Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-10-08
HlisfflIaltfous.
). PLOTS AND COUNTERPLOTS.
How Two Households Became One

!, PLOTS AND C0UNTERPL0TS.
How Two Households Became one
Mrs. Benonj Benson, was fat, fair and
forty-four. When her husband, SOAP
boiler, in very good circumstances, was call
ed from his life task of contributing to the
great publication of mankind, Mrs. Benson
took refuge from her grief in pretty cot.
tage situated on the principal street in the
town of c.. '----,-z -.
Al first she was inconsolable; as she
used to say, with solemn emphasis, which
carried conviction to the hearts of her hear
ers, that nothing but the thoughts of her
daughter Florence would have prevented
her from terminating her existence by the
intervention of poison.
Mrs. Benson was in no small measure in
debted to her daught ,r-since in less than
three months she threw aside her mourn
ing and became as lively as ever.
Touching Florence she had now reached
the mature age of nineteen, and began to
think herself marriageable. She was quite
pretty, and tolerably well accomplished, so
that her wishes in that respect were quite
likely to be fulfilled.
Just over the way lived Squire Mark
ham, the village lawyer, just ,erging upon
fifty, with his son Charles, who was about
half his age. Being young man of agree
able exterior, the latter was quite favor
ite among the young ladies in the neigh
borhood, and considered in common par
lance quite ga CATCH" As yet, however,
his affections he'd never been seriously en-
tangled and might have remained so, had
it not been for the sudden apparitioa, one
morning, of Florence Benson riding by on
horseback.
II struck him at once that she was re-
markably graceful really quite pretty
Thereupon he cultivated her acquaintance
which increased assiduity, and after while
asked the fatal question:.
Florence answered in the affirmative (;
and, instead of referring him dutifully t..
her mother. limited (being romantic young
lady, how charming it would be to steal
away to the next town, and get married
without anybody being the wiser.
Charles Markham caught at this hint.
which chimed with his own temperament
and resolved to adopt it.
In order that it might be carried out with
perfect success, it was resolved to seem in
different to each other, until the day fixed
in order to ward off any suspicious which
might be aroused.
So well We all these arrangements car
ried out, that Mrs Benson had not a sus-
p;eion of what was going on.
Not so with Squire Markham. He had
obtained clue to the affair in some man.
ner, so that he had not only discovered the
fact of the elopement but even the very
day on which it was to occur.
@Sly dog, that Charles" thought he to
himself, as he sat before the fire in his
dressing gown and smokeing cap, leisurely
putting away at a choice Havana. 'But I
don't wonder at it; he only takes after me.
Still owe him something for keeping it so
secretly from me- 1t would be joke, if
we're q little Younger. to cut him out and
marry her in spite of him."
Squire Markham, who was one of those
joyial widowers who take life as it comes,
unused more and more on this idea, struck
out by chance as it were, ill he really be-
gan to thing it worth something.
"After ALL" shouted he, Il am not SO
old either, or at least the ladies say so, and
they ought to be good judges in such mat
ters. have been bachelor good while
and ought to have found out before how
much more comfortable it would be to have
pretty wife to welcome me home and do
the honors of my table, and to help me keep
That rascal Charles in order. Egad I've
half mind to do it."
Squire Markham took two more whiffs,
and exclaimed energetically:
Il vow I'll do it"
I" nat this mysterious it was we will
leave the reader to infer from his next
movement. Ringing the bell he inquired
Of the servant:
as Charles at homer
y f.No, sir" was the reply, she went ont
this morning, and will be gone all day.n
sHumphl That'll do. So much the bet.
ter for my purpose thought he, when he
was left alone. "Now / shall have th,
ground left to myself. Let me see. Th'
rascal intends running away next Thursda.
evening; and to-day's Monday. NothiD|
like striking while the iron is hot. u
write to her in his name, telling her that
have altered my mind, and will 60 jus
st dark Tomorrow night. She won't sus
psct anything until the knot is tied, snt
then what a laugh We shall hsyew