Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1872-07-12
THE PLOT AGAINST HAWLEY.
CHAPTER I.
HOW THE PLOT oR1aTNATEp

features we're flushed and eonvulsed, his
glances wild and restless, his whole mien'in-
dicative of keen anguish. ars.ps e.sr..-,ze ,cr
Turning to the right into Blocker street, he
soon reached plain three-story and basement
brick house, to which he gave himself admit
lance. =. ia II
ssAre you there, Ruth?'' he called from the
hail.. > gJE Aa EasEl9f@l is - Ls9'
A step was heard overhead, followed by the
r1stling of dress and young lady descend
ed the front stairs. Despite several points OF
marked contrast, there was family likeness
about the couple that proclaimed them TO be
brother and sister.
"Why, what's the matter, Luke?" cried
the latter, starting at sight of the disturbed
countenance that met her view. Are you
ill2"
tive Just received bad news" replied the
brother, leading the way into the parlor-
news which has given me terrible shock:
"Shocked? You! What has happened
SIN word, Clara Aymar is married."
married." echoed the sister, recolling-
s:Clara Aymar married.! Is it possible ?"
eyes, married! the girl I've been laying
siege to for years past the only girl ever
cared pin for. Imagine the shock this event
gives me. | am nearly crazy" ..u,r. ..zs
"Then you really loved herr"
t'LoUed her! must have aoo''shlpped her,
or else this thing would not have so completely
upset me-"
"Oh, as to that the loss of thing always
gives us an exaggerated notion oil its value"
said the sister philosophieally, as she sunk
languidly into an easy chair, and smoothed out
fold in her snowy morning robe "1ou are
simply shocked, as you say. But by tomorrow
you will laugh at the whole matter" a.ts ......
"Don t, Ruth - implored her brother, sink
ing heavily into the nearest chair !" Clara
Aynar is more to me than my life! My love
for her is delrium! It's no such passing
fancy as you suppose. but an everlasting pas
a I g. Ia 1sro AT16T q
counted all along upon marrying her True,
she has rejected me twice, but thought, she'd
changed her mind"
"She was in no way committed to you?"
"No, of course not. She has never given me
any encouragement. But / am none the less
surprised. 1 supposed that everything was
favorable enough to my wishes [ knew that
she was still young to marry-an orphan
without money and without friends-presum-
ably without suitors [ fattered myself that
she couldn't always remain insenslble to my
attentions" .tt& -.sF='. q. .s-t
"You reasoned wisely enough of course,
Luke; butreason never decides these matters"
declared the sister, with sort of contemptu-
GUS compassion. GA Wilma chance meeting
"a smile or word-a moments weakness
any trife these are things by which marriages
arc brought about. But who is the BRIDE
groom?" ........- . g.. .. 4......
"Ah! that's point that will touch you
little, ! think. Can't you guess who he is p
81 haven't the least idea"
"Well, 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. ~
CIVIL Hawley?" she gasped. ooh, you
don't mean it, Luke" .1e y, ~ ~ I'D
''But + do though It's Gods truth. Clara
Aymar and Will. Hawley are husband and
wife" +-N Fft .s-
co1 oIo1 Otn ho1
tainted. She lay upon the floor as one dead.
did she think that much of HaWley?"
muttered the brother, astonished. . didn't
suppose"
He fastened to bring pitcher of water and
battle the white features, and then set himself
to chatting the cenched hands.
Capt. Luke Pedder was twenty-seven years
of age, with an originally light complexion,
which had redeemed with generous living and
bronzed 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 slngularly selfish and interruptions, but
of gentlemanly manners, being well educated
and used to good society. His ability as
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 sympathizing
favor than to his own merits. ......
Miss Ruth Pedder was two years younger
than her brother 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 angular1ty.
She was not particularly bright, but she was
bold and INSCRIPTIONS, and possessed fierce
energy which was capable of compensating in
any emergency for lack of genius. 4a.s
The father of the couple had been prom
nent ship-owner and merchant. But in his
latter days the senior Pedder had been unfor-
tunate. and had finally been broken up COM
cxraio, o1,o1
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 hand. "She
madly in love with Will. Hawley, and crazy
after Clara Aymar! And now Will. and Clara
are married. and Ruth and are left out in the
cold" 1883 = '..'. '
Under the vigorous treatment he had adopt
ed, Miss Pedder soon recovered her senses.
Are you sure they're married ?" she de-
Perfectly. I 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 even
ing-the very evening after Hawleys return
from his last voyage to Rio. It was quiet
affair. Only few friends were invited. But
let me ask you a question. Did Hawley ever
mo. But expected that he would soon do
so. He has been here often enough"
''Yes, he came several times to ask me for
a berth in my clipper. promised to think of
him at the first opening, and really meant to
help him, for 1 knew in a general way that you
liked him." "
Il 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 few thousand dollars to do as |
pleased with. was conscious, too, that 1,
possessed a fair share of personal attractions. |
And as [ supposed him to be entirely heart
free, took it for granted that l 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 me to befriend him.
But he never made any formal declaration p
''No, he didn't. AS mate of a Rio ship. he
was away seven-eighths of the time, ard didn't |
expect regular courtship.. But l took it for
granted"
Pedder made an impatient gesture.
We've deceived ourselves, he nuttered. |
4" 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 1 can't
imagine" added Pedder, drawing himself up
haughtily. "Hawley has neither name, nor
money, nor position!"
.sNor can I see why Hawley should prefer
CIdId AyuldT To me! SaiO MISS 16QO0f, as she |
glanced at her reflection in one of the long
mirrors near her. ''Shes 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. --..a. F.
81 thought all the world of him." she muir
INJURED.
A long silence fell between the couple
"Well, well, they're husband and wife," at