The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1872-07-05
s(Igietellalleons.
The Plot Against HaWley
CHAPTER /.

The Plot Against HawleJ
Il CHAPTER 1.
HOW THE PLOT ORIGINATED.
Nesr noon, the 5th of September
1852, a man laboring under gres
: excitement was walking hurriedly u
Broadway, New York. His feature
2 we're flushed and convulsed, his glanC
a es wild and restless, his whole mie
indicative of keen anguish.
: Turning to the right into Blecke
Z street, he soon reached plain thre
$ story and basement brick house, +
> which he gave himself admittance.
; "Are you there, Ruth?' he calle,
. from the hall.
A step was heard overhead, follow
ed by the rustling of dress, and
young lady descended the front stairs
Despite several points of marked
| contrast, there was family hkenes
i about the couple that proclaimed
them to be brother and sister.
"Why, what's the matter, Luke ?
cried the latter, starting at sight o
: the disturbed countenance that me
her view. "Are you i'll 2"
"Pve just received bad news
I replied the brother, leading the way
into the parlor-''news which has Civ
: m ,,,. n tarr;hIo chocko
"Shockedp You! What has hap
+ pened?"
"In a word, Clara Aymar is mar
ried %
"Married!" echoed the sister, re-
coiling, "Clara Aymar married! Il
it possible p
"Yes, married J The girl I've beer
laying siege to for years past-ths
only girl ever cared pin for. I'm
agine the shock this event gives me-
Pm nearly crazy
"Then you really loved her 2"
"Loved her! Unjust have aoorship
ed her, or else this thing would moi
have SO completely upset me-"
"Oh, as to that, the loss of a thing
always gives us an exaggerated no
ton OF its value,' said the sister phil
osophically, as she sank languidly
into an easy chair, and smoothed out q
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 p implored the
brother, sinking heavily into the near
asst chair. "Clsra Aymar is more TO
me than my life! My love for her is
a delirium! It's no such passing
fancy as you suppose, but an everlast-
ing passion-a rage-a flood of mol
ten 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
"No, of course not. She has new
er given me any encouragement
But am none the less surprised.
supposed that everything was favora-
BILE enough to my wishes. 1 knew
that she was still young TO marry
an orphan-without money and with
out friends-presumably without
suitors /; and / flattered myself that
she couldn't always remain insensible
to my attentions.'
"You reasoned wisely enough, of
course, Luxe; but reason never de-
cides these matters" declared the
sister, with o sort of contemptuous
compassion. "a whim-a chance
meeting--a emile or word-a mo-
ment's wednesday, trlfle-these
are the things by which marriages
are brought about. But who is the
bridegroom ?''
"Ah! that's q point that will
touch you a 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, clasping both hands to her heart.
The changing colors Of her brother,
his agitation, his anguish, all passed
to her own features.
"Will. Hawley2'' she gasped.-
Oh, you don't mean il, Luke h'
aBut / do though. It's Gods truth.
Clara Aymar and Will. Hawley are
husband and wife"
A heavy fall succeeded. The sis
ter had tainted. She lay upon the
floor as one dead.
"Did she think that much OF Haw-
lev ?'' muttered the brother aston
ished. 81 didn't suppose
He hastened to bring pitcher OF
water and bathe the white features,
and then set himself to chafing the
clenchcd hands.
j Capt. Luke Pedder was twenty
seven years of age, with an original
" light complexion, which had red
dened with generous living and bronz
ed 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 unscrupulous, but Of gen.
tlemanly manners, being well educa-
ted and used to good society. His
ability as a navigator was fair for q
man of his age and experience, but he
owed his position as commander OF
fine Australian clipper, more to re-
pect for his late father and to spmpa-
ihizing favor than to his own merits.
Miss Ruth Pedder was two years
younger than her brother, and conse-
) quently twenty-five years of age
although she owned to only twenty
! She was tall, thin, and little inclined
! in her temper, to angnlarity. Sh'
! was not particularly bright but sh'
! was bold and unscrupuIous, and pos
sessed fierce energy which was ca
pable of compensating in any emer
gency for lack of genius.
The father of the couple had beel
o prominent ship. owner and merchan
But in his latter days the senior Ped
der had been unfortunate, and hat
Hrally been broken up completely
o result hastencd, 1t was whispered
by the wild ways and finaGcial irreg-
ularities of his sen. The old mans
failure had soon been followed by hi
i ! death, and already--for such is fame
was generally forgotten.
SHOW odd it sr' ejsculated Capt
g Pedder, as he rubbed his sisters col.
9 hands. ",She madly in love witt
3 3 Will. Hawley, and I crazy after Clar
: Aymar! And now Will. and Clsr
], are married, and Ruth and are lei
II out in the cold.''
al Under the vigorous treatment b
: had adopted, Miss Pedder soon reco'
IS cred her senses.
"Are you sure they're married Z
she demanded.
IL "Perfectly. 1 learned the fact ha
an hour since from Hawley's commal
lder--the very evening after Hawley'
return from his last voyage to Rit
: 1t was q qliet affair. Only o fe'
friends were invited. But let me as
! you a question. Did Hawley eve
} propose 10 you2' :,
Is "No. But / expected that b
d would soon do so. He has been her
y often enough"
a "Yes, he came several times to IS
y me for a berth in my clipper.
n n promised to think Of him st the fir!