Litchfield enquirer., 1872-07-04
THE PLOT AGAINST HAWLEY.
CHAPTER
HOW THE PLOT ORIGINATED.

1Ork. Ills features were flushed and con vulsed, his glances wild and restless, hi, whole nien indicative of keen anguish
 Turning to the right into Bleecker stree he soon reached plain three story and basement brick house. to which he gave himself admittance.
 "Are you there, Ruth ?'' he called iron the hall
 A step was heard overhead, followed by the rustling of dress and a. young lady descended the front stairs Despite sey eral points of marked contrast, there was family likeness about the couple that proclaimed them to be brother and sis 1 ter.
 "Why, what's the matter, Luke ?'' cried the latter, starting at sight of the disturb ed countenance that met her view. ''Are you ill ?"
 '1've just received bad news," replied the brother, leading the way into the par lor-"news which has given me terrible shock"
 Shocked ? You! What has happen, ed ?"
 '1n word, Clara Aymar is married P
 Married y echoed the sister recoiling. "Clara Aymar married Is it possible 9
 "Yes, married the girl I've been lay ing siege to for years past-the only girl l ever cared pin for. Imagine the shock this event has given me- I'm nearly era. zy."
 ''Then you really loved her 9
 "LOUed her! l must have aOorshipped her, or else this thing would not have so completely upset me-" "Oh, as to that, the loss of thing al- ways gives us an exaggerated notion of its value" said the sister philosophically. as she sank languidly into an easy chair, and smoothed out fold in her show morning robe. "You are simply shocked, as you say. But by tomorrow you will laugh at the whole natter
 Don't, Ruth p implored the brother. sinking heavily into the nearest chair. ''Clara 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 lava And I've counted all along upon marrying her. True, she has re- jected 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 giv- en me any encouragement. But I am none the less surprised. supposed that everything was favorable enough to my wishes. 1 knew that she was still young to marry-an orphan-without money and without friends--presumablyw without suitors; and fattered myself that she couldn't always remain insensible to my attentions"
 "You reasoned wisely enough, of course, Luke; but reason never decides these mat ters, ," declared the sister, with a sort of contemptuous compassion "A whim-a chance meetings smile OF word-a mo- ment's weakness-any trife-these are the things by which marriages are brought about But who is the bridegroom ?"
 "Ah that's point that will touch yOat little, I think. Can't you guess who he is ?"
 'I haven't the least idea
 "Well, then. he's Will. Hawley."
 The sister sprang abruptly to her feet, clasping both hands to her heart. The changing color of her brother, his agita- tion, his anguish, all passed to her own features.
 "Will. Hawley?" she gasped. "Oh, you don't mean it, Luke".
 ''But do though. It's Gods truth Clara Aymar and Will. Hawley are hus- band and wife"
 A heavy fall succeeded. The sister had fainted She lay upon the floor as one dead
 "Did she think that much of Hawley ?' muttered the brother, astonished. "I didn't suppose"
 He hastened to bring pitcher of wa ter and bathe the white features, and then set himself to chaing the clenched hands.
 Capt. Luke Pedder was twenty-seven years of age, with an originally light con- plexion, which had reddened with gener- ous living and bronzed with exposure to wind and sun. His form was of average size and height, and his features of the most ordinary type. He was singularly selfish and interruptions, but of gentle manly manners, being we'll educated and used to good society. His ability as nav igator was fair for a man of his age and experience, but he owed his position as commander of fine Australian clipper, more to respect for his late father and to sympathizing favor than to his own mer- it's
 Miss Ruth Pedder was two years young CT 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 outlines, as in her temper, to angularity She was not particularly bright, but she was bold and interruptions, and possessed a fierce en- ergy which was capable of compensating in any emergency for lack of genius.
 The father of thes couple had been a prominent ship-owner and merchant But in his latter days the senior Pedder had been unfortunate, and had finally broken up completely-a result hastened, it was whispered, by the wild ways and fnan- cial irregularities of his son. The old mans's failure had soon been followed by his death, and already-for such is fame he was generally forgotten.
 ''How odd it is p calculated Capt. Ped der, as he rubbed his 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 he senses.
 "Are you sure they're married ?" she demanded.
 Perfectly. I learned the fact half an hour since from Hawley's commander Captain Greggs, you know. Captain Greggs was at the wedding. It took place last Friday evening-the very evening after Hawley's return from his last voy. age to Rio. It was quiet affair. Only few friends were invited. But let me ask you question. Did Hawley evel propose to you?"
 ''No. But expected that he would soon do so. He has been here ofte1 enough"
 ''Yes, he came several times to ask me for berth in my clipper. I promised te think of him at 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 Ped der 'sI thought he'd remember tha mother left me this house and few thou sand dollars to do what pleased with was conscious, too, that possessed l. fair share of personal attractions. Ant as supposed him to be entirely heart free, I took it for granted that should get him. His attentions seemed marked enough" .,-..~E | ssHp treated voII nalitalv of oourSo