The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1872-07-04
The Plot Against HawIey.
CHAPTER L.
HOW THE PLOT ORIGINATED.

house, to which he gave himself ad-
mittance.
care you there, Ruth ?" he called
from the hall.
A step was heard overhead, fol-
lowed by the rustling ofa dress, and
a young lady descended the front
stairs. Despite several points of
marked contrast, there was a fami-
ly 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 countenance that met
her view. care you i'll ?"
give just received bad news"
replied the brother, leading the
way into the parlor-"news which
has given me terrible shock"
"Shocked? You! What has
happened ?"
In a word, Clara Aymar is
married !"
"Married 7" echoed the sister, re-
coiling. "Clara Aymar married
Is it possible ?'
ayes, married the girl I've been
laying siege to for years past-the
only girl 1 ever cared a pin for.
Imagine the shock this event gives
me. I'm nearly crazy"
"Then you really loved her ?"
"LOred her! 1 must have q0or-
SHIPPED 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 no.
ton of it's value" said the sister
philosophically, as she sank Ian
guidly into an easy chair, and
smOothed out fold in her snowy
morning robe. "You are simply
shocked, as you say. But by to-
morrow you will 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 a delirium It's no such
passing fancy as you suppose, but
an everlasting passion-a rage-a
flood of molten Laval And I've
counted all along upon marrying
her. True, she has rejected me
twice, but 1 thought she'd change
her mind"
"She was in no way committed to
you ?"
"No, of course not. She has new
er given me any encouragement.
But L am none the less surprised.
supposed that everything was fav-
orable enough to my wishes. /
knew that she was still young to
marry-an orphan--without money
and without friends-presumably
without suitors; and L fiattered N.Y.
self that she couldn't always remain
insensible to my attentions"
"You reasoned wisely enough, OF
course, Luke but reason never de-
cides these Matters declared the
sister, with a sort of contemptuous
compassion. ga Wilma chance
meeting-a smile or word-a
moments Wednesday, trife-
these are the things by which mar.
riages are brought about. But who
is the bridegroom ?"
"Ah! that's point that will
touch you a little, 1 think. Can't
you guess who he is?"
81 haven't the least idea"
"WelI, then, he's Will. HawIey."
The sister sprang abruptly to hel
feet, clasping both hands to hel
heart. The changing colors of hel
brother, his agitation, his anguish
all passed to her own features.
"WiIl. Hawley ?" she gasped
"Oh, you don't mean it, Luke !"
"But L do though. It's God'
truth. Clara Aymar and VIII
Hawley are husband and Wife"
A heavy fall succeeded. The sis
ter had tainted. She lay upon tn,
floor as one dead.
"Did she think that much o
Hawley ?" muttered the brother
astonished. 81 didn't suppose
He fastened to bring pitcher o
water and bathe the white features
and then set himself to chatting tn,
clenched hands.
| Capt. Luke Pedder was twenty
seven years of age, with an original
| ly light complexion, which had red
dened with generous living ant
bronzed with exposure to wind ant
sun. His form was of the averag
size aud height, and his features Q
the most ordinary type. He wa
singularly selfish and unscrupulou;
but of gentlemanly manners, bein
we'll educated and used to good Sc
ciety. His ability as navigate
was fair for a man of his age an
experience, but he owed his pOsitio
as Commander of a fine Australia
} clipper, more to respect for his lat
father and to Sympathizing fave