The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1872-07-12
THE PLOT AGAINST HAWLEY.
CHAPTER 1.
HOW THE PLOT ORIGINATED.

ing hurriedly up Boardway, New lorh: NE
features we're flushed and convulsed, his
chances wild and restless, his whole mien IN
dicatiye of keen anguish.
Turning to the right into Blocker street, ne
soon reached a plain three-story and basement
brick house, to which he gave himself ADMIT
lance.
sAre YOU there, RUTH" he called from the
hall.
A step was heard overhead, followed by the
rustling of q dress, and a young lazy n uesJe of
ed the front stairs. Despite several p0hts OF
marked contrast, there was a family likeness
about the couple that proclaimed them TO DO
brother and sister.
"Wby. what's the matter, Luke?" cried
the latter, starting at sight Of the DISTURBED
countenance that met her view. ARE you
in?"
I've lust received bad news" replied the
brother, leading the way into the parlor-.
.'news which has given me 4 terrible SHOCK
"Shocked? You! What has happened!
sin a word. Clara Aymar is married!
married! I" echoed the sister, recolllng.
':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 a pin for. Imagine the shock this event
gives me. I am nearly crazy
. "Then you really loved herr"
sLoped her! l must have ,oOrshipped her,
or else this thing would not have 30 compieteiy
upset me-"
'"Oh, as to that, the loss of a thing always
gives us an exaggerated notion of its value,
said the sister philosophically, as she SUNK
lapguidIy 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.
"Don t, Ruth |" implored her brother, SINK
ing heavily into the nearest chair. Ciara
Aymar is more to me than my life! My love
for her is a delirium! It's no such passing
fancy as you suppose. but an everlasting pas
sion-a rage-a food of molten lava! And I've
counted all along pom marrying her; True;
she has rejected me twice, but l thought she'd
changed her mind"
"She was in no way committed to u!
"No, Of course not. She has never given me
any encouragement. But / am none the less
surprised. I supposed that everything was
favorable enough to my wishes. l knew that
she was still young to marry-an orphan
| without money and without friends-presum-
ably without suitors /; l fiattered myself that
| she couldn't always remain insensible TO my
attentions"
"You reasoned wisely enough, Of coarse,
Luke; but reason never decides these matters
| declared the sister, with n sort Of contemptu-
| GUS compassion. "A Wilma chance meeting
"a smile or a word-a moments weakness
any ~trife-these are things by which marriages
are brought about. But who is the BRIDE
groom?"
"Ah! that's a point that will touch you a
little, I think. Can't you guess who he is''
81 haven't the least idea"
swell, then, he's Will. Hawley."
The sister sprang abruptly to her feet, clasp
ing both hands to her heart. The changing
| colors of her brother, his agitation, his anguish,
| all passed to her own features.
"Will. Hawley ?" she gasped. "Oh, you
| don't mean it. Luke!"
Aymar and Will. Hawley arc husband and
wife"
A heavy fall succeeded. The sister had
tainted. She lay upon the floor as one dead.
did she think that much Of Hawley 2
muttered the brother, astonished. Il didn't
suppose" ,
He hastened to bring a pitcher of water and
battle 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 complexion.
which had redeemed with generous living and
broHzed with exposure to wind and sun. his
form was of the average size and height, and
his features Of the most ordinary type. He
was smgularly selfish and interruptions, but
Of gentlemAnly manners, being well educated
and used to good society. His ability as a
navigator was fair for a man of his age and ex-
perience, but he owed his position as COM
mander of a fine Australian clipper more to
respect for his late father and to sympathlzing
favor than to his own merits.
Miss Ruth Pedder was two years Younger
than her brother. consequently twenty-five
wears Of age, although she owned to only
twenty. She was tail, thin, and a little inclined
in her outlines, as in her temper. to angularlty.
She was not particularly bright, but che was
bold and INSCRIPTIONS, and possessed a fierce
energy which was capable Of compromising III
any emergency for lack of genius.
Tho fafhar ~ thu connie had been n pr0mi
nent ~ship-owner and merchant. But in his
latter days the senior Pedder had been unfor.
tunate. and had finally been broken up COM
pletely-a result fastened, 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 il
fame!-he was generally forgotten.
How odd it is" CALCULATED Capt. Pedder
as he rubbed his sisters cold hand. 3
madly in love with Will. Hawley, and I crazy
after Clara Aymar! And now Will. and Glars
are married, and Ruth and l are left out in the
cold"
Under the vigorous treatment he had adopt
cd, Miss Pedder soon recovered her senses.
Are you sure they're married ?" she de-
manded.
Perfectly. learned the fact half an hour
since from Hawley's commander - Captain
Greggs, you know. Captain Greggs was al
the wedding. 1t took place last Friday even
Ah6-th0 NCiy CNSuiub dttcE IidWIcy o IctuIL
from his last voyage to Rio. 1t was a quieI
affair. Only q few friends were invited. But
let me ask You a question. Did Hawley evel
propose to you 2"
mo. But / expected that he would soon dc
80. He has been here often enough"
"Yes, he came several times to ask me fol
a berth in my clipper. l promised to think OF
him at the first opening, and 1 really meant tc
help him, for I knew in a general way that you
liked him"
81 thought he'd realize that you could be O.
service to hun" explained Miss Pedder. 81
thought he'd remember that mother. left me
this house and a few thousand dollars to do az
1 pleased with. l was conscious, too, that ]
possessed o fair share of personal attractions.
And as l supposed him to be entirely heart.
free, l took it for granted that l should GET
him. His attentions seemed marked enough
"He treated you politely, Of course" inter.
mpted Pedder, and he couldn't have well
done less, after asking me to befriend him,
But he never made any formal declaration 2"
"No, he didn't. As mate of a RIO ship, he
was away seven-eighths of the time, and 1 didn'i
expect a regular c%ourtship. But I took it fol
granted"
Pedder made an impatient gesture.
We've deceived ourselves" he muttered.
We've been carried away by our feelings.
The girls rejection of me was really intended
to be final. and Hawley's visits here were mere
ly visits of business and friendship. But, why
Clara should prefer Hawley to me l cant
imagine" added Pedder, drawing himself up
haughtily. "Hawley has neither name. nor
money, nor position!"
Nor can 1 see why Hawley should prefer
Clara Aymar to mel" said Miss Pedder, as she
| glanced at her reflection in one of the long
mirrors near her. "She's a hired attendant,
or something of that kind the creature"
I'D 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.
~ thought all the world of him" she MUIR
INJURED.
A long silence fell between the couple.
swell, well, they're husband and wife" at
length muttered pedder hoarsaly. sAnd