" he added, ave shall embark for Mar
"Aad from Marseilles yoi, will proceed to
England and to Tressiian Court" said Low
der, with some bitterness, and What is
TO become Of me? have had a year of un-
q loyed happiness, and now comes back the
urudgery, the hopeless toll, the anxieties of
the wrctched old life. You picked me up at
Baden poor adventurer scekln; to gain
living by teaching English, and the same
destiny Is open TO me now
Tresslian turned his handsome face upon
his compton in surprise and atiectionate re-
proach.
"Jasperi" he exclaimed. "you talk strange
ly. 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 10
my father concerning you and your future,
Jasper. but his sudden recall. received yes
terday, causes me TO return home without
writing. shalltelegraph from Marscilles that
you will come home with me. And YOU will,
viii you not? You will not abandon me. my
friend? | will charge myself with your fu-
ture. L will see that YOU obtain the position
t. Which your talents entitlc you, You have
no ties TO keep YOU on the Continent ="
strange expression passed over Jasper
Lowdcr'S face.
No, have no ties, he said huskily.
And you viii go home with me2"
What will YOUR. father say To my COM
jng?" demanded Lowder. He will think
your generosity QujNotc. He viii dismiss
from his house the hired companion who
dares to resemble his sou
A sudden lurch of Che little vessel, a wave
sweeping over he deck, interrupted the sem
tence.
You wrong my father" said Trcssihan.
his blue eyes tiudling. when the vessel had
righted lie IS the noblest man in the
world. lie will welcome my TREND, as hi,
own. You viii love him, Jasper, as i do.
when YOU know him.
He doesn't seem very aahctouate," 70.
marked Lowdcr. YOU have been away
from your home Cor five ve1r-, and he has
but Just recalled YOU"