The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-07-12

Pedder looked wonderingiy at his sister .
moment, and then answered:
% course. know Of no better man for the
he must be your first mate, then. You
nave influence enough with your owners,
"Why, the post is already vacant. Mr.. Jar
dlngI,you have seen him -Mr. Jarding has
lust been called home suddenly to Ohio, on
ecount OF his fathers Illness"
"Goodl That's fortunate. You must REQ.
ommend aswley for the vacant place to your
owners, and get them to engage him. The
thing can be done7"
"Without the least doubt. It was under.
I was to help Hawley ct the first opportunity.
Wei accordingly suppose that he sails with
me as first mate the next voyage. What then7'
"You must leave him-not dead, but pris-
oner -on some desert island between here and
Australia I"
Pedder looked his astonishment.
II it can be DONE" he said, after pause,
"what next2"
"You must come back and report that he is
dead, furnishing full details and good proofs.
Those details and proofs will not be difficult to
manufacture. Then you must be all kindness
and sympathy to the young widow, as she Will
thereafter she will be your wife,"
"Oh, it this thing were possiblel ]" sighed
Pedder, beginning to look relieved.
POssible' It's as simple as kissing. And
the moment you are married to Clara, will
take trip to Australia for my health, and nat
urally enough, stumble upon the very island
whereyou have left Hawley effect his rescue |;
tell him his wife is dead; condole and sympa-
thize with him like an angel; and conclude the
whole comedy by becoming his wife and settling
in Australia. You'll thus have your Clara, on
this side of the ocean, and shall be happy
with Hawley on the other"
She was smiling now, with every sign OF anti
cipated triumph.
As to Pedder he twisted nervously in his
chair, scarcely venturing to breathe.
"There's Just one difficulty" he muttered-
"that of getting Hawley on the desert island
without his suspecting anything"
" 1t can be DONE" and the lips OF Miss Ped
der came together like the jaws of vice.
"There's no difficulty about finding suitable
island 2"
ssNot the least. saw the island in my
minds eye the moment you uttered the word,
and glorious one it is for our purpose"
"It will be easy for you to get Hawley upon
it." suggested Miss Pedder thoughtfully. If
it's near your route, you can call there for wa
ter. If it's out of your way, you can be blown
there by adverse winds, or be drifted there by
unknown currents, or fetch up there by mis-
take in your reckoning or fault in your chro-
nOIneter. ana ONCE tueTe, you eau nave law
ley seized by some trusty agent, while he ia
ashore upon business, or you can send him
ashore under some pretence, such as looking
for deserter from the ship or for shipwreck-
ed sailor, and then sail away without him"
"Say no MORE" interrupted Fodder, with
wild exultatlon. ~ see how to manage the
affair from its beginning to its end"
"And you now see that We can undo that
hateful marriage?"
Perfectly-perfectly. The affair will require
a little time and patience, of course, and lit
tie expenditure of money, but we are sure to
triumph. Capital gloriousl What a load you
have taken from my soul, Ruthl What Q
genius you areT"
He leaped to his feet and began pacing to
and fro rapidly, with the most extravagaut
signs and ordinations of joyl"
First to get Hawley on his island, resumed
Miss Pedder musingly. "Next for you to mar
ry the pretended widow. Then for me to rescue
the prisoner and marry him. And finally for
you and me to be happy, you in your way, and
/ in mine-you with Clara in New York, and
with Will. in Australia. You comprehend the
whole project clearly?"
From the first step to the last. There's
only Just enc possibility OF failure"
And that one?'
ga refusal on Hawley's part to accept the
post offered him-a refusal based upon his
marriage"
Miss peddcr turned pale at the thought.
But he won't refuse" she soon declared,
recovering her eluanimity. "He has long been
wanting just such place. Married or single,
he can't neglect his bread and butter"
"Well said, Ruth. I think We can count
upon him. The post he came here to ask me
for is now vacant, and will accordingly have
it offered to him, just a. if nothing had hap
peped."
"Exacty. You needn't speak of his MARI
age, or seem to know anything about it. You
l. L. 10, -
accordance with the old understanding. And
he will accept it. He can't possibly have any
suspicion of anything wrong. Outwardly and
apparently we are all on good terms with one
another, and will remain so. Let the wages
offered him be liberal. Possibly he may Object
to leaving his young bride so seOn, but the mex
voyage after this one"
Pedder interrupted the remark by gesture
of impotence. He was all eagerness now-aI
determination.
"That next voyage after this one will not an
swer," he declared. Hawley shall accompany
me on my very next trip: To make all sure OF
this point, will have him engaged this very
day. In fact will see to this noio."
He seized his hat and gloves, addressed few
words to his sister, and quietly took his depart
ure down town. The last glances the couple
exchanged at the door were full Of jubilant
wickedness.
The next three or four hours passed slowly
to Miss Pedder. She was beginning to feal
that the whole project had miscarried at 1ti
very commencement, and was fretting hersel
into q fever, when Pedder suddenly made hi
| appearance. One glance at his vivid hushes
at his dancing eyes, at his airy manner, wa
sufficient.
ave triumph them" she cried, throwing
herself into his arms for the first time in years
Completely saw my owners on the sub
| feet, and they sent for Hawley. He ut first
offered some objections, as was natural, but
the high wages, the great step upward, the
kindly interest we all manifested, soon brought
| him to grateful acceptance ]"
"Splendidl" murmured Miss Pedder, with {
| ripping laugh. 81 knew the thing was feasible
| And so in two weeks more our fond bridegroom
will be blowing the sea again"
"In two weeks more, Ruthf We shall be Of
in six or eight days. The cargo is fairly tumb
hing aboard the Flying Childers, to say nothin,
of a fair list of passengers. The honeymoon O
| our loving doves will be abridged to six shor
days more, you may be certain"
CHAPTER IL