The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-07-12
THE PLOT AGAINST HAwLEY.
CHAPTER l.
tIIhI FIT II
HOW THE PLOT ORIGINATED.

Near noon. the 5th OF September, 1852, a man
laboring under great excitement was walking
hurriedly up Broadway, New York. His features
were flushed and convulsed, his glances Wild
and restless, his whole mien indicative OF Keen
anguish. !.
soon reached plain three-story and basement
brick house. TO which he gave himself admit
lance.
Are YOU there, Ruth 2 he called from the
hall
rustling of dress, and young lady descended
tbe front stairs Despite several points OF
marked contrast, there was family likeness
about the couple that proclaimed them TO be
brother and sister.
sWhy. what's the matter. LukeT cried the
latter. starting at sight of the disturbed coun-
tenance that met her view: Are you Ill
sTye lust received bad news, replied the
brother. leading the way into the parlor-'news
which has given me a terrible shock.
shocked? You! What has happenedT
In word, Clara Aymar is married!
Married echoed the sister, recoiling. Clara
Aymar married Is il possibleT
Yes, married the girl We been laying siege
pin foT Imagine the shock this event gives
me. Nm nearly crazy.
Then YOU really loved her!
sLoped her! | must have ,oorshiped her, or
else this thing would not have so completely
upset me-
oh, as to that, the loss of thing always
gives lis an exaggerated notion of its value,
said the sister phlosophically, AZ she sank lam
guidlv into an easy chair, and smoothed out a
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 !! mplored the brother, sinking
heavily into the nearest chair. Clara Aymar
l. TO, fha tfa Nv low for h.ar
is derium! It's no such passing fancy as
you suppose, but an everlasting passion--a
rage-a flood of molten lava And I've count
ed 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 p
No OF course not. She has never given
me any encouragement But l am none the
less surprised Isupposed 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 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
tiers. declared the sister with a sort of con-
temptuous compassion. A Wilma chance
meetng-a smile or a word-a moments weak
ness-any trifle-these are the things by which
marriages are brought about. But who is the
bridegroom 2
All that's point that will touch you
little, think. Can't you guess who he is 2
/ 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 an
guish all passed to her own features
Will HawleyG she gasped. Oh, you don't
mean it, Luke 2
But 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 az one dead.
Did she think that much of Hawley !? NUT
tered the brother, astonished. didn't sup
pose
He fastened to bring pitcher of water and
battle the white features. and then set himself
to chatting the clenched hands.
Capt. Luke Pedder was twenty-seven year !
of age. with an originally light complexion.
which had redeemed with generous living and
bronzed with exposure to wind and sum- His
form was of the average size and height, and
his features of the most ordinary type. He
was singularly selfish and INSCRIPTIONS, but
of gentlemanlo manners being well educated
and used TO good society. His ability as a
navigator was fair for man of his age and eX-
peIience, but he owed his position a. com
mander Of fine Australian clipper. more to
respect for his late father aud to sympathizing
favor than to his own merits.
Miss 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 in
clined III her outlines, as in her temper, to an
gularity. She was not particularly bright but
she was bold and INSCRIPTIONS, and possessed
fierce energy which was capable of COM
pensating in any emergency for lack of genius.
The father of the couple had been promi-
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,
10y the wild ways and financial Irregularities of
his son. The old man 5 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, a.
he rubbed his sisters cold hands. She
madly in love with Will. Hawley, and 1 crazy
after Clara Aymarl And now Will. and Clara
are married, and Ruth and l 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. / learned the fact half an hour
since from Hawleys Communications.
Greggs. you know. Capt. Greggs was at the
wedding. 1t took place last Friday evening
the very evening after Hawley's return from
his last voyage to Rio. 1t was quiet affair.
Only few friends were invited. But let me
ask YOU question. Did Hawley ever propose
10 you''
No But expected that he would soon do
70. 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 knew in general way that you
liked him.
| thought he'd realize that you could be
Of service to him, explained Miss Pedder.
/ thought he'd remember that mother left
me his house and few thousand dollars { O
do as / pleased with. / was conscious, too,
that l possessed a fair share of personal at
fractions. And as / supposed him to be en-
tirely 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 me to befriend him.
But he never made any formal declaration?
No. he didn't. AS mate Ct a Rio ship, he
was away seven-eighths of the time. and
didn't expect regular courtship. But took
"a granted
Pedder made an impatient gesture.
We We deceived ourselves he NUT
tered. We've been carried away bv our
feelings. The girls rejection of me was really
Intended to be final, and Hawleys visits here
were merely visits Of business and friendship
But why Clara should prefer Hawley TO me
cart inaOne' added Pedder drawing himsels