The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1871-01-13
CHAPTERI
4 FATEFUL CATASTROPHE

AFATEFUL CATASTROPHE
A wild storm was raging upon the Mediter-
ranean Sea, near the close of a dreary Novem-
Der DAY, and sky and waters we're black with
the gloom of the sudden and furious tempest,
before which a small sailing vessel was scud-
ding under bare poles. Her build and rigging
proclaimed her Sandman She was The GuU,
Captain Varino master, on her way from Gag
liari to Palermo.
She had on board two seamen, and two pas
sengers
These passengers we're Englishmen, who
had procured passage on The Gull to Paler-
mo, whence thew intended to embark by
steamer to MarseiIles, the following day.
While the Captain and his assistants were
attending to their duties, and expressing ap-
p~rehensions as to their safety, the two Eng
lishmen stood apart, leaning against the low
bulSarks, and surveying the Wild scene around
them.
These men we're 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 aris-
tocratic in his bearing, tail, slender and hand
some. with a frank, smiling mouth, a pair Of
fearless blue eyes, set under a wide and mas
sive forehead, and tawny hair blowing back
from his face. Noble, generous and kind
hearted, he had an adventurous disposition
ana 3 QauDtleES courage
he was Guy Tressilian, the only son and
heir of Sir Arthur Tressilian, Baronet, of Tres
silian 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 tho 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, and his ex-
periences had been such as to develop IN him
some Of the worst qualities Of his nature.
He was Jasper Lowder, Guy Tressilian's
hired travelling companion and bosom friend.
The meeting and connection Of the two had a
touch Of romance. Young Tressilian had
spent four years in a German university,
whence be 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 Mediter-
ranean Sea. in company with one Of his late
tutors. This gentleman being Unexpectedly
promoted 70 a professorship, abandoned
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 a trio Of his own countrymeh, all
more or less intoxicated. It was apparent that
they took him for another, and intended to
wreak vengeance upon him Without allowing
him to speak, they forced him to defend him.
self. Guy was getting the worst of the conflict,
when a stranger same running to his assist
ance, and in a few moments che two had put
the rufians TO flight
This stranger who came so opportunity to
Guys assistance was Jasper Lowder. His re-
semblance to young Tressilian awakened in the
latter a romantic interest. He questioned
Lowder. learned that he was poor and alone il
the world, and took him with him to his hotel
Believing that the similarity Of features indi.
- -..T--.4- n 49, l.
engaged Lowder as his travelling companion
and the past year they had spent together
more like brothers than like employer anC
sfThis storm is a regular Levanter," sale
{ Lowder, clinging with both hands to the bull
warks. do you think the craft viii stand it
Tressilian ?"
"Oh, yes, answered young Tressilian, wip-
ing the salt spray from his face. 1.-THE Cap
tain knows the Sicilian coast perfectly. Il
two hours, or less, We shall be in the bay o.
Palermo. In three hours We shall be domi
ciled in the best rooms of the hotel Trinacria
! with the best supper which Messrs. Ragusa car
| furnish. And tomorrow, at noon" he added
W shall embark for Marseiles in a Mesa
geries steamer"
And from Marseilles you will proceed Il
England and to Tressiian Court, said Lowder
: with some bitterness. "And Lwhat is to be
| come of me7 Ihave had a year Of u~naIloyei
= udDDln6SS. anu NOW COLQeS Ddck Inc QTuQReIN
!, the hopeless toll, the anxieties of the wretchei
old life. You picked me up at Baden, a poo
~adventurer seeking to gain living by teaching
English, and the same destiny is open to IN
now"
Tressilian turned his handsome face upol
: bis companion in surprise and afectionate re
proach.
"'Jasperl" he exclaimed, syou talk strangely
Do you suppose I have called you friend an
1 brother so long, and loved you 30 well, to los
: you now? Imeant to have written TO my fathe
concerning you and your future, Jasper, bu
{ his sudden recall, received yesterday, cause
me to return home without writing. l shal
: telegraph from Marseilles that you will com
l home with me. And you will, viii you not
( You viii not abandon me, my friend7 wi
charge myself with YOUR future. Twill see tina
! You obtain the position to which your talent
entitle you. You have no ties to keep you o.
the Continent 2"
A strange expression passed over Jaspe
| Lowder's face
"No, I have no ties, he said huskily.
Andy you will go home with me 2"
Whist will your father say to my coming z
, demanded Lowder, HE win think your gen
crosby Quixotic. He will dismiss from hi
house the hired companion who dares to re
semble his SON"
A sudden Iurch of the little vessel, a wav
sweeping over her deck, interrupted the sen
! tence.
| "You wrong my father" said Tressilian
his blue eyes kindling, when the vessel ha,
= riShtcd. "He is the noblest man in th
> world He win welcome my friends as hi
own. You viii love him, Jasper, as I do, wher
/ "He doesn't seem very affectionate," re
marked Lowder you have been away from
your home for five years, and he has but jus
recalled YuI"
Young Tressiinn's cheeks flushed as Lowde
saw in the lurid glow that momentarily light
ed up the tempestuous scene.
You know, or can guess the reason, Jas
per-" he said, with something of an effort
my father has a ward. the daughter of al
old friend. All! hear that wind shrek TIT
gale is increasing"
.Yee," sssented Lowder. "And the ward
is Miss Irby-the golden-haired Blanche of
whom you have exchanged letters 2"
"Yes. My father formed a project to have
me marry Blanche. He did not wish us to grow
up together, lest we should learn to regard
each other as brother and sister. Wher
Blanche came to live at the Court my father
sent me to Germany. The night before / lefi
home, he called me into his library and tolc
me all his hopes and plans for my future, and
entreated me to continue worthy of his limo
cent ward, and to keep my heart pure for her.
I have done so, Jasper. Ihaye never yet Low.
ed any woman. And yesterday / received my
fathers summons to come home. He has re.
called me after five years of absence, know
the wish that lies nearest his heart. He wants
me to return and marry Blanche. Ishrink
from the proposed marriage. I dread going
home. and 1 dread offending my dear faith
er, whom I love better than any woman II
is hard, Jasper, to revolt against the hopes
and plans Of a kind AMI generous father,
whose very love for me causes him to urge on
this marriage :"
sis it ?" said Lowder dryly, and with
strange smile full of s~neering bitterness. my
experience has been widely different from
yours, Tressilian. Did 1 ever tell you of my
father 2"
"No. 1 took it for granted that he is dead
perhaps he is don't know" said Low
der, with a reckless laugh. but if he is liv-
ing, he is a scoundrel. Don't start, Tressilian,
at my unselish speech. Wait till you hear my
story. 1 am in a desperate mood tonight.
This storm stirs up all the bad within me. As
nearly as I can discover, my father was the
younger son of a proud old country family"
"You do not know, hen Z" asked Tressilian,
pressing his companions hand.
81 have no proofs of it. AL I positively
know is this. My mother was Of humble sta
ton, pretty, with blue eyes and a n apple bios
som face, and tender, appealing ways. She
was the daughter Of a widow, residing at
Brighton. Tie widow, my grandmother, kept
a clearinghouse, and my father, a gay, dashing
young fellow, came to lodge with her. As