St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1858-10-07

TO this arrangement. ] shall have a
carriage in readiness under the old
oak tree at half past eight O'Clock.
You "a walk there misunderstanding
suspicion, and as there will be no moon,
we shall be able to carry out our
plans without fear of discovery. |
am happy to say that the Governor
doesn't suspect in the least that a
daughter-irrlaw is in store for him.
Won't he be ashamed?
Your devoted CHARLEY"
"Egad! said Squire Markham,
laughing heartily, that isn't bad,
especially about humbugging me.
Charley couldn't have done any better
himself"
So saying, lie scaled it up and sent
it over by a little Irish boy in his en-
ployment, having first marked pri-
vate in the corner.
BE careful, Mike, to give ii to Miss
Benson, and don't let any one else see
it," was the parting injunction.
Mrs. Benson was sitting in herquiet
parlor, casting her eyes over a late
number of Harpcr's Magazine. Flor
cncc being absent on a shopping ex-
r~ursion, she was left alone. The
ringing of the bell brought her to the
door. With surprise she saw that the
person who rang the bell was Mike,
Squire Markham's "boy Of all work"
Please, ma'am," said he, holding
out the missive, "a letter for Miss
Benson, an it's very particular that
nobody else should see it,
The air Of mystery conveyed in this
characteristic address~ aroused Mrs.
Brnson's curiosity, especially when
she ohseISeN that it was addressed to
her Nhghtcr, and not to herself, as
~snpposed. She returned to the
Parior not TO read Harpcr's Magazine ;
that had lost its attractions.
What in the world can it be-" she
thought that they should be SO Sc
cret about it? Can Florence be car,
rving on clandestinc correspondence
1t may be something that | ought to
know
Stimulated by her feminine c~uriosi
~, Mrs. Benson speedily concluded
that she would be false to the RESPONSE
biIitjcs Of Il parent if she did not un
~ravrl the mystery.
Here's pretty doing.n she OK
claimed, as soon as she could recover
breath, so Florence was going tc
run away and get married to Charles
Markham, without so much as limiting
a word to me"
She leaned her head on her hand, ant
began to consider. She was natural
~ led to think Of her own marriage
with the late Mr.. Benson, and the
happiness Of her welded life, and she
could not help hcavinS u sigh 1t til,
recollection.
Am | always to remain thus soil
tary!' she thought. I've half u mine
not to show the letter to Florence, bu'
to rnn away with Charles tomorrow
night on my own account. Its odd i
| can't persuade him that the motllc
amt as good as the daughter :" an,
she glanced complacently at the still
attractive face and form reflected from
the mirror.
Just then she heard the door open
and Florence entered. She quickl,
crumplcd up the letter, and thrust i
into her pocket. Florence and Charlie
did not meet during the succccdin:
day, chiefly in pursuance of the pla.
they had agreed to, in order to avoi
suspicion.
Squire Markham acted in an G,
c edingly strange manner. to his SON
thinking. Occasionally he woul
. burst into a hearty laugh, which h
would cndeavor to suppress, an
pace up and down the room, as if t
; walk off some of his supcr-abundal
, hilarity.
What's in the wind?" though
! Charles to himself. at can't be til
t Governors getting crazy" Som
f thing was the matter beyond a doub
But what it really was, he had not IL
iaintest conjecture.
At the hour specified, the Squil
had his carriage drawn up at the q
t pointed rendezvous. He began
t peer anxiously in the dark for Florenc
At length a female form, well mnilt
up, made its appearance. Thankin
$ her in a very low whisper, least
d might be suspected that he was Il
n wrong person, he helped her into Il
o carriage, and drove Oft.
During the first part Of the %journc
c nothing was said. Both parties We
DESTROYS of concealing their identit
o At length, Squire Markham, consid,
Il ing that after all he could Il
d" marry the lady without her consel
and that the discovery must be ma
{ before the marriage, decided to eve
himself, and then urge his W suit
well as he might.
e "My dear Miss Florence" he &C
is tiuucd, in his natural voice.
'e Why !" shriekcd the lady,
thought it was Charles"
And H. said Squire Markha
recognizing Mrs. Benson's voice wi
II establishment, thought it was Fl
ence."
he Was it you, sir, who vas arran
G. ing to elope with my daughter ?"
"No, but | conclude it was "
~ ma'am, who was mSaning to clio
H. with my son"
~ Indeed, Squire Markham, you 6
O wrong /; the affair coming incidcnta
is to my knowledge, ! concluded to ia
* her place secretly, i'll order to fir
trate her plans"
1t. "Egad /! the very idea l had I
ne self" said the Squire, laughing ; 81
81 the fact is, ma'am, we've both Of
been contoundediy sold, and the II
er chief of it is, | have left a letter
cc Charles, letting him know it /; so
m doubtedly he will take the opportl
III, ty to run off with Florence during
lg- absence, and plume himself, the
DIS cal, on the way in which was ia
ill.,"
.ay al confess that l left a note for F