Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1871-01-12
CHAPTER I
FArErUL CATASTROPHE

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FArErUL CATASTROPHE
wild storm was raging upon the Mediter-
ranean Sea, near the close of dreary Novem-
Der day, and sky and waters we're black with
4 the gloom of the sudden and furious tempest
before which small sailing vessel was scud-
ding under bare poles. Her build and rigging
proclaimed her Sandman. She was The Gull
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 they intended to embark by
steamer to Msrseilles. 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 aris-
tocratic in his bearing. tall slender and hand
some, with frank, smiling mouth, pair of
fearless blue eyes, set under wide and mas
sive forehead, and tawny hair blowing back
from his face. Noble. generous and kind
hearted, he had an adventurous disposition
q
He was Guy Tressilian, the only son and
heir of Sir Arthur Tressilian, Baropet, 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 the frank smile. the bright, fearless
look, or the joyous spirit that characterized
young Iressilian. Young as he was, he bsd
seen much of the dark side of life and his en-
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
touch of romance. Young Tressilian had
spent four years in 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 to 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 sire, of Baden, he had been
assaulted by a 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 allowing
him to speak, they forced him to defend HIM
self. Guy was getting the worst Of the conflict.
when stranger same running to his assist
ance and in few moments the 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 romantic interest. He questioned
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 indi-
Gated 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 employer and
employed.
"This storm is a regular Levantcr," said
Lowder, clinging with both hands to the bull
warks. DO you think the craft will stand it.
1ressiliani"
"Oh, yes, answered young Tressilian, wip-
ing the salt spray from his face. The Cap
tain knows the Sicilian coast perfectly. In
two hours, or less we shall be in the bay of
Palermo. In three hours we shall be domi-
ciled in the best rooms of the hotel Trinacria.
with the best supper which Messrs. Ragusa can
furnish. And tomorrow, at noon" he added.
"ws shall embark for Marseilles in Messa-
geries steamer"
"And from Marseilles you will proceed to
England and to Tressilian Court, - said Lowder.
with some bitterness. '.And Ewhat is to be-
come Of me? l have had year of unalloyed
happiness, and now comes back the drudpery.
the hopeless toll, the anxieties of the wretched
old life. You picked me up at Baden. a poor
adventurer seeking to gain living BY teaching
English, and the same destiny is open to me
now"
Tressiian turned his handsome face upop
his companion in surprise and affectionate re-
proach-
"JasperI" he exclaimed, 'syou talk strangely.
Do Won suppose have called you friend and
brother so long, and loved You SO well, to lose
you now? Imeant to have written to my father
concerning you and your future, Jasper, but
his sudden recall, received yesterday, causes
me to return home without writing. / shall
telegraph from Atarseilleq that you will come
home with me. And you will, viii you not !?
You viii not abandon me, my friend? 1 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 Continent z"
strange expression passed over Jasper
Lowders face
"No, 1 have no ties. )" he said huslily.
And you viii go home with me?"
What viii your father saw to nv coming ~
demanded Lowder, He viii think YOUR GEN.
erosity Quixotic. He viii dismiss from his
house the aired companion who dares to re-
sudden lurch of the little vessel, a wave
sweeping over her deck, interrupted the sem
tence.
"You wrong my father" said Tressilian.
his blue eyes kindling. when the vessel had
rghtcd He Is the noblest man in the
world. He viii welcome my friends as his
own: You viii love him, Jasper, as 1 do, when
you know him"
He doesn't seem very affectionate.- re-
marked Lowder. You have been away from
your home for five years, and he has but Just
recalled YOU"
Young Tressilian's cheeks flushed az Loxder
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 ward, the daughter of an
old friend. Alb .hear that wind shrek The
Yes" assented Lowder "And the ward
is Kiss Iby-the golden-haired Blanche Of.
whom You have talked go much, and with
whom you have exchanged letters 2"
Yes. My father formed 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. When
Blanche came to live at the Court INV 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 my future, and
entreated me to continue worthy of his inno-
cent rara. and to keep my heart pure for her.
l have done so, Jasper. Ihave never vet low
ed any woman. And yesterday / received NV
fathers summons to come home. He has re-
called me after i've years of absence know
the wish that lies nearest his heart. He wapts
me to return and marry Blanche. Ishrink
from the proposed marriage. dread going
home. And dread offending my dear faith
er, whom love better than any woman. It
Is hard, Jasper, to revolt against the homes
and plans Of kind AMI generous father. |
whose very love for me causes him to urge on |
this marriage :"
Is it ?" said Lowder dryly, and with
strange smile full OF sneering bitterness. "My
experience has been widely different from
father z" ny
mo. took it for granted that he is dead
Perhaps he is don't know" said Lev
der, with q reckless laugh. But if he is Nv
ing, he is scoundrel. Don't start, Tressilian.
at my unselfish speech. Wait till You hesr nv /
story. am in desperate mood tonight.
This storm stirs up all the bad within me. AS I
nearly as l can discover, my fsther was the
younger SON of proud old country family"
You do not know, then 2" asked Tressiliap.
pressing his companions hand.
have no proofs of it. All positively
know is this. My mother was of humble tia
ion r>rof Mil Ina 81 4