Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-07-11
THE PLOT AGAINST HAWLEY.
CHAPTER T
HOW THE PLOT ORIGINATED.

HOW THE PLOT ORIGINATED.
Near noon, the 9Th of September, 1852, man
laboring under great excitement was walking
hurredly up Broadway, New York His features
were flushed and convulsed, his glances wild
and restless, his whole mien indicative of keen
anguish.
Turning to the right into Blocker street, he
soon reached plain three-story and basement
brick house, to which he gave himself admit
lance.
Are you there, Ruth p he called from the
hall,
step was heard overhead, followed by the
rustling of 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 coun-
tenance that met her view. Are you i'll p
I've just received bad news, replied the
brother, leading the way into the parlor-news
which has given me a terrible shosk.'
Shocked? You, What has happened?'
In a word, Clara Aymar is married.
Married ! echoed the sister, recoiling. Glars.
Aymar married Is it possible?'
Yes, married the girl We been laying siege
to for years past-the only girl ever cared
pin for Imagine the shock this event gives
me. I'm nearly crazy
Then you really loved her?'
'L0Ued heri I must have aoorshiped her. or
else this thing would not have so completely
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 sank Ian
guldly into an easy chair, and smoothed out
fold in her snowy morning robe. You are
simply shocked, as you say. But by tomorrow
you VIII laugh at the whole matter
Don't, Ruth ! implored the brother, sinking
heavily into the nearest chair. Clara Aymar
is more to me than my life My love for her
is delirium! It's no such passing fancy as
you suppose, but an everlasting passion-a
rage-a flood of molten Laval And I've count
ed all along upon marrying her. True, she h.
rejected me twice, but l thought she'd chan;
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 Isupposed that everything was
favorable enough to my wishes. 1 knew that
she was still young to marry an orphan
without money and without friends-presum-
ably without suitors and 1 fiattered myself
that she couldn't always remain insensible to
my attentions.
You reasoned wisely enough, of course.
Luke but reason never decides these mat
ters,' declared the sister, with sort of con-
temptuous compassion. A Wilma chance
meeting-a smile or word-a moments weak
ness-anv trife-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 Hawlev'
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. Hawley?' she gasped. oh, you don't
mean it, Luke?'
But do though It's Gods truth. Clara
Aynar and VIII. Hawley are 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 I? NUT
tered the brother, astonished 1 didn't sup
pose
He fastened to bring pitcher of water and
Dathe the white features, and then set himself
to chafng the clenched hands
Capt. Luke Pedder was twenty-seven wears
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 unscrupulous, 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-
perlence, but he owed his position as com
mander Of fine Australian clipper more to
respect Tor his late father and to sympathizing
favor than to his own merits.
Miss Ruth Pedder was two years Younger
than her brother, and consequently TWENTY
hve years of age, although she owned to only
twenty. She was tall, thin and little in
clned ID her outlines, as in her temper. to an
gularlty. She was not particularly bright but
she was bold and INSCRIPTIONS and possessed
a fierce energy which was capable of COM
pensating in any emergency for lack of genius
The father of the couple had been promi-
nent shlp-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 is
fame !-he was generally forgotten.
How odd it isl calculated Capt. Pedder, as
he rubbed his sisters cold hands. She
madly in love with WILL Hawley, and I crazy
after Clara Aymar! And now viii. and Clara
are married, and Ruth and 1 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. I learned the fact half an hour
since from Hawley's 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 a quiet affair.
Only few friends were invited But let me
ask you question. Did Hawley ever propose
to your
No. But 1 expected that he would soon do
so. He has been here often enough
Yes he came several times to ask me for
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.
l thought he'd remember that mother left
me his house and few thousand dollars
do as pleased with. I was conscious. too.
that I possessed a fair share of personal at.
fractions. And as l supposed him to be en-
tlrely heart-free. l took it for granted that 1
should get him. HIS attentions seemed marked
enough
He treated you politely, of course, inter
rupted Pedder, and be 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 If Rio shin. he
was away seven-eighths of the time, and I
didn't expect regular courtship. But took
it for granted
Pedder made an impatient gesture.
We've 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 Hawley,s visits here
were merely visits of business and friendship
But why Clara should prefer Hawley to me
can't imagine, added Pedder, drawing himself
up haughtiy. Hawley has neither name. nor
money, nor position!'
Nor can I see why Hawley should prefer
Clara Aymar to me ? said Miss Pedder, as she
glanced at her reflection in one Of the long
mir TO- q Trad al