Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1871-01-06
CHAPTER /.
AZ 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, who
had procured passage on The Gull to Paler-
mo, whence they intended to embark by
steamer to Marseiles, 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
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, a
pair of fearless blue eyes, set under 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 dauntless courage.
He was Guy Tressilian, the only son and
heir of Sir Arthur Tresslian, Baronet, of
Tressilian Court, England.
His companion presented a remarkable re-
semblance to him, being also tall and slender
and fair, with tawny hair and mustache, but
he had not the frank smile, the bright, fear
less look, or the joyous spirit that character
lied young Tressilian. Young as he was, he
had seen much of the dark side of life, and
his experience had been such as to develop
l. - - Il
ture.
He was Jasper Lowder, Guy Tressilian's
hired travelling companion and bosom
friend.
The meeting and connection of the two
had q touch of romance. Young Tressilian
had spent four years in German university,
whence he had been graduated with honor.
On leaving the university, in obedience to
his fathers written command, he had under
taken a tour of the countries lnclosing the
Mediterranean Sea, in company with one of
his late tutors. This gentleman being unex-
pectedly promoted to a professorship, aban-
doned Tressilian at Baden, leaving him to
find another travelling companion.
On the evening of the very day after this
desertion, as Guy Tressilian 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 moments the
two had put the ruffians t. light.
This stranger who came SO OPPORTUNITY to
Guys assistance was Jasper Lowder. His
resemblance to young Tressilian awakened
in the latter q 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 a 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.
" This storm is regular Levanter," said
Lowder, ciingng with both hands to the bull
warks. "Do you think the craft will stand
it, Tressilian?''
ooh, yes" answered young Tressilian,
wiping the salt spray from his face. "The
Captain knows the Sicilian coastperfectly.
In two hours, or less, we shall be in the bay
of Palermo. In three hours we shall be
domiciled in the best rooms of the hotel
Trinacria, with the best supper which Messer
Ragusas can furnish. And tomorrow, at
noon,' he added, " we shall embark for Mar
settles in Messagerles steamer"
"And from Marseilles you will proceed to
England and to Tressilian Court" said Low
der, with some bitterness. "And what is
to become of me? | have had year of I'M
alleged 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"
Tressilian turned his handsome face upon
his companion in surprise and affectionate
reproach.
.'Jasper" he exclaimed, "you talk strange
ly. Do you suppose have called you friend
and brother so long, and loved you so well,
to lose you now? | meant to have written to
my father concerning you and your future,
Jasper, but his sudden recall, received yes
terday, causes me to return home without
writing. l 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. / will see that you obtain the
position to which your talents entitle you.
You have no ties to keep you on the Cont
nent ??
A strange expression passed over Jasper
Lowder's face.
"No, | have no ties he said huskily.
"And you will go home with me?"
w nat Will your IdJner say 10 my COM
ng?' demanded Lowder. Gle will think
your generosity Quixotic. He will dismiss
from his house the hired companion who
dares to resemble his SON.
A sudden lurch of the little vessel, a wave
sweeping over the deck, interrupted the sem
tence.
You wrong my father" said Tressilian,
his blue eyes kindling, when the vessel had
righted. "He is the noblest man in the
world. lie will welcome my friends as his
own. You will love him, Jasper, as l do,
when you know him."
He doesn't seem very affectionate,' re-
marked Lowder I" You have been away
from your home for five years, and he has
but Just recalled you'll"
Young Tressilian's cheeks flushed, as Low
der saw in the lurid glow that momentarily
lighted up the tempestuous scene.
i" 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 triend.-Ah! hear that wild shriek The
gale is increasingly
YES" assented Lowder "And the ward
is Miss Irby-the golden haired Blanche of
whom you have talked so much, and with
whom you have exchanged letters!"
eyes. Ny father formed project to have
me marry Blanche. He did not wish us to
grow up together, lest we should learn to re-
gard 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 the future,
and entreated me to continue worthy of his
innocent ward, and to keep my heart pure
for her. l have done so, Jasper. l have
never yet loved any woman. And yesterday
l received my fathers summons to come
home. He has recalled me after five years of
absence. l know the wish that lies nearest
his heart. He wants me to return and marry
Blanche. | shrink from the proposed mar
| rio ore | dread going home And | dread