The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-01-12

was to have married will wait in vain for his
ooming His place at Tressilian Court is
empty. Who can 6ll it2
1t seemed to him that some demon at his
side echoed the questions Who could fU the
place LEFT vacaat 6y the noble Guy Tressilianf
4 thought came to him-a thought so
strange and sinister that he shivered inyolun-
tarily. Again he felt of Tressilian's heart. 1t
gave no throb against his hand. lie passed
his hand over Tressian's head and discovered
gaping wound In the skull. The hair was
cotted with blood
Putting his hand into his breast pocket
Lowder drew out his little waterproof match
safe. He opened 1t with trembling fingers and
struck light. The red flicker danced on
young Tressilan's face.
How ghastly and terrible il looked The
eyes were closed, the smile was gone. The
seal of death seemed set on the noble features.
Lowder examined the wound. 1t had been
made by contact with the sharp rock and even
Lowder perceived its terrible character.
"If he is not dead, he soon will be-" he
muttered. ellis brain has received an awful
injury. He will never know who he is again.
He won'tlivc till morning, and he is perhaps
dead already. He must be dead!"
Again 1t seemed to him as though some de-
mon echoed his words. it.. .fn
The match dropped from his fingers into
the water. For little while he crouched on
| the wet stones in silence, battling it may be
with the better and nober instincts of his ma
| ture. ..I.' f. ....... |...
| At last, with sudden and abrupt stealthi-
ness, his hands stole into the breast pocket of
| Tressian and drew out his private notebook,
| packet OF letters, few trinkets He secured
these among his own wet garments. Their
possession seemed to give him courage, and
| his face hardened, and he knelt beside the
body of his friend and rfed the garments of
n1l hot fryir 1Nltr 1nr
| on his own person. .
Then he took his own purse, his notebook,
a few receipts and triflcs from his own pocli-
cts, and put them in the pockets of Tressilian.
alt is done |" he whispered to himself, look
ing with wild defiant eyes through the dark
ness. "No one is harmed. He is dead. If
| he had lived, he would have provided for me.
As he is dying or dead, l must provide for my
self This likeness deticeen as aoW make my
fortune. His friends will be spared terrible
grief, and IL shall live at lastl Fortune
gives me n chance to gain name and wealth at
one lucky strokem
As if to give himself no chance for repent
ance he arose to his feet and turned his
searching glances in an inland direction. A
light, as from cottage window, glimmering
family through the thick haze, caught his gaze.
Raising his voice, he called loudly:
"Helpl Ho, there helpw
The wind had abated, and his cries rang out
through the night with startling distincmess
The light he had seen moved and disappeared
A minute later, answering cries reached Low
der's ears, and he heard hasty steps, and saw
the approaching light of n lantern, borne alof
by a mans upraised arm.
'"This way!" shouted Lowder. ave are
wrecked on the rocks For the love OF
Heaven, hastenm
The bearer of the lantern, attended by 9
male companion, came running 10 him, and
was soon at his side. The lantern bearer was
a rough Sician fisherman, grade above his
class. His companion was also Sicilian, but
evidently of somewhat higher degree. Both
were all excitement, astonishmcnt, and sym
pathy.
In as few words as possible Lowder told the
story of the shipwreck, and called attention
to the condition of his noble young employer
al think he is dead !" he said, in choking
voice. "Carry him up to your cabin Let
everything be done that can be done to save
him. will pay you well for any kindness tC
him. Poor fellow! He was my travelling
companion l loved him as if he had been my
brother instead of only my hired attendant
Poor Jasper!"
The two Sicilians lifted the helpless form o
poor young Trcssillan, and carried it between
them toward their cottage. Jasper Lowde
! followed them, bewailing his loss. The abov,
, we publish us specimen chapter; but thu
continuation of this story will be found onl,
, in the n. Y. Ledger. Ask for the numbc
dated January 9TH, which can be had at an,
, news office or book store. If you are no
within reach of a news office, you can have tn
Ledger mailed to you for one year by sendin,
three dollars to Robert Bonner, publisher, IS
| William street, New York. The Ledger pay
, more for original contributions than any othe
periodical in the world. 1t will publish non
but the very, very best. Its moral tone is tn
. purest, and its circulation the largest. Every
/ body who takes it is happier for having it.