The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-07-05
THE PLOT AGAINST uAwLEy.
CHAPTER /.
HOW THE PLOT ORIGINATED.

keen anguish.
Turning to the right into Bleecker
street, he soon reached a plain three
story and basement brick house, to
which he gave himself admittance.
"Are you there, Ruth ?" he called
from the hall.
A step was heard overhead, followed
by the rustling of a dress, and young
lady descended the front stairs. De.
spite several points of marked contrast,
there was q family likeness about the
couple that proclaimed them to be broth.
er and sister.
why, what's the matter, Luke ?n
cried the latter, Starting at sight of the
disturbed countenance that met her
view. Are you ill?n
i've just received bad news" replied
the brother, leading the way into the
parlor-'news which has given me a
terrible shock"
shocked? You! What has happen.
ed?"
ain word, Clara Aymar is mar
ried"
"Marriedw echoed the sister, rccoil.
Ing. CLARA Aymar married! Is IL posi-
BILE ?"
"Yos married the girl I've been lay.
ing siege to for years past-the only
girl | ever cared pin for. Imagine the
shock this event gives me. Pm nearly
crazy"
"Then you really loved her ?n
"Loved her must have worshipped
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 philosophical
ly, as she sank languidly into an easy
chair, and smoothed out fold in her
snowy morning robe. "You are simply
shocked, as you say. But by tomorrow
youwil laugh at the whole matter.n
"Dun' Ruth !"implored the brother,
sinking heavily into the nearest chair.
f'Cara Aymar is more to me than my
life! Ny love for her is a delirium It's
no such passing fancy as you suppose,
but an everlasting passion-a rage-a
Hood Ofmolten lava! And I've counted
all along upon marrying her. True, she
has rejected me twice, but l thought
she'd change her mind"
'She was in no way committed TO
you ?"
mo, of course not. She has never
given me any encouragement. But /
am none the less surprised. / supposed
that everything was favorable enough
young to marry-an orphan-without
money and without friends-presuma-
bly, without suitors and flattered my
selfthat she couldn't always remain in
sensible to my attentions"
"Hou reasoned wisely enough, OF
course, Luke; but reason never decides
these matters" declared the sister,
with sort of contemptuous compass.
sion. "A Whim-a chance meeting-a
smile or word-a moments weakness
any trifle-these are the things by
which marriages are brought about.
But who is the bridegroom ?o
'Ah! that's a point that will touch
you little. l think. Can't you guess
who he is?"
II 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 colors of her brother, his agi-
tation, his anguish, all passed to her
own features.
"Will. Hawley ?" she gasped. "Oh,
you don't mean it, Luke %
"But 1 do though. It's Gods truth.
Clara Aymar and Will. Hawley are
husband and WIFE"
A heavy fall succeeded. The sister
had tainted. She lay upon the floor as
one dead.
ibid she think that much of Haw-
ley?" muttered the brother, astonished.
81 didn't suppose"
He fastened to bring a pitcher of wa.
ter and bathe the white features, and
then set himselfto to chatting the clenched
hands.
Capt. Luke Pedder was twenty.seven
years of age, with an originally light
complexion, which had Redeemed with
generous living and bronzed with ex-
pOsure to wind and sun. His form was
of the average size and height, and his
features 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 man
OF his age and experience, but he owed
his position as commander of a fine
Australian clipper, more to respect for
his late1atherand to sympathizing favor
than to his own merits.
Miss Ruth Pedder was two wears
younger than her brother, and conse.
quently twenty-five years of age, al
though she owned to only twenty. She
was tall, thin, and little inclined in
her outlines, as in her temper, to an.
gularity. She was not particularly
bright, but she was bold and unscrupu-
lOus, and possessed a fierce energy which
was capable of compensating in any
emergency for lack of genius.
The father of the couple had been a
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 !" calculated Capt.
Pedder, as he rubbed his sisters cold
hands. ",She madly in love with Will.
IlaWlsy,and | crazy after Clara Aymar
And now VIII. and Clara are married,
and Ruth and / are left out in the
cold"
Under the vigorous treatment he had
adopted, Miss Peddcr soon recovered
her senses.
"Are you sure they're married ?" she
demanded
Perfectly. l learned the fact half an
hour since from Hawley's commander
captain Greggs, you know. Captain
Greggs was at the wedding. 1t took
place last Friday evening-the very
evening after Hawley's return from his
last voyage to Rio. Itwas a quiet affair.
Only few friends were invited. But
let me ask you a question. Did Hawley
ever propose to you?'
"No: But l expected that he would
soon do so. He has been here often
enough
"Yes, he came several times to ask
me for berth in my clipper. Ipromis.
ed to think of him at the first opening,
ana really meant to help him, for
knew IN general way that you liked
81 thought he'd realize that you could
be of service to him." explained Miss
Pedder. 81 thought he'd remember
that mother left me this house and a
few thousand dollars to do as pleased
with. | was conscious, too, that pos
sessed a fair share of personal attrac-
tions. And as l supposed him to be en-
tirely heart free, | took it for granted
that L should get him. His attentions
seemed marked enough"
HE treated you politely, of course. -