Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-07-03
The Plot Against Hawley.
HAPPIER /.
HOW TIE PLOT ORIGINATED

His features were flushed and convu lsed, his
glance wild and restless, his whole mien in
dicative of keen anguish.
Turning to the right into Blocker street,
he soon reached plain three story and base
ment brick house, to which he gave himself
admittance.
:" Are you there, Ruth =? " he called from
the hall.
A step was heard overhead, followed by
the rustling of a dress, and a young lady de-
scended the front stairs. Despite several
points of marked contrast, there was fam
lily 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. Are you
iH?"
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 -"
lin word, Clara Aymar is married y
- Married - echoed the sister. recoiIing.
4" Clara Aymar married Is il possible ? "
&" Yes, married the girl we been laying
seige to for years past-the only girl ever
cared a pin for Imagine the shock this
event gives me. I'm nearly crazy"
- hen you really loved her ? -
" Loved her | must have l0OrshiPDed her,
or else this thing would not have so com
pletely upset me-"
On, as to that, the loss of a thing always
gives US an exaggerated notion Of It's value,
said the sister philosophically, as she sank
languidly into an easy chair, and smoothed
out 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 implored the brother,
sinking heavily into the nearest chair.
" Clara Aymar il more to me than my life ,
My love for her is a delirium It's no such
passing fancy as you suppose, but an ever
lasting passion-s rage-a flood OF molten
lava And I've counted all along upon mar
rying her True, she has rejected me twice,
but L thought she'd change her mind
- She was in no way committed TO you
No, of course not. She has never given
me any encouragement. But l am none the
| less surprised. / supposed that everything
was favorable enough to my wishes. l knew
that she was still young TO marry-an or
phan-without money and without friends
presumably without suitors; and FILTERED
myself that she could nj always remain IN
sensible to my attentions.
@ You reasoned wisely enough, of course,
Luke; but reason never decides these mat
ters,' declared the sister, with sort OF
contemptuous compassion. g A wilma
chance meetings. smile or a wOrd-a mo-
ment's wednesday, trihe-these are the
things by which marriages are brought about
| But who il the bridegroom
All that's point that viii touch you
little, think. Can't you guess who he
ls?"
:" l haven't the least idea
Well, then, he's Will Hayley.
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 Hswley " she gasped. - Oh, you
don't mean it Luke .
But | do though It's Gods truth
Clara Aymar and VIII Hawley are husband
and wife
A heavy fall succeeded. The sister had
tainted. She lay upon the floor one dead.
" Did she think that much Of Hawley -
muttered the brother, astonlshed. a. didn
suppose"
lie FASTENED TO bring pitcher Of water
and battle the white features, and then set
himself to chafny the clenched hands
Capt. Luke Pedder was twenty seven years
of age, with an originally light complexion,
which had Redeemed with generous living
and bronzed with exposure t. wind and sun
His form was of the average size and height,
and his features Of the most ordinary type.
He was singuarlY selfish and INSCRIPTIONS ,
but of gentlemanly manners, being well
educated and used TO good society. HIS
ability as a navigator was fair for d man OF
MS age and experience, but he owed his
position as commander Of a fine Australian
clipper, more TO respect to his ate father
and 10 sympathlzing favor than to his own
merits.
Miss Ruth Pedder was two years younger
than her brother, and consequently twenty
FIVE years Of age, although SIC owned TO
only twenty. She was tall, thin, and a
little inclined in her outlines, as in her te m
per, to angularIty. She was not particularly
bright, but she was bold and INSCRIPTIONS,
and possessed a fierce energy which was
capable Of compensating in any emergency
for lack of genius.
The father Of the couple had been a pr0mi-
nent ship owner and mer chant. But IN his
latter days the senior Pedder had been IN
fortunate, and had finally been broken up
completely-a result fastened il was wills
pered, by the wild ways and financial irregu-
| larities Of his son. The old mans failure
had soon been followed by his death, and
already-lors such Is fame he was generally
forgotten.
" How odd it Is > CALCULATED Capt Ped
| der. as be rubbed his sisters cold hands
= She madly in love with viii Hawley, and
| crazy after Clara Aymer And now Will
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.
Are you sure they're married =? y she
demanded.
Perfectly. l learned the fact half an
hour since from Hawley's commander
Captain Greggs, you know. Captain Greggs
was at the wedding. 1t took place last FRI
day evening-the very evening alter Hawley +
return from his last voyage TO RIO. 1t was
quiet affair. Only few friends were
invited. But let me ask you question.
1 Did Hawley ever propose TO you -
| " No. But | expected that he would soon
do SO. lie 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 L really
meant to help him, for | knew in a general
way that you liked him.
. thought he'd realize that you could be
of service 70 him." explained Miss Pedder
| - | thought he remember that mother left
me this house and a few thousand dollars &c
do as pleased with. l was conscious, too
that possessed fair share of personal at
fractions. And as l supposed him to be en-.
tirely heart-free, | took 1t for granted that
[ should get him. His attentions seemed
marked enough"
g He treated you politely, of course. " in
terrupted Pedder, land he couldn have
well done less, after asking me to befrienC
him. But he never made any formal declara-
ton ~
Z" No, he didn't. As mate of Rio ship
he was away seven-eighths of the time, and
didn't expect a regular courtship. But
took it for gfanted-"
Pedder made an impatient gesture.
We've deceived ourselves, he muttered
- We We been carried away by our feelings
The girls rejection of me was really intended