The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1872-07-12
The Plot Against HawIoy.
CHAPTER I.
now THE PLOT ORIGINATED.

anguish.
Turning to the right into Blocker street, he
soon reached a pain three story and basement !
brick house, to which he gave himself admit
tance.
care you there, Ruth ?" he called from the
hall.
A step was heard overhead. followed by the
rust1ing of a dress, and young lady descended
the front stairs. Despite several points OF
marked contrast, there was a 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 counte-
nance that met her view care you i'll ?"
"Pyo just received bad news replied the
brother, leading the way into the parlor-''news
which has given me terrible shock"
Shocked? You! What has haPpencd?"
{" In a word, Clara Aynar is married."
married." echoed the sister, recoiling.
" Clara AyInar married. Is it possible p
''Yes, married. the 81 J Pvo boen laying siege
to for years 2tst-thc only girl ever c., i Z
pin for Imagine the shock this event gives nc.
I'm nearly crazy"
"Then you really loved hsr?"
"LOUed herl I must have l0orshiPped her, or
else this thing would not have so completely
upset me-"
sob. as to that, the loss of thing always
gives us an exaggerated notion of its val1o,'
said the sister philosophically, as she sank Ian
guidly into an easy chair, and smoothcd out
fold in her SNOWY morning robe. g You are
simply shocked, as you say. But by tomorrow
you will laugh at the whole matter"
''Don't Ruth !" implcred the brother, sinking
heavily into the nearest chair. Clara Aymar
is more to me than my lifeI My love for her is
a delirium It's no such passing fancy as you
suppose, but an everlasting passion-a rage-a
food of molten lava And I've counted all along
upon marrying her. True, she has rejected me
twice, but thought she'd change her mind"
She was in no way committed to your"
g No, of course not. She has never given me
any encouragement. But ! am none the less
surprised. l supposed that everything was
favorable enough to my wishes. 1 knew that
she was still young to maTTy-an orphan-with-
out money and without friends presumably
without suitOrs and 1 iattercd myself that
she couldn't always remain msensible to my
attentions"
''You reasoned wisely enough, Of course,
Luke but reason never decides these matters"
declared the sister, with sort of cOntemptuoUs
compassion. A wilma chance meetng-a
smile or q Word-a moments wednesday,
trihe-these are the things by which marriages
are brought about. But who is the bride
"AhI that's a point that Will touch you
little, I think. Can't you guess who he isl"
81 haven't the least idea"
1" Well, then, he's VIII. Hawley."
Tho 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.
VIII. Hawley2" she gasped. sob, you don't
mean it, Luke I"
sBut do though. It's Gods truth. Clara
| Aymar and VIII. Hawley are husband and
| wife"
A heavy fall succeeded. The sister had faint
! ed. She lay upon the floor as one dead.
did she think that much Of Hawley 2" NUT
! tered the brother, astonlshed. 1 didn't sup
| pose"
He hastened to bring pitcher of water and
battle the white features, and then set himself
! to chatting the clenchcd hands.
Capt. Luke Peddcr 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 tyre. He was slnguiarly
! selfish and unscrupulCuS, but of gCntlemanly
| manners, being well educated and used to good
! society. His ability as n navigator was fair for
| man of his age and experience but ne owed
| his position as commander of fine Australian
| clipper, more to respect for his late father and
| to sympathizing favor than to his own merits.
! Miss Ruth Pedder was years younger than
| her brother, and consequently twenty-five years
| of age, although she owned to only twenty. She
| was tall, thin, and little inclined in her out
| lines, as in her temper, to angularity. She was
| not particularly bright, but she was bold ane
INSCRIPTIONS, and possessed a fierce energy
which was capable of compromising in an'
| emergency for lack of genius.
The father of the couple had been prominenS
| ship-owner and merchant. But in his latter
| DAYS the senior Pedder had been unfortunate
and had finally been broken up completely
result hastened, it was whispered, by the Wilo
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
/ I1,yF
How odd it is /" calculated Capt Pedder, az
he rubbed his sisters cold hands. " She madly
in love with VIII. HawIey, and crazy after
clara AymarI And now VIII. and Clara are
married, and Ruth and are left out In the
cold"
Under the vigorous treatment he had adopted
Miss Pedder soon recovered her senses.
care you sure they're married 2" she de-
manded.
Perfectly. LEARNED the fact half an hou
since from Hawley's cOmmander-Captair
wedding. It took place last Friday evening
the very evening after Hawley's return from bis
last voyage to Rio. 1t was quiet affair. Only q
few friends were invited. But let me ask you
p question. Did Hawley ever propose to you 2'
50 No. But I expected that he would soon dc
so. He has been here often enough"
eyes, he came several times to ask me for 8
berth IN my clipper. 1 promised to think Of
him at the first opening, and really meant tC
help him, for knew in general way that you
liked him."
ssI thought he'd realize that you could be Of
service to him, explained Miss Pedder. &C.
thought he'd remember that mother left me
this house and few thousand dollars to do az
pleased with. | was conscious, too, that
: possessed fair share of personal attractions
And as supposed him to be entirely heart-free
I took it for granted that 1 should get him. His
attentions seemed marked enough"
she treated you politely, of course" inter
rupted Fodder, land he couldn't have vel
done less, after asking me to befriend him
But he never made any formal declaration?"
''No, he didn't. AS mate Of Rio ship, be
was away seven-eighths of the time, and did
MT expect regular courtship. But took il
for granted"
Pedder made an impatient gesture.
"We've deceived ourselves" he muttered
"We'Ye been carried away by our feelings
The girls rejection of me was really intended
to be final, and Hawley's visits here were mere
" visits Of business and friendship. But whJ
Clara should prefer Hawley to me can't mag
inc" added Pedder, drawing himself NJ
haughtly. "Hawley has neither name, mol
So Nor can see why Hawley should prefer
Clara Aymar TO me :" 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"
ED no idea that you thought so much Of
Hawley," observed the brother, as he strOve tC
calm his painful emotions.
Miss Pedder mOaned Her eyes filed witt
! tears.
al thought all the world of him." she muir
INJURED.
A long silence fell between the couple.
"Well, well, they're husband and wife," al
langth muttered Pedder hOarsely. "And this
I suppose, is all there is to be said"
Miss Fodder compressed her lips until they
f. bIed, staring at her brother with fXednesl
amounting to ferOeity.
RNol mol" she breathed fiercely. "Tht
matter shall not end here. That marriage
that abOminable marriage"
She clutched at her heart again, as if sufFO
eating.
Pedder opened his eyes widely.
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