Connecticut western news., 1872-07-05
The Plot Against Hawley.
CHAPTER I.
HOW THE PGoT oRIdINATED.

laboring under great excitement was walking up Broadway, New York. Hisfeatures were flushed and convulsed, his glances wild and restless, his whole mien 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 admit tance.
 "Are you there, Ruth ?" he called from the hall.
 A step was heard overhead, followed blythe rustling of 8 dress, and young lady descended the front stairs. Despite several points of marked contrast, there was family likeness about the couple that proclaimed them to be brother and sister. s-'s1lsasR E tF
 "Why, what's the matter, Luke ," cried the latter starting at sight of the disturbed counte- nance that met her view. "Are you ill?"
 'Ive just received bad news" replied tho brother, leading the way into thelpa parlor-''news which has given me terrible shock"
 Shocked? Youl.s What has happened?"
 In word, Clara Aymar is married!"
 "Marriedl" echoed the sister, recoiling. Clara Aymar married Is it possible 7'
 "Yes, marriedl the girl I've been laying siege to for years past-the only girl I ever cared g pin for. Imagine the shock this event gives me. I'm nearly crazy" 4s
 "Then you really loved her?
 "Loued her l musthave sooyshipped her, or else this thing would not have So. completely upset me-" ...
 con, as to that. the loss of thing always gives us an exaggerated notion of it's valua, said the sister philosophically, as she sank lan- guidly into an easy chair, and smoothed out a fold in her showy morning robe. < You are simply shocked, as you say But by tomorrow you will laugh at the whole natter
 "Don't Ruth l" 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 everlasting passion-a rage-a flood of molten lava And I've counted allalong upon marrying her. True, she has rejected me twice, but I thought she'd change her mind"
 "She was in no way committed to you?'
 "No, of course not. She has never given me any encouragement But am none tho less surprised. I supposed that everything was she was still young to marry-an orphan-wlth- out money and without friends presumably without suitors and flattered myself that she couldn't always remain insensible to my attentions"
 'sYou reasoned wisely enough, of course, Luke ; but reason never decides these matters, ' declared the sister, with sort of contemptuous compassion. "A whim-a chance meetings smile or word-a moments wednesday, trihe-these are the things by which marriages are brought about. But who is the bride groom" .--f
 'sAhl that's point that will touch you a little, I think. Can't you guess who he is ["
 q haven't the least idea"
 We'll, then, he's Will. Hawley."
 The sister sprang abruptly to her feet clasp ing both hands to her heart. The changing solors of her brother, his agitation his anguish, all passed to her own features.
 mean it, Lukel'
 ''But do though. It's Gods truth. Clara Aymar and Will. Hawley are husband and
 A heavy fall succeeded. The sister had faint ed. She lay upon the floor as one dead.
 stDid she think that much of Hawley ?" nut tered the brother, astonished. 'sI didn't sup pose" .rS - He hastened to bring pitcher of water and bathe the white features, and then set himself to chafing the clenched hands.
 Capt. Luke Pedder was twenty-seven years ot age, with an originally light complexion, which had reddened with generous living and bronzed with exposure to wind and sun. His form wae
 
 of the most ordinary type. He was singularly selfish and unscrupulous, but of gentlemanly manners, being well educated and used to good society. His ability as navigator was fair for 9 9 man oI hls age and experience, but ne owed ms position as commander of line Australian cnpper, more to respect for his late father ana to sympathizing favor than to his own merits
 Hiss Ruth Pedder was two years younger than her brother, and consequently twenty-five years of age, although she owned to only twenty. She was tall, thin, and little inclined in her out lines, as in her temper, to angularity. She was not particularly bright, but she was bold and interruptions and possessed g fierce energy which was capable of compensaling in any emergency for lack of genius. -
 The father ofthe couple had been prominent ship-owner and merchant. But in his latter days the senior Pedder had been unfortunate, and had finally been broken up completely-a result hastened, it was whispered, by the wild ways and financial irregularities of his son. The old mans failure had soon been followed by his death, and already-for such is fame! he was generally forgotten.
 "How odd it is I" ejaculated Capt. Pedder, as he rubbed hls sisters cold hands, "Ste madly in love with Will. Hawley, and crazy after Clara Aymar And now Will. and Clara are married, and Ruth and I are left out in the cold"
 Under the vigorous treatment he had adopted, Miss Pedder soon recovered her senses.
 "Are you sure they're married?" she de-
 
 Perfectly. Ilearned the fact half an hour since from Hawley's eommander-Captain Greggs, you know. Captain Greggs was at the wedding. It took place last Friday evening the very evening after Hawleys return from his last voyage to Rio. It was 8 quiet affair. Only Q few friends were invited. But let me ask you a question. Did Hawley ever propose to you ?"
 "No. But expected that he would soon do so. He has been here often enough-"rA
 "Yes, he came several times to ask me for . berth in my clipper. promised to think of him ct the first opening, and really meant to help him, for knew in general way that you liked him." -,"
 "I thought he'd realize that you could be of service to him,' explained Miss Pedder. I thought he'd remember that mother left me pleased with. was conscious, too, that I possessed 6 fair share of personal attractions. And as I supposed him to be entirely heart-free, took it for granted that should get him. His attentions seemed marked enough"
 He treated you politely, of course," inter- rupted Pedder, ''and he couldn't have well done less, after asking mo to befriend him. But he never made a:.y formal dcclarationip
 "No, he didn't: As mate of Rio ship, he was away seven-eighths of the time, and did n't expect regular courtship. But took it for granted"
 Pedder made an impatient gesture.
 "We'ye deceived ourselves" he muttered. "We've been carried away by our feelings
 
 to be final, and Hawley's visits here were mere lv visits of business and friendship. But why Clara should prefer Hawley to me can't imag- ine," added Pedder,. drawing himself up haughtiIy; 4;SI "aawley Y, has neither nsmo, nor
 Nor can see why Hawley should prefer Clara Aymar to mel" said Miss Fodder, as she glanced at her reflection in one of the long mirrors near her. "She's hired attendant, or something of that kind-tho creature"
 ."Id no idea that you thought so much of Hawley," observed the brother, as he strove to calm his painful emotions.
 Miss Pedder moaned. Her eyes filled with tears.
 "I thought all heworld of him." she mur- mured.
 long silence fell between the couple.
 "Well, we'll, they're husband and wife," at length muttered Pedder hoarsely. "And this, suppose, is all there is to be said."
 Miss Pedder compressed her lips until they bled, staring at her brother with fxedness amounting to ferocity. ~ gs ,--t