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

She was the daughter of a widow, reHding NJ
Brighton. The widow, my grandmoth kept
a clearinghouse, and my father, gay, dasn-
ing young fellow, came to lodge with her. a, AS
might have been expected, he fell in love with
his landlady's daughter. BE offered the young
girl marriage, on condition that the union
should be kept secret until his affairs bright
ened and he chose to divulge 1t. The young
girl loved him. Her mother was ambitious
and penurious. The result was the lover had
his way, and married the daughter of his land
lady. quietly, almost secretly. Then he took
his bride to London, to cheap and obscure
lodgings, where, year later, was born"
The wind for moment drowned his voice.
As it presently lulled. he resumed recklessly,
and with passionate bitterness:
"For years my mother and lived in those
stuffy, obscure lodgings until her bloom had
faded, and she had grown thin and wan and
nervous. My father visited us at stated sea-
sons, once or twice a week, but he never
brought any of his family to call upon us. l
doubt if his aristocratic relatives even suspect
ed the existence of the faded wife and son of
whom he was secretly ashamed. / have good
reason to believe that he had fine lodgings at
the West End, where he was supposed to be a
bachelor, and that he went into fashionable
society, while my poor mother and lived OBJ
scurely. He was profigate and a roue, but
he had an air of fashion that awakened my
boyish admiration, and aroused my mothers
pleading to be introduced to his relatives, and
to have her son publicly acknowledged. But
my father always put her off, saying that he
was not vet ready Worn out and despairing,
my mother died when / was ten years old"
Again the wind shrieked past, again the
little vessel lurched, the sea sweeping her
deck.
The captain screamed his orders to his men,
and for few minutes disorder reigned.
A of Iowdnr
A." And bad skyp'
g. Yes, but Ive seen as bad" returned Tres
silian. awe shall make port all right, never
fear. We must be well on toward the Cape di
Gallo. And it's.only seven miles from the
Cape to Palermo"
"But the seven miles in this storm are worse
than seventy in good weather. These coasts
are dangerous, Tressilian.'
Lowder shuddered as he surveyed sea and
sky.
"But about your father, Jasper % said
Tressilian, who had become deeply interested
in his companions story. "What did he do
after your mothers death ?'
'I remained at the old lodgings with our
single old servant month or more, my father
visiting me several times, and expressing anx-
iety as to what he should do with me. Aweek
afteS my mothers death, he told me that his
brother was dead. A month later, his father
was killed by being thrown from his horse.
My father came into riches and honors by
these deaths. At last, deciding to rid himself
of me, he took me down to Brighton, to my
old grandmother. Her sons were dead; she
had given up keeping dodgers, and was grown
miserly. He promised her five hundred pounds
year to keep me, and to keep also the secret
of my paternity, solemnly promising to ac-
knowledge me some day as his son and heir.
The old woman agreed tn carry'out his wishes.
She would have done anything for money. l
never saw my father again. l went to school,
grew up, and at the age of twenty-one came
into my grandmother's money, the fruits of
years of saving, she dying at that time. My
father had deliberately abandoned me. did
not know where to seek him, if had wished
to. | took my money and came abroad. . i
had been two years on the Continent, and had
spent my little fortune when / met you. The
rest you know"
{" An odd, romantic story! But why did your
father abandon you?"
"That he might be freed of encumbrance tC
make a grand marriage. From what my
grandmother said at different times, con
clude that my father was in love with TITLED
| lady before my mothers death. No doubt HI
married this lady. If he lives, this lady's sol
may be his acknowledged heir. Ny fathe
has utterly disowned the son of his first hasty
| ill-starred marriage. / have fancy that
shall meet him some day." and Jassper's brov
| darkened to deeper blackness "However,
stand no chance of ever receiving justice at hi
hands"
"what is your fathers name, Jasper q
| asked Tressilian.
| Lowder's face darkened. He bit his lips sav
| agely.
"What l have told you about myself
| learned from my own observation, or tror
chance words OF my parents and grandmother
My mothers maiden name was Jeanette Low
| der. At our London lodgings. my father Dor
the name of Lowder. don't know his rea
name, but should know his face anywhere
although l have not seen him in thirtee
years. My mother was actually married
Tressilian, but l never heard my father
name. The clergyman who married my mothe
was dead; the witnesses also. When m
grandmother was dying she tried to tell m
the story. She had put it off too long. A
| that could understand of her mumblings wa
the name of Devereux. / shall never forge
that tname-'DEvEREUXn Probably that wa
my fathers name-my own riighttul namt
| But as | should never find him if sought hin
and as he would repulse me if did find hin
] stand no chance of inheriting his property
| He may be dead. He may have other sons wh
have succeeded him. 1t is all a mystery, br
the prominent truth Is that | am an outcas
poor, disowned, and friendless."
He leaned over the bulwark, the spray dasl
| ing over his face violently.
Tressiian's heart warmed to him.
"My poor friend!' he said. "Must | sa
again you are not friendless while live? Nj
| father has influence enough to obtain for you
government appointment. This tangle ma
| straighten itself out some day. But if it dom
! you are resolute enough 10 make your ow
happiness"
lie grasped Lowder's hand, and looked wit
warm bright eyes, full of sympathy, into Low
| der's lowering face.
There had been a temporary lull in I'll
storm. But as the two stood there, the ten
pest revived and swept over the wild sea
maddened rage.
There was no time for talking now. I'll
wind rose so high that words would scarcel
have been distinguished. The storm that ha
gone before had been but play to this awfl
outburst. The vessel drove on, creaking an
| groaning, n mere cookie shell on the billow
" Mother of Merciesv' walled the captain
cts all up with us, signores. | can't max
out the Cape in this darkness. We shall go O
| the rocks. st. Anthony save us.'
The seamen echoed his cries.
The two young Englishmen. comprehendin
their peril, clasped hands in silence.
For the next few minutes it seemed that
Pandemonium reigned.
Then noise like the report of cannon SUE
denly doomed through the storm and the darl
ness. The little vessel shivered, staggered
and careened upon her side.
She had struck upon a rock
| A moment later crew and passengers WEI
| struggling in the waters.
A few moments of buiietings and tossings,
vain struggles and agonized, involuntar
prayer, and then Jasper Lowder felt his senst
slip from him, and became unconscious.
When he came to himself, he was lying upo
rocky beach of the Siciian shore, sor
bruised, and weak as a child.
He opened his eyes. The wind had spent j
fury, and now mOaned along the coast with