Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-07-24
CLEVELAND, SATURDAY MORNING. JULY "a. 1858.

Squire Markham acted in an exceedingly
strange manner, TO his sons thinking Oeea-
siOnal,y he would burst into q hearty laugh,
which he would eudeavor to suppress, and pace
up and down the room, if to walk off some
Of his superabundant hilarity.
What's in the wind :" thought Charles to
himself. at can't be the governors getting
crazy" Something was the matter beyond a
doubt. Bot what it really was he had not the
faintest conjecture
At the hour specified the squire had his
carriage drawn up at the appointed rendez-
vOus. He began to peer anxiousIy in the
dark for Florence. At length female form,
well muffled up, made its appearance. Thank
ing her in very low whisper. lest it might be
suspected that he was the wrong person, he
helped her into the carriage and drove Off
Their destination was the house of the Justice
of the peace, residing at a distance of eight
miles
During the first part of the journey nothing
was said. Both parties were desirous of con-
cealing their identity. At length. Squire
Markham, considering that after all he could
not marry the lady, without her consent,
and that the discovery must be made before
the marriage, decided to reveal himself, and
then urge his own suit as web as he might.
" My dear Miss Florence" he continued in
his natural voice
why :" shricked the lady, "I thought it
was Charles"
''And L. said Squire Markham, recognizing
Mrs. BensOn's voice with astonishment, Thought
it was Florence
" Was il you, sir, who was arranging to elope
with my daughterl''
No, but conclude it was ynn, Iaasiazu, who
was meaning To OloPc with my SON."
81 Indeed, Squire Markham, you are wrong
the affair coming incidentally to my knowledge
l concluded to take her place secretly, in order
to frustrate her plans"
"Egad the very idea had myself" said
the squire, laughing; "but the fact IL, ma am,
we've both of US been confoundedly sod, and
the mischief of it is, have left a letter for
Charles, letting him know it !; so undoubtedly
he viii take the opportunity to run of with
Florence during our absence, and plume him
self the rascal, on the way in which was tax
en- in"
81 confess that left note for Florence to
the same purpoTt. How she will laugh at me
What an embarrassment :"
81 i tell you what" said the squire, after a
moments pause, We can carry out our plans
after ALL We each came out with the intention
Of getting married Why not marry each 9TH
er, and then, you know, we can make them be-
believe we had 1t in view all along, and only
intended to frighten them"
Mrs. Benson assented with little urging,
and IN the course of an hour the twain were
made one. They Immediately returned but
found, they had anticipated, that Florence
and Charles discovering their departure, had
themselves stepped off in a different direction
with similar intent.
They made their appearance the next morn
ing, prepared TO laugh heartily at the frustrated
plans OF their parents, but learned with no little
astouishment that they had struck up bargain
for themselves Squire Markham and his new
wife had the address to convince them that it
was all a Premejitated plan, and to this day the
younger pair are ignorant Of the plot and eoun-
terplot which led to this double union of the
two households