Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-06-28
TuE PLOT .sG.1E.rsT H.fU'LBr.
CHAPTER |.
HOW THE PLOT ORIGINATED

HOW THE PLOT ORIGINATED.
Near noon, the 9Th of September, 1852, a
man labUrng under great excitement was
walking hurriedly up Broadway, New
York. His features were flushed and con-
vulsed, his glauces wild and restless, his
whole men indicative of keen anguish.
Turning to the right into Blocker street.
he soon reached plain three story and
basement brick house, TO which he gave
himself admlttance.
Are you there Ruth ?" he called from
the hall.
A step was heard overhead, followed by
the rustling of dress, and young lady
descended the front stairs. Despite several
points of maj ked contrast, there was a
family likeness about the couple that pro-
claimed them TO be brother and sister.
"Why, what's the matter, Luke?" cried
the latter, starting at the sight of the dis
turbed countenancn that met her view.
"Are you ill?"
"Pve Just received bad news" replied
the brother, leading the way into the par
lor-"news which has given me a terrible
shock"
shocked? You! What has happened ?"
'In a word, Clara Aymar is married y
"Married T. echoed the sister, recoling.
"Clara Aymar married Is it possible ?"
"Yes, married the girl I've been laying
siege to for years past-the only girl l ever
cared pin for. Imagine the shock this
event gives me. I'm nearly crazy
"Then you really loved her ?'
"Lorcd her l must have worshipped her,
or else this thing would not have so com
pletely upset me-"
"Oh, as to that, the loss of thing always
gives us an exaggerated notion of its value
said the sister phlosophically as she san k
languidly into an easy chair, and smoothed
ont fold in her snowy morning robe.
you are simply shocked, as you say. But
10y tomorrow you will laugh at the whole
matter"
Don't, Ruth - implored the brother
sinking heavily into the nearest chair.
CLARA Aymar is more to me than my life
My love for her is delirium! It's no such
passing fancy as you suppose, but an ever
lasting passion-a rage-a flood of molten
lava! And I've counted all along upon
marrying her. True, she has rejected me
twice, but | thought she'd change her
mind"
''She was in no way committed to you p
mo, Of course not. She has never given
me any encouragement. But l am none
the less surprised. | supposed that every
thing was favorable enough TO my wishes.
knew that she was still young to marry
an orphan-without money and without
iriends-presumably without suitors and
BATTERED myself that she couldn't always
remain insensible to my attentions"
"You reasoned wisely enough, OF course,
Luke; but reason never decides these mat
teIs," declared the sister, with a sort of a
contemptuous compassion. "A wilma
chance meeting-a smile or a word-a mo-
ments wednesday, trihe-these are the
things by which marriages are brought
about. But who is the bridegroom p
"Ah that's point that will touch you
little, think. Can't you guess who he is p
Il haven't the least idea"
well, then, he's VIII. Hawley."
The sister sprang abruptly TO her feet,
claspng both hands TO her heart. The
changing colors of her brother, his agita-
lion, his anguish all passed to her own fea-
lures.
Twill. EIawley?' she grasped. "oh,
you don't mean It, Luke p
'But | do though. It's Gods truth.
Clara Aymar and Will. Hawley are hus-
band and Wife"
A heavy fall succeeded. The sister had
tainted. She lay upon the floor as one
dead.
Ibid she think that much of Hawley ?''
muttered the brother, astonshed. ~ didn't
suppose"
He fastened to bring pitcher of water
and bathe the white features, and then set
himself to chatting the clenched hands.
Capt. Luke Pedder was twenty-seven
years OF age, with an originally light COM
plexion, which had Redeemed with gener-
Gus living and bronzed with exposure to
wind and sun. His form was of the aver
age size and height, and his features of the
most ordinary type. He was singularly
selfish and INSCRIPTIONS, but of gentle
manly manners, being well educated and
used 10 good society. His ability as a navi.
gator was fair for man of his age and ex.
perlence, but he owed his position as com
mander of q fine Australian clipper, NOR,
10 respect for his late father and to sym pa
thiZing favor than to his own merits
Miss Ruth Pedder was two years younger
than her BROTHER and consequently twenty
five years of age, although she owned t.
only twenty. She was tall, thin, and a lit
tie inclined in her outlines, as in her lem
per, to angularity She was not particularly
bright, but she was bold and unscrupulous
and possessed fierce energy which wa
capable of compromising in any emergency
for lack of genius.
The father of the couple had been
prominent ship-owner and merchant. Blu
in his latter days the senior Pedder haC
been unfortunate, and had finally beer
broken up cOmpletely-a result FASTENED
1t was whispered, by the wild ways an,
financial Irregularities of his son. The OLE
mans failure had soon been followed b,
his death, and already--for such Is fame !
he was generally forgotten.
"fiow odd it isH' calculated Capt. Ped
der, as he rubbed his SISTERS cold hands
''She madly in love with VIII. Hawley
and ! crazy after Clara Aymar And nov
VIII. and Clara are married, and Ruth an,
are left out in the cold"
Under this vigorous treatment he ha
adopted, Miss Pedder soon recovered he
senses.
"Are you sure they're marrledP" she de
manded.
"Perfecty. | learned the fact half al
hour since from Hawleys commander
Captain Greggs, you know. Captain Gregg
was at the wedding. 1t took place last FIR
day evening-the very evening after Haw
ley's return from his last voyage to Rio.
was quiet affair. Only a few friends wer
invited. But let me ask you a question
Did Hawley ever propose to you ~
"No. But expected that he would 500
do so. He has been here often enough
Eyes, he came several times to ask m
for berth in my clipper. ! promised
think of him at the first opening, and
really meant TO help him, for | knew in
general way that you liked him."
AZ thought he'd realize that you could !
of service to him." explained Miss Pedde
~ thought he'd remember that mother lie
me this house and a few thousand dolla
10 do as pleased with. l was consciou
too, that possessed fair share of person
attractions. And as | supposed him to
entirely heart-free, | took II for granite
that 1 should get him. His attention
seemed marked enough"