Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-07-11
Pedder onened bis eyes widely

WOuluH L nave ule Huruor hhWIey, suppose
That wouldn't make him your husband. And
on the other hand, it wouldn't do me any good
if you we're to kill Clara Aymar.'
But there is a way, Luke, of undoing thai
marriage
Pedder started toward his sister, as if elee-
trifed.
DO you mean it p he demanded.
1 mean it. and I swear it! I'll never con.
sent to that girls having Hawley! I'll dig 8
gulf between them as broad as the ocean
I'll undo that marriage, or die
Softly Where is Kate?'
He referred to their single servant.
She's out for the day, answered Miss Ped
der, arising and planting herself in chair.
There was little to do, you know, as did not
expect you home until dinner
Then no one will hear u.s.
He drew chair nearer to that of his sister
and sat down beside her.
What's your idea ? he asked in a whisper
My idea is to separate them; to turn their
love to hate; to dig pit beneath their feet
that will remain open forever!'
But how p
Will. Hawley is poor, isn't he p
Certainly; there is no mistake about that.
His mother was helpless invalid for the last
ten years of her life. and Will. insisted on her
using for her comfort every penny he earned.
1t hasn't been six months since he was relieved
of that burden. He's poor, therefore, as you
say-poor as jobs turkey!'
Then he'll have to leave his darling Clara,
sneered Miss Pedder venemously. "He'll
have to absent himself from his deary in order
to earn their mutual bread and butter. In
short; he'll have to go to sea again p
Well, yes; 1 suppose he will assented
Pedder. He can get better wages at sea
than elsewhere. He'll sail again soon, no
doubt
1 thought as much. And the sea is full of
to,, Ia 10
Australia p
In about two weeks-possibly, in ten days,
as the ship s filling up rapidly
Hawley is thoroughly competent to be your
first mate?
Pedder looked wonderingly at his sister a
moment, and then answered
Of course. know of no better man for the
post
He must be your first mate, then You have
influence enough with your owners, hope, to
turn out the present incumbent p
Why, the post is already vacant. Mr.. Jar
ding-you have seen him-Mr. Jarding has
just been called home suddenly to Ohio, on
account of his fathers illness
Good That's fortunate. You must rec
ommend Hawley for the vacant place to your
owners, and get them to engage him. The
thing can be done?'
Without the least doubt 1t was under
stood, you know, as l Just now remarked
that was to help Hawley at the first oppor-
tunity. Well accordingly suppose that he
sails with me as first mate the next voyage.
What them
You must leave him-not dead. but pris-
oner-on some desert island between here and
Australia
Pedder looked his astonishment.
II 1t can be done, he said, after a pause,
what next?
You must come back and report that he is
dead furnishing full details and good proofs.
lhose details and proofs will not be difficult
ness and sympath y to the young widow, as she
VIII suppose hers elf to be, and in less than a
year thereafter sihe will be your wife,
On, If this thing were possible = sighed
Pedder, beginning to look relieved
PoSslotey It's as simple as kissing. And
the moment YOU are married to Clara. will
take trip to Australia for NV health. and
naturally enough, stumble upon the very isl
and where you have left Hawley effect his
rescue; tell him his wife is dead condole and
sympathize with him like an angel; and con-
clude the whole comedy by becoming lis wife
and settling in Australia. You'll thus have
your Clara, on this side of the ocean, and
shall be happy with Hawlev on the other
she was smiling now, with every sign of an
ticipated triumph
AS to Pedder, he twisted nervouslv in his
chair. scarcely venturing to breathe
There's just one difficulty, he muttered-
that of getting Hawley on the desert island
without his suspecting anything
1t can be done, and the lips of Miss Ped
der came together like the Jaws of wise
There's no difficulty about finding a suitable
sland?'
Not the least. l saw the island in my minds
eye the moment you uttered the word, and
glorious one it Is for our purpose
II VIII be easy for you to get Hawley upon
It, suggested Miss Pedder thoughtfully. If
It g near your route, you can call there for
water. 1t ITS out OF your way, you can be
blown there by adverse winds, or be drifted
there by unknown currents, or fetch up there
by mistake IN your reckoning or a fault in
your chronometer And once there YOU can
have Hawley seized by some trusty agent,
while he Is ashore upon business, or you can
send MIN ashore under some pretense, such as
looking for deserter from the ship or for
shlpwrecked sailor, and then sail away without
him
Say no more, interrupted Pedder, with wild
exultation. I see how to manage the affair
from its beginning to its end
And you now see that we can undo that
hateful marriage?'
Perfectly perfectly The affair will require
a little time and patience, OF course, and a
little expenditure of money. but we are sure to
triumph. Capital glorious! What load Won
d
you are!
He leaped to his feet and began pacing to and
fro rapidly, with the most extraYagant signs
and EXPLANATIONS of joy.
First to get Hawley on his island resumed
Miss Pedder musingly. Next for you to marry
the pretended widow Then for me to rescue
the prisoner and marry him. And finally for
you and me to be happy, you in your way and
L IN mlne-vou with Clara in New York. and
with Will. In Australia. You comprehend the
whole project clearly?'
From the first step to the last. There's only
just one possibility of failure
And that one?'
"A refusal on Hawley's part to accept the
post offered him-a refusal based upon his
marriage
Miss Pedder turned pale at the thought
Bot he won't refuse, she soon declared, re-
covering her equanimity. He has long been
wanting just such place. Married or single,
be can't neglect his bread and butter
Well said, Ruth. l think we can count
upon him. The post he came here to ask me
for Is now vacant, and will accordingly have
it offered to him, just as if nothing had hap
pened.'
Exactly. You needn't speak of his mar
mage, or seem to know anything about it. You
can simply offer him the post in question, in
accordance with the old understanding. And
he will accept 1t. He can't possibly have any
of anything wrong Outwardly and
apparently We are all on good terms with one
another, and will remain SO. Let the wages
offered him be liberal. Possibly he NAV oiect
to leaving his young bride so soon, but the
next voyage after this one
Pedder interrupted the remark by gesture
of lmpatience. He was all eagerness now-all
That next voyage after this one will not an
swer.' he declared Hawley shall accompany
me ON my very next trip To make all sure on
this point, will have him engaged this very