The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1872-06-29
MisfelIanp.
THE PLOT AGAINST HAwLEY.
CHAPTER I.
HOW THE PLOT ORIGINATED.

hurriedly mp Broadway, New York. bis Tea
tures were flushed and cohvulsed, his Rlsnoee
Wild and restless his whole mien indicative OF
keen anguish.
Turning to the right into Bleecker street, he
soon reached u plain three story and basement
brick house, to which he gave himself admit
lance.
"Are YOU there, Rnth ?" ne called from the
hall.
step WAS heard over head, followed by the
rustling of dress. and young lady descended
the front stairs. Despite several points of
marked contrast, there was Il family likeness
about the couple that proclaimed them to be
brother and sister
"Why, what's the matter, Luke!" cried the
latter, starting at the sight of the disturbed
oountenance that met her view. Are you i'll ?"
ave just received bad news" replied the
brother. leading the way into the parlor-"news
which has given me u terrible shock"
Shocked .1 c You What has happened ?"
"Married!" echoed the sister, recoiling.
"Clara Aymar married! Is it possible?"
'Yes, married the girl I've been laying siege
to for years past-the only girl ever cared a
pin for. Imagine the shock this event gives me.
I'm nearly crazy"
Then you really loved her 2"
"Loyed her! must have aoorSIapped her, or
else this thing would not have so completely
upset me-"
"Oh, as to that the loss of a thing always
gives US an exaggerated notien of its value"
said the sister philosophically, as she sank
languidly into an easy chair, and smoothed out
Q fold in her snowy morning robe. "You are
simply shocked as you say. But by tomorrow
you will laugh at the whole matter"
"DoA't, Ruth !" implored the brother, sinking
heavily into the nearest chair. "Clars Aymar is
more to me than my life! My love for her is
delirum It's no such passing fancy as you
suppose, but an everlasting passion-a rage-a
flood of molten Laval And I've counted all
along upon marrying her. True, she has rejected
me twice, but thought she'd change her mind"
"SLe was in no way committed to your"
stNe, of course not She has never given me
any encouragement. But I am none the less
surprised. l supposed that everything was ia.
vorable enough to my wishes. l knew that she
was still young to marry-an orphan-withont
money and without friends-presumably with
out suitors and I Hattered myself that she
couldn't always remain insensible to my atten.
tions'
"You reasoned wisely enough, of course,
Luke; but reason never decides these matters, y
declared the sister, with sort of contemptuous
Compassion. A wilma chance meeting--a
smile a wo d--a moments weakness--any
tride-these the tbingsb, which marriages
ere brought about. But who is the BRIDE
groom y
"Ah. that's point that will touch you lit
tie, think Can't you guess who he is ~
II hayn't the least idea"
"Wel then, he's Will. Hawley.'
The sister ,prang abruptly to her feet. clasp
ing both hands to her heart. The changing
cslors Of her brother, his agitation, his anguish
all passed to her own features.
evil. Hawley?" she gasped ooh, you don
mean it, Luke"
"But do though It's Gods's truth. Glars
Aymar and Will. Hawley are husband and
wife"
A heavy fall succeeded. The sister had faint
ed. She lay upon the floor dead.
ibid she think that much of Hawley 2" NUT
tered the brother, astonished. diu't suppose
He FASTENED to bring pitcher of water AND
battle the white features. and then set himself
to chanting the clenched haud-.
Capt. Luke Pedder twenty.-even years o.
age, with an originally light complexion, which
had Redeemed with generous living and bronco
with exposure to wind aud sun. His form wal
of the average sze and height, and his features
of the mos, ordinary type. He WAS singularl,
selfish and unscrupulous, but of gentleman
manners, being we'll educated and used to 30
oiety. His ability a. naviga was fair for
man OF his age and experience, but he owed hi
position as commander of fine Australian clip
per, more to respect for his late father and t,
sympathizins favor to his own merits.
Miss Ruth Fodder was two years younge
than her brother, and consequently twenty.fv
years of age, although she owned to only twenty
She was tall, thin, and little inclined in he
outlines as in her temper. to angularity. Sh
was not particularly bright, but she was Dol,
and unscrupulous and possessed fierce energ
which was capable OF compromising in any emel
gency for lack of genius.
The father Of the couple had been prom
nent ship.owner and merchant. But in his la
ter days the senior Pedder had been uniort,
nate, and had finally been broken up complet,
"a result fastened, it was whispered by II
wild ways and financial irregularities OF h
son. Inc old mans failure had soon been TO
lowed by his death, aud already tor such
fame he was generally forgotten.
slow odd it is" calculated Capt. Pedier,
he rubbed her cold hands "Sle mad!y in 10,
with VIII. Hawley, and / crazy after Ola,
Aymar! And now Will. and Clara are ma
ried. and Ruth and are left out in the cold"
Under the vigorous treatment he had adopte,
Miss Pedder soon recovered her senses
Are You sure they're married y she d
manded.
Perfectly I learned the fact half an no,
since from Hewley's commander--Capt Gregg
1t took place last Friday evening --the very ey
ning OF Hawloys return from his last voyage
MO 1t was quiet affair Only few frieu'
were invited. But let me ask you uuestio
INA hawey ever propose to you?'
NO. But expected that he would soon do +
he has been here often enough"
yes ne came several times to ask me for
berth in my clipper. lpromlsed to think of hi
at the first opening, and I really meant to he
him, for knew IN general way that Won lik,
him"
III thought he could -oal;, .. ~. ., -,