Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1871-01-05
TRESSILIAN COURT;
The Baronet's Son.

AFATEFUL CATASTROPHE.
A wild storm was raging upon tn,
Mediterranean Sea, near The close OF
dreary November day, and sky and wa
ters were black with tile gloom of th'
sudden and furious tenn pest, before which
small sailing vessel was scuddIng un
der bare poles. Her build aud rlggIns
proclaimed her SardiDian. She was TN.
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 GuL
to Palermo, whence they Intended Il
embark by steamer 10 Marseliies, the
following day.
While the Captain aud his assistants
were attending 10 their duties, and ex
pressing apprehensions as TO their safety
the two En .lishmen stood apart, leaning
against he 10 Y bulWarks, and survey
ing the wild scene around them.
These men were both young,apparent-
ly of the same age, about three and
twenty, but evidently they were not OF
the same station in life.
One, tue more striki0g of the two, was
aristocratic in his bearing, tail, slender
and handsome, with frank, smiling
mouth, pair of fearless blue eyes, set
under a wide aud massive forehead, and
tawny hair blow ng back from his face.
Noble, generous and kind hearted, lie
had an adventurous disposition aud a
dauntless courege.
He was Guy sFressi'i ian, the only son
aud heir of Sir Arthur Tressilian, Baro-
net, of Tressilian Court, England.
His companion presented u remarkable
resemblance to him, being also tall and
slender aud fair, 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, aud
his experiences had been sach as to de-
velop in him some of the worst qualities
of his nature.
He Was Jasper Lowder, Guy Tressili-
ans hired travelling companion and
bosom-friend.
The meeting and connection of the
two haj touch of romance. Young
Tressiiian had spen four years in Ger
man university, whence he had been
graduated with honor. Ga leaving the
un. versity, in Obedience 10 his fathers
written command, he had undertaken a
tour of the countries inclosing the Med
iJerranean Sea, in company with one oi
his late tutors. This gentleman being
. unexpectedly promoted to a professor
ship, abandoned rressilian at Baden,
leaving him to find another travelling
compauion.
Oa the evening of the day after this
desertion, as Guy Fressilian was saunter-
ing through the streets of Baden, he had
been assaulted by trio of his own coun-
trymen, all more or less Intoxicated. 1t
was apparent that they took him
for another, aud intended to wreak
vengeance upon him. Without allowing
him TO speak, they forced him to defend
himself. Guy was getting the worst of
the conflict, when stranger came run
ming to his assistance. and in a few mo-
ments the two had put the rut1ians to
flight.
This stranger who came opportunely |
to Guys assistance was Jasper Lowder
His resemblance to young Tresslilan |
awakened In the latter romantic in -er
est. He questioned Lowder, learned
that he was poor and alone in the world
aud took him with him 10 his hotel.
Believing that the similarity OF features
indicated similarity of tastes and ma
lures, he engaged Lowder as his travel
ling companion, aud the past year they
had spent together more like brothers
than like employer and employed.
This storm is regular Leranter, said
Lowder, clingIng with both hands t.
the bulwarks.
-.Do you mink the craft will stand it,
Tressilian?'
'On, yes answered young Tressilian,
wiping the salt spray from his face. THE
Captain knows the Sicilian caost perfect
ly. In two hours, or less, we shall be in
the bay of Palermo. In three hours We
shall be domiciied in the best room of
the hotel Trinacria, with the best supper
which Messer Ragusa can furnish. And
tomorrow, at noon, he added, we shall
embark ior MarseiIles in .. Messageries
steamer l.
-And from Msrseilles you will proceed
to England and to Tressiiian Court"
said Lo WIDER, with some Bitterness
And I--what is to become of me? l
have had a year of unailoyed happiness,
aud now comes back the drudgery, the
hopeless toll, the anxieties of the wretch
ed old life. You picket me up at Baden
poor adventurer seeking to gain liv-
ing by teaching English, and the same
destiny is open TO ME now"
TressiIian turned his handsome face
upon his companion in sur, rise and al
fectionste reproach.
"Jasper!" he exclaimed, you tai
strangely. Do you suppose have called
you friead and brother so long, and loved
you so well, to lose you now! meant
to have writlento my father concerning
YOU and your fortune. Jasper, but his
sudden recall, received yesterday, causes
me to return home without writing. 1
shall telegraph from MaIseIlles that you
will come home with me- And you Will,
will YOU not? You will not abandon LIE,
my friend? l will charge myself with
your future. l will see that you obtain
the position to which your talents entl-
tie you. You have no ties to Keep you
on the Cos tinent?
A strange expression passed over Jas /.
per Lowder's face.
No, have no ties, he said hEsklly.
And YOU will go home with NE?
sWiiat will your father TO my com
inp?I demanded Lowder. he Will think
vour generosity Quixotic. He wiliadis-
miss from his house the hired compan-
ion who dares TO resemble his SON.
A sudden lurch of the little vessel, a
wave sweeping over the deck, lnterrup-
ted the sentence.
You wrong my father said Tressilian
his blue eyes kindling, when the vessel
had righted. He is the nObiest man III
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,"
remarked Lowder. You have been
away from your home for five years, ,aad
he has but just recalled you!"
Young Tressilian's cheeks flushed, as
Lowder saw In the lurid glow tnat NOM
entarily lighted up the selnpestuous
scene.
You know, or can guess, the reason,
Jasper he said, with something of an
effort. My father has ward, the daugh-
ter of an-Otd friend. All! hear that wind
shrek! The gale is increasing"
Yes assented Lowder. And the