Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-07-03
miscellaneous.
The Plot Against llawlcy.
CHAPTER
now TuE PLOT ORIGINATED.

walking hurriedly up Broadway, New York
His features were flushed aud convulsod, his
glances 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 2' he called from
the hall.
A step was heard overhead, followed by
the rustling of dress, and young lady de-
sceuded the front stairs. Despite several
points Of marked contrast, there was 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
counteuance that met her view. Are you III p
I've just received bad news, replied the
brother, leading the way into the parlor-
" news which has given me a terrible shock D."
Shocked You What has happened ?"
In word. Clara Aymar is married go
Married :" echoed the sister, rccoiIing
" Clara Aymar married Is il possible ?"
Yes, married the girl I've been laying
siege to for years past--iho only girl ever
cared a pin for Imagine the shock this
event gives me. I'm nearly crazy"
Then you really loved her 90
Loped her Unjust have worSljpped her,
or else this thing would not have so complete
y upset me-"
Oh, as to that, the loss Of thing always
gives us on exaggerated notion Of it value,
said the sister phlosophically, 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 to.
morrow you will laugh at the whole natter"
Don't, Ruth :" implored the brother,
sinking heavily into the nearest chair. "Clara
Aymar is more to me than my life Ny love
for her is a deirium It's no such passing
fancy as you suppose, but an everlasting pas.
sion-a rage-a flood Of molten lava ! Aud
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 you 2'
No, of course not. She has never given
me any encouragement. But am none the
less surprised. | supposed that everything
was favorable enough to my wishes knew
that she was still young to marry-an orphan
without money and without iriends-prc-
sumably without suitors aud Aattered my
self 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 a sort Of con-
temptuous compassion. A wilma chance
meeting "a smile-a word-amoment's weak
ness-any triao-theso are the things by
which marriages are brought about But
who is the bridegroom ?"
" All that's point that will touch you a
little, think. Can't you guess who he is ?"
" haven't the least idea"
Well, then, he's Will Hawey."
The sister spraDg abruptly to her feet,
clasping both hands to her heart The chang.
ing colors of her brother his agitation, his
anguish, all passed to her own features.
Will. Hawley ?" she gasped. ooh,
you don't mean it, Luke !"
" But | do though Its Gods truth
Clara Aymar and Will. 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 POI
muttered the brother, astonished Ct" / didn't
suppose"
lie fastened to bring a pitcher of water
and battle the white features, and then set
himself to chahng the clenched hands.
Capt Luke Pedder was tweuty-seven years
of age, with an originally light complexion,
which had REDEEMED with generous living
aud bronzed with exposure to wind and sun
His form was Of the average size and height,
and his features of the most ordinary type.
lie was singularly selfish and INSCRIPTIONS,
but Of gentlemanly manners, being well edu-
'ated aud used to good society. His ability
IS navigator was fair for a man of his age
nd experience, but he owed his position as
Of fine Australian clipper, more
% respect for his late father and to sympa-
HIKING favor than to his own merits.
Miss Ruth Pcdder was two years younger
han her brother, and consequently twenty
i've years Of age, although she owned to only
wenty. She was tall, thin, aud little in.
,lined in her outlines, as in her temper, to
lnguarity. She was not particularly bright,
out she was bold and INSCRIPTIONS, aud pos.
'essed fierce energy which was capable OF
in any emergency for lack of
genius
The father Of the couple had been a promi.
nent ship-owner and merchant. But in his |
latter days the senior Pedder had been I'M
fortunate, and had finally been broken up
"a result hastened, it was whis.
pered, by the wild ways aud financial irregu.
larities of hi, sou. Tne old mans failure had
soon been followed by his death, and already
for such is fame !-he was generally for
gotten.
"How odd it is !" calculated Capt Pedder,
as he rubbed his sisters cold hands. She .
mady in love with Will. Hawley, and / crazy
after Clara Aymar Aud now Will aud
Clara are married, and Ruth aud | are left
out in the cold"
Under the vigorous treatment he had adopt
ed, Miss Pedder soon recovered her senses.
Are you sure they're married ?" she de-
manded.
Perfectly | learned the fact half an
hour since from Hawley's commander Gap.
tain Greggs, you know Captain Greggs was
at the wedding. 1t took place last Friday
evening-the very evening after Hawley's re-
turn from his last voyage to Rio 1t was a
quiet affair. Only few friends were in.
ylted. But let me ask you question. Did
Hawley ever propose to your
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 | really
meant to help him, for knew in general
way that you liked him"
81 thought he'd realize that you could be i
If service to him., explained Miss Pedder. I
thought he'd remember that mother left I
ne this house and few thousand dollars TO
10 as pleased with. | was conscious, too.
hat possessed a fair share of personal at.
fractions. And as | supposed him to be Gu
Iirey heart-free, took it for granted that |
should get him. His attentions seemed q
marked enough"
"He treated you politely, Of course" in
corrupted Pedder, aud he couldn't have !
we'll done less, after asking me to befriend him.
But be never made any formal declaration 2"
mo, be didn't. As mate Of a Rio ship.
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