The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1872-07-04

| water and battle the white features,
and then set himself to chatting the
clenched hands. e
Capt. Luke Pedder was twenty.
seven years old, with an originally
light complexion, which had reddene
with generous living and bronzed
with exposure to wind and sun. His
form was of the average size and
hight, and his features Of the most
ordinary type. He was singularly
selfish and INSCRIPTIONS, but of gen
tlemanly manners, being well edu-
Gated and used to sood society. His
ability IS navigator was fair for a
man of his age and experience, but
he owed bis position as comman-
der of 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, and conse.
sequently twenty-five years OF age,
although she owned to only twenty.
She was tall, thin, and a little in
clined on her outlines, as in her tenn
per, to angularity. She was not par
ticularly bright, but she was bold
and INSCRIPTIONS, and possessed q
fierce energy which was capable of
compromising in any emergency for
lack OF genius.
The father of the couple had been
prominent ship-owner and mer,
chant. But in his latter days the
Senior Pedder had been unfortunate,
and had finally been broken up COM
pletely-a result FASTENED, it was
whispered, by the wild ways and f.
nancial irregularities of his son.
The old mans failure had soon been
followed by his death, and already
for such is fame he was generally
forgotten. "a
How odd it isl calculated Capt.
Pedder, as he rubbed his sisters
cold hands. 'She madly in love
with Will. Hawley, and I crazy af-
ter Clara Aymsr! And now Will.
and Clara are married, and Ruth and
l are left cut in the cold
Under the vigorous treatment he
had adopted, Miss Pedder soon re-
covered her senses.
Are you sure they're married?'
she demanded.
Perfectly. l learned the fact half
an hour since from Hawley's COM
mander-Captain Gregs, you know.
Captain Gregs was at the we'd
ing. 1t took place last Friday eve
ning-the very evening after Haw-
ley's return from his last trip TO Rio.
1t was a quiet affair. Only few
friends were invited. But let me
ask you question. Did Hawley ev-
er propose to you? ......-
No. But l expected that he would
soon do SO. He has been here often
enough
He treated you politely, of course,
interrupted Pedder, 'and he couldn't
have we'll done less, after asking me
to befriend him. But he never made
any formal declaration?'
No, he didn't. AS mate of Rio
ship, he was away seven-eights of
the time, and I didn't expect a regu-
lar courtship. But I took it for
granted
Pedder made an impatient ges-
ture.
We've deceived ourselves he
muttered. The girls rejection of
Inc was really intended to be final,
and Hawley's visits here were merely
visits of business and friendship.
But how Clara should prefer Hawley
to me can't imagine added Ped
der drawing himself up haughtily.
'Hawley has neither name, nor mon
ey, nor possession!
Nor can I see why Hawley should
prefer Clara Aymar to me! said
Miss Pedder, as she glanced at her
reflection in one of the mirrors near
her. She's a hired attendant, or
something ofthe kind-the creature.
sd no idea that you thought 30
much of Hawley,' observed the
brother as he strove to calm his
| painful emotions.
Miss Pedder moaned. Her eyes
filed with tears.
Il thought all the world of him,
she murmured.
A long silence fell between the
couple.
well, well, they're husband and
wife, at length muttered Pedder
hoarseley. And this, l suppose, is
all there is 20 be said ...
Miss Pedder compressed her lips
until they bled, staring at her broth
er with fixedness amounting to fe-
rocity.
No! ner she breathed fiereely.
The matter shall not end here. That
marriage--that abominable mar
rage
She clutched her heart again, as if
suffocating.
Pedder opened his eyes widely.
'Why, what, can we do p he quer-
led. you wouldn't have me MUIR
der Hawley, l suppose? That
wouldn't make him your husband.
And, on the other hand, it wouldn't
do me any good if you were to kill
Clara Aymar.'
But there is way, Luke, of undo
ing that marriage
Pedder started toward his sister,
as if electrified.
sDo you mean it p he demanded.
Il mean it, I swear it! I'll never
consent to that girls having Hawley!
I'll dig a gulf between them as
bread as the ocean! I'll undo that
marriage, or die!' ... ........
Softly where is Kate p
He referred to their single servant.
She's out for the day. answered
Miss Pedder. arising and planting
herself in q chair. There was lit.
tie to do, you know, and l did not
expect you home until dinner
then no one will hear US.
He drew a chair close beside tn at
of his sister and sat down besideher.
What's your idea p he asked, in a
whisper. ...... ....
My idea is to separate them to
turn their love to hate to dig a pit
between their feet that will remain
open toreverr
But howl? ... .....s ......
will. Hawley is poor, isn't he p
Certainly; there is no mistake
about that. His mother was a help
less invalid for the last ten years of
her life, and Will. insisted that she
should use for her comfort every
penny he earned. 1t hasn't been six