Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1872-07-11
THE PLOT AGAINST HAWLEY.
r 1.

features were flushed and convulsed, his
chances wild and restless, his whole mien in
dicative of keen anguish.
Turning to the right into Blocker street, he
soon reached q plain three-story and basement
brick house, to which he gave himself admit
lance.
HAre YOU there, Ruth?" he called from the
hall.
A step was heard overhead, followed by the
rustling of a dress, and a young lady descend
ed the front stairs. Despite several points of
marked contrast, there was a family likeness
about the couple that proclaimed them to be
brother and sister.
the latter, starting at sight of the disturbed
il?"
I've Just received bad news" replied the
BROTHER, leading the way into the parlor-
''news which has given me a terrible shock"
Shocked? You! What has happened"
I'm a word. Clara Aymar is married."
Married !" echoed the sister, recoiing.
'Clara Aymar married! Is it possible ?"
"Yes, married. the girl I've been laying
siege to for years past the only girl ever
gives me- I am nearly crazy"
"Then you really loved herr"
"Loued her! l must have a1orShGpped her,
or else this thing would not have so completely
upset me-"
sob, as to that, the loss of a thing always
gives us an exaggerated notion of its value"
said the sister philosophically, as she sunk
a1 }gg1a y into INTO an easy chair, and nd, smoo O. 1ei out u
~" Ao1
simply shocked, as you say. But by tomorrow
you will laugh at the whole matter"
DOM t, Ruth J" implored her brother, sink
ing 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 pas
counted all along upon marrying her. True.
she has rejected me twice, but I thought she'd
changed her mind"
"She was in no way committed to you
M Of Or1raa naf Che hoe nnuar nIuan mo
any encouragement. But I am none the less
surprised. 1 supposed that everything was
favorable enough to my wishes. 1 knew that
she was still young to marry-an orphan
without money and without friends-presum-
ably without suitors I fattered myself that
she couldn't always remain insensible to my
attentions"
"You reasoned wisely enough, of course,
Luke; but reason never decides these matters"
declared the sister, with a sort of contemptu-
GUS compassion. "a Wilma chance meeting
any ~trife-these are things by which marriages
greom?"
"Ahl that's a point that will touch you a
little, I think. Can't you guess who he is ?"
81 haven't the least idea"
"Well, then, he's Will. Hawley."
The sister sprang abruptly to her feet. clasp
ing both hands to her heart. The changing
colors of her brother, his agitation, his anguish,
all passed to her own features.
viii. Hawley ?" she gasped- o you
don't mean it, Luke ~
"But L do though. It's 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.
ibid she think that much of Hawley ?"
muttered the brother, astonished. Il didn't
He hastened to bring a pitcher of water and
bathe the white features, and then set himself
to chatting the clenched hands.
Capt. Luke Pedder was twenty-seven years
of age, with an originally light complexion,
which had Redeemed with generous living and
form was of the average size and height, and
his features of the most ordinary type. He
was sngularly selfish and Inscriptions, but
of g~entlemanly manners, being well educated
and used to good society. His ability as q
navigator was fair for a man of his age and eG-
p~erience, but he owed his position as COM
mander of a fine Australian clipper more to
respect for his late father and to sympathizing
favor than to his own merits.
Miss Ruth Pedder was two years younger
than her brother, consequently twenty-five
years of age, although she owned to only
twenty. She was tall, thin, and a little inclined
in her outlines, as in her temper, to angularlty.
She was not particularly bright, but she was
bold and interruptions, and possessed a fierce
energy which was capable of compromising 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 unfor-
-NA AhAAJ SOoA
pletely-a result fastened, it was whispered,
by the wild ways and financial Irregularities of
his son. The old mans failure had soon been
followed by his death, and already-for such is
was generally forgotten.
How odd it is 70 CALCULATED Capt. Pedder,
as he rubbed his sisters cold hand. s
after Clara Aymarl And now win. and Clara
cold"
Under the vigorous treatment he had adopt
nd Mice DoI1nr ooon raoouorod hnr Garon
A you sure they're married ?" she de-
handed.
Perfectly. I learned the fact half an hour
since from Hawley's commander Captain
the wedding. It took place last Friday even
ing|he very evening after Hawley's return
from his last voyage to Rio. 1t was a quiet
affair. Only a few friends we're invited. But
me ask you a question. Did Hawley ever
mo. But I expected that he would soon do
80. He has been here often enough"
"Yes, he came several times to ask me for
a berth in my clipper. I promisedEe think of
him at the first opening, and I really meant to
lls,I him him, for I knew in a general way that you
81 thought he'd realize that you could be of
service to him" explained Miss Pedder. 81
he'd remember that mother left me
this house and a few thousand dollars to do as
I pleased with. 1 was conscious, too, that 1
possessed a fair share of personal attractions.
And as I supposed him to be entirely heart
tree, L TOOK 1t Tor granted That L SnOuld get
him. His attentions seemed marked enough"
che treated you politely, of course" inter
Pedder, land he couldn't have well
done less, after asking me to befriend him.
But he never made any formal declaration ?"
"No, he didn't. AS mate of a Rio ship, he
was away seven-eighths of the time, and I didn't
expect a regular courtship. But I took it for |
granted" |
Pedder made an impatient gesture.
"We've deceived ourselves, he muttered.
I" We've been carried AVA by our feelings. |
The girls rejection of me was really intended
to be final. and Hawley's visits here were mere
ly visits of business and friendship. :. But, why
Clara should prefer Hawley to me I can't
imagine" added Pedder, drawing himself up
h%aughtily. "Hawley has neither name, nor
money, nor position"
"Nor can 1 see why Hawley should prefer
Clara Aymar to naer' said Miss Pedder, as she
glanced at her reflection in one of the long
mirrors near her. "She's a hired attendant,
Or something of that kind the creature"
I'D no idea that you thought so much of
observed the brother as he strove to
,alm his painful emotions.
Miss Pedder moaned. Her eyes filed with
ears.
'sI thought all the world of him." she muir
nured.
A long silence fell between the couple.
"Wel, well, they're husband and wife," at
ength muttered Pedder, hoarsely. "And
his, I suppose, is all there is to be said"
Miss Pedder~ compressed her lips until they