Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-07-04
The Plot Against HawIey.
CHAPTER I.
low THE PLOT ORInTNATED


latter, stan ting at sight Of the disturbed couu
tcnance that met her view. care you ili2"
1.-Two just received bad news" replied the !
brother, leading the way into the parlor-
" news which has given mo terrible shock" !
"sl'ockcd9 You! What has happened ?" |
In word, Clara Aymar is married!"
Married" ECHOED tho sister, rocoiling. |
"clara Aymar married. L. it possble9"
Yes, married! the girl I've been laying !
siege to for years past-the only girl over
Cared PIN for. Imagine the shock this event
gives me. Pm nearly crazy"
"Thon you really lowell herr"
LoUed hcrl must have ac0rshipl,ed her,
or tlso this thing would not have 80 completely
upset mc.'
oh, US to that, the loss of a thing always
gives us an exaggerated notion of it's value"
said tho sister, philosophically, as she sank
languid'y into All easy chair and smoothcd
mt fold in her SNOWY morning robo. "You
are simply shocked, as you say. But by to-
moro" you will laugh at the whole matter"
"Don't. Ruth implored tho brother, sink
ing heavily into the nearest chair. "Clara
Aymar is more to me than my life! My love
for hor il q delirium! It's no such passing
fancy rs you suppose, but an everlasting pas
sion-a rago-a food of molten laval And
I'vo counted oil along upon marrying her.
True, she has rejected me twice, but I thought
she'd change her mind"
"She was in no way committed to your"
mo, Of course not. She has never given
me any encouragement. But I am none the
less surprised. l supposed that everything
lyxoa f,vo 10 In nv I knnx
that she was still young to marry an orphan
without money and without friends-presum-
ably without suitors; and f1attered myself
that she couldn't always remain insensible to
my attentions"
'.You reasoned wisely enough. Of course,
ters," declared the sister, with = sort Of con-
temptuous compassion. "A whim-a chance
| meetings. smile or . wold-a moments
wednesday, triao-these are the thin 20 by
which marriagos are as brought about. But who
"Ahl that's Joint that will touch you
little, think. Can't You guess who he is?''
81 haven't the least idea"
"Wen, then, he's VIII. Hawley.n -. .
The sister sprang abruptly to her feet, clasp
colors Of her brother, his agitation, his all
guisll, all passed to her own features: ~s.-~
evil. Hawiey? 2" shc gasped. "Oh, you
don't meant it, Luke !"
'"But 1 do, though. It's Gods truth. Clara
Aymar and Win. Hawlcy are husband and
| wife,"
A heavy fall succeeded. The sister had
tainted. She Jay upon the floor ~ one dead.
"Did she think that much. of Hawley ?"
muttered the brother, astonished. II didn't
suppose" =,
battle tho white features, and then set himself
to chatting the clenched hands.
Capt. Luke Pedder was tw, nty-seven years
of age, with an originally light complexion,
which had Redeemed with generous living and
bronzed with exposure to wind and sun. His
form was Of the average size and height, and
his features Of the most ordinary type. He
was sinsuarly selfish and unscrupulous, but
of gcntlemanly manners, being well educated
and used to good society. His ability as .
navigator was tair for man Of his age and
experience. but he owed his position IS COM
mander Of fine Australian clipper, more to
respect for his late father and to sympathizins
favor than to his own merits. - "
Miss Ruth Pedder was two years younger
than her brother, and consequently twenty
five years of age, although she owned to only
cd in her outlines, az in her temper, TO-. angu-
larity. She was not particularly; bright, but
she was bold and unscrupuous, and pUsscssed
II fierce energy which was capable IT com
pers4ting in any emergency for lack Of
Tie father of the couple had been a promi.
nent ship-owner and merchant. But in biz
latter tlay the senior Posldor had boon unfor.
tunate, and had finally been broken up COM
plctely "a re uit haete"ed, il was whispered
Of his s,n. The OLD mans failure had SOIL
been followed by his death. aud alleady-:ol
such is fame The was generally forgotten.
Show odd it isl" calculated Capt. Petder
as he rubbed bis sisters cold hands. :" 81,
madly in love with will: Hawiey, and Graz,
after Clara Aymar! And now Will. and Clara
arc married, and Ruth and are left out iI
the cold"
Under the vigorous treatment he had adopt
cd. Mi Pedlor soon recovered her senses.
faro you sure they're married ?" sho dc.
mande1.
Perfectly. l learned the fact half an hour
since from Hawley's cOElmanderCaptail
Greggs, you know. Captain 0reggs was q,
the WI ddiug. 1t took place last Friday even
ing-the very evening after Hawley's return
from his last voyage to Rio. It was quiet
affair. Only few friends were invited. Bu'
propose to YOU"
mo. But expected that he would soon dc
so. He has been here often enough"
"Yes, lie came several times to ask me for .
him at the first opening, and really meant
to help him, fol- knew in general way thai
you liked him."
Il Thought he'd realize that you could BIZ
Of service 70 him, explained Miss Pedder. 81
, thought he'd remember that mother left MI
As I pleased with. WAS conscious, too, that
possessed = fair share Of personal attractions
And as supposed him to be entirely heart
free, I took it for granted that should &c
him. His attentions seemed marked
enough"
: "He treated you politely, OF course" inter.
, rupted Pedder, And he couldnt have vel
done less, after asking me to befr,end him
But he never made any formal declaratian 2
'No, he didn't. AS mate Of = Bio ship, h
, didn't expect a regular oourtship. But I tool
, it for e anted-"
Fodder made an impatient gesture.
We've deceived ourselves" he muttcred
"We've been carried away by our feelings
, The girls rejection OF me was really INTENDED
!, tmerely visits OF business snd friendship. Blu
5 why Cara should prefer Hawley to me 1 can
imagine" added Pedder, drawing himself u
haushtily: "Hawle \, has neither name, no
= "Nor can lsee why Hawley should prcfe
glanced at her reflection in one Of the lon
e mirrors near her "She's hired attendant
= or something Of that kind-the creature"
I'D no idea that you thought SO much {
n hawicy," observed the brother, as he strove
;. Miss Fodder moancd. Her eyes filled wit
Il tears.
n 81 thought all tho world of him. she mu1
INJURED. ~
A long silence fell between tho couple.
"Weil, well, they're husband and wife," q
length muttered Pedder hoarsely. ssAnd thi,
l suppose, is all there is to be SAID"
Miss Fodder compressed her lips until the
n bled, staring at hor brother with = tixednes
amounting to ferocity.
"No! mol" she 6rcathcd fercely. eth
matter shall not end here. That marriage
u that abonlnablc marriage"
A She clutched at her heart again, as if sufft
. eating.
= Pcdlcr opened his eyes widely.
"Nhy, what can VIC Go ," no quericd. "YO
/ wouldn't have me- murder Hawley, l suppose
= That wouldn't make him your husband. Ane
:: On the other hand, it wouldn't DO me any goo
= it you were to kill Clara Aymar."
IL marriage"
It Fodder started toward his sister, as if elct
= trltird.
Q Do you mean it ?" he demanded.
~ moan it, ana swear it! IL never col
> sent to that girls having Hawloyi IL dig
YGif between them rs broad as the ocean
t l II undo that marriage or die :"
s "Softlyl Where is Kate!"
. no referred t. their single servant.
"She's out for tho day" answered Mis-
+ Pcddcr, arising and planting herself in chail
): There was little to do, 20" know, as di
Il not expect you homo until uinner.".
y " Then no one will hear us."
lie drew chair nearer to that Of his siste
i and sat down beside her.
"What's your idea p he asked, in a whis
per.
"Ny idea is to separate them to turn thci
u love to hate to dig u pit beneath their fec