The Feliciana Democrat., 1858-10-23

"Be careful, NJ kc, to give it to Miss Benson
and don't let any one else see," was the part
ing injunction.
Mrs Brnson was sitting in her quiet parlo'
casting her eyes over late number OF the Al
lantic Monthly. Florence being absent on
shoppinr excursion, she was left alone. 'Ih
ringing Of the bell brought her to the door
With surprise she saw that the person who ram.
the bell was Mike, Squire Markhnn''S hoy oi
all work
"Plcase, maam,' said he, holding out the
mssvc, ~ letter for Miss Benson. an its very
particular that nobody else should see it,
The mir of mystery conveyed in this charnc-
teris'ic address aroused Mrs. Bensou's cnri"
Ity. especially when she observed that it was
addressed to her daughter. aud not to herself,
as she supposed. She returned to the parlor
not to read the magazine that had lost it's
attractions
What in the world can it be-" sl" Thought
that they shonld he so secret about it? Can
Florence he carrying on n clandcstiue cores.
poudenc"? 1t might be something that ought
to know"
Stimulated Ivy her feminine curiosity Mrs
Benson speedily concluded that she would be
false to the responsibilities Of parent if She did
not unravcl the mystery
"Herc's pretty doing !" she exclaimed as
soon rs she could recover breath. $50 Flor
encc was going to rnn away and get married 10
that Charles Markham, without so much as
limiting a word to me.
She leaned her head upon her hand. and he
gan 10 consider. She was naturally led TO think
of her marriage with the late Mr.. Benson, and
the happiness other welded life. aud She could
not help henvng sigh ut the recollcction
Am always to remain thus solitary" She
! Thought. 1--we half II mind not to show the
letter to Florence. hut to run away with
Charles tomorrow night on my own account
It's odd if cant persuade him that the moth
er nn'f good as the daughter y and she
glanced romplaccntly af the ST i'll attractive face
and form reflected from the mirror
just then she heard the door opcn md Flor.
ence entered She quickly cru Piled mp the
letter. and thrns, it into her pocket Florence
and Charles did not meet ,inrinr the succeed
ing day chiefly in pursuance of the plan they
agreed to, in order to atoi ',-picion
Squire Markham acted in an exceedingly
strange manner, to his sons thinking Occa
sonaIy he wonld hurst into hearty hugh,
which he would end'avor to suppress, aud pace
M and down the room. vs. if 10 walk off some
} of his snperabundant hiIoriry.
i "Wlnt'S in the wind Z" thought Charles ia
! himself 1T can't he the Governors getting
crazy" Something was the matter beyond Il
doubt But what it really was he had not the
faintest conjecture.
At the hour specified, tho Squire had his
; carriage drawn up at the appointed rendezvous
lie began to peer anXiously in the dark for
Florence At length female form well muE
! fed up made its appearance, Thanking hcl
in n very low whisper lest il might he suspect
!. cd that he was the wrong person, he helped hci
: into the carriage and drove off
' During part Of the journey nothing was said
( Both parties were drsironS of roncedling THEN
identity. At length Squire Markham, consid
erng that after all he could not marry the In
' DIV without her consent aud that the discove
~ must be made before marriage, decided tc
t reveal himself ana then urge his own suit n,
, well ms he might
e "My dear Miss Florence" he continued, il
t his natural voice.
| "Why !" shrickcd the lady, II thought it was
D Charles
"And l." said Squire Markham. rccognz
! ing Mrs. Benson'S voice, Thought it was Flor
ence."
e WAS it you, sir, who was arranging to clop,
: with my daughter ~
e "No, but conclude it was yon, ma'am, who
was meaning to clope with my son"
Indeed, Squire Markham yon are wrong
5 the affair coming incidentally to my knowledge
concluded to take her place secretly, in order
+ to Illustrate her plans"
"Egad! the very idea | had myself" sad
{ the Squire laughing "bnt the fact is ma'am
Y we've both been conioundcdly sold and tht
. mischief of it is. have left letter for Charles
! cttiug him know it so undoubtedly he vii
take the opportunity to run off with Florence
K during our absence, and plume himself the ras
: cal, Oh the way in which was taken in
Y II confess that left n note for Florence IL
the same purport How she will laugh at me
I What an embarrassment "
e Il tell you what said the Squire, after ,
. moments panSe, I'VE can carry ont Onr plans
;. after ALL We each came out with the inten
| tion Of getting married, Why not marry eacl
other, and then you know, we can make then
! believe we had it in view NIL along and onl,
intended to frighten them"
,l ~ 4