Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1872-07-04
The Plot Against HaWley.
CHAPTER I,
HOW THE PLOT ORIGINATED.

y
His features were flushed and convulsed, his
glances wild and restless, his whole mien in
dicative of keen anguish.
Turning to the right into Bleecker street,
he soon reached a 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 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, Luke9" cried
the latter, starting at sight of the disturbed
countenance that met her view. "Are you
i'll ?"
GIVE just received bad news" replied
the brother, leading the way into the par
lor-"news which has given me terrible
shock"
shocked? YoW What has happened ~
"In a word, Clara Aymar is marriedr'
"Married r' echoed the sister, recoiling.
''Clara Aymar married Is it possible ~
"Yes, married. the girl I've been laying
siege to for years past-the only girl 1 ever
cared pin for. Imagine the shock this
event gives me. I'm nearly crazy"
"Then you really loved her?'
''LOved her / must have tcorShipped her,
or else this thing would not have so COM
pletely upset me-"
'Oh, as to that, the loss of thing always
gives us an exaggerated notion of its value, p"
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 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 deliriuml It's no such
passing fancy as you suppose, but an ever
| lasting passion-a rage-a flood of molten
lava! And I've counted all along upon mar
rying 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 never given
me any encouragement. But / am none the
less surprised. 1 supposed that everything
was favorable enough to my wishes. Iknew
that she was still young to marry-an or.
phan-without money and without friends
presumably without suitors; and flattered
myself that she couldn't 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 con
temptuous compassion. ga Wilma chance
meeting-a smile or a word-a moment:
wednesday, trifie-these are the thing.
by which marriages are brought about. Bu
who is the bridegroom?'
"Ah that's point that will touch you
little, think. Can't you guess who he is?'
81 haven't the least idea.
"Well, then, he's viii. Hawley"
The sister sprang abruptly to her feet
clasping both hands to her heart. Th
changing colors of her brother, his agitation
his anguish, all passed to her own features
"Will. Hawleyn' she gasped. ooh, yol
don't mean it, Luke ?''
"But I do, though. It's Gods truth
Clara Aymar and VIII. Hawley are HUSBAND
and wife,"
A heavy fall succeeded. The sister ha,
tainted. She lay upon the floor as one dead
''Did she think that much of Hawley 2
muttered the brother, astonished. / didn'
suppose"
He fastened to bring a pitcher of waite
and bathe the white features, and then sc
himself to chafing the clenched hands.
Capt. Luke Pedder was twenty-sevel
years of age, with an originally light com
pleXion, which had Redeemed with generou
living and bronzed with exposure to win
and sun. His form was of the averag
size and height, and his features of the mos
ordinary type. Hewas singularly selfish an
unscrupulous, but of gentlemanly manners
/ being well educated and used to good sc
ciety. His ability as a navigator was fair 70
man of his age and experience, but h
: owed his position as commander of a fin
Australian clipper more to respect for hi
late father and to sympathizing favor tina
to his own merits.
; Miss Ruth Pedder was two years younge
than her brother, and consequently twent,
five years of age, although she owned t
2 only twenty. She was tall, thin, and a littl
5 inclined in her outlines, as in her temper,
5 angularity. She was not particularly bright
but she was bold and INSCRIPTIONS, an
!, possessed a fierce energy which was capabl
= of compensating in any emergency for lac
+, of genius.
The father of the couple had been prom
inent ship-owner and merchant. But in hi
, latter days the senior Pedder had been III
r fortunate, and had finally been broken u
S completely-a result fastened, it was whi
, pered by the wild ways and financial irregu
. iarities of his SON. The old mans failur
, had soon been followed by his death, an
! already-for such is fame The was genera
ly forgotten.
"How odd it is ~ calculated Capt. Pee
| uoT, as lie TuDDeQ MS cOl0 lanQ
G " She madly in love with Will. Hawley, an
n 1 crazy after Clara Aymar And now Viii
i and Clara are married, and Ruth and al
f left out in the cold"
q Under the vigorous treatment he ha
adopted, Miss Pedder soon recovered h,
senses.
care you sure they're married ?'' she
It manded.
e Perfectly. l learned the fact half a
u hour since from Hawley's commander-Cal
/ tain Greggs, you know. Captain Gregg
It was at the wedding. 1t took place la
!. Friday evening-the very evening after Hay
, ley's return from his last voyage to Rio.
/, was quiet affair. Only few friends WEI
= invited. But let me ask you question. Di
u Hawley ever propose to you ?'
e "No. But expected that he would SOC
d do so. He has been here often enough
1t eyes, he came several times to ask me fl
d berth in my clipper. l promised to thin
@ of him at the first opening, and / real
meant to help him, for knew in a gener
/ way that you liked him."
!, 81 thought he'd realize that YOU could b
= of service to him." explained Miss Pedde
81 thought he'd remember that mother lie
o me this house and few thousand dollars I
/ do as pleased with. 1 was conscious, to,
l. that possessed a fair share of personal a
S fractions. And as 1 supposed him to be el
?. tirely heart-free, / took it for granted that
O should get him. His attentions SCENE
? marked enough"
o "He treated you politely, of course" il
9 terrupted Pedder, "and he couldn't ha,
9 well done less, after asking me to befrien
u him. But he never made any formal decla
l. ation?"
e ''No, he didn't. As mate of a Rio ship,
s was away seven-eighths of the time, and
J. didn't expect regular courtship. But
It took it for granted-r
y Pedder made an impatient gesture.
n we've deceived ourselves" he mutteret
4 'We've been carried away by our feelings
- The girls rejection of me was really intenC
!. y ed to be final, and Hawley's visits here wei
u merely visits of business and friendship
= But why Clara should prefer Hawley to m
l can't imagine" added Pedder, drawin
S himself up haughtily. "Eawley has Meth,
Il name, nor money, nor positioa!"
q "Nor can see why Hawley should pref,
/ Clara Aymar to me p' said Miss Pedder, {
r. she glanced at her reflection in one of Il
= long mirrors near her. "She's hired a
tendant, or something of that kind-the ere