Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1858-10-28
THURSDAY, OCTOBER %, 1858.

| after me. StlH / owe MN something Tor
keeping it a secret from me. Itwould be
good joke, if were little younger to cut
him out, and marry her in spite of him.
| Squire Markham who was one OF those
! ioyial widowers who take life as it comes
unused more and more on this idea stuck
out by chance as it were, till he really began
! to think it was worth something
! After all, shouted he, I am not so
! old, either, or at least the ladies say So
and they ought to be good judges in such
matters | ought to have been bachelor
a good while, and ought to have found out
/ before this 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 rascally Charles
in order. Egad I've half mind to do |
it.
Squire Markham took two more whiffs
and exclaimed:
I VOW | Il do it.
What this mysterious IT was, we will
leave the reader to infer from his very next
movement Ringing the bell he inquired
of the servant:
rs Charles at home?
no sir; he went out this morning, and
will be gone all day
'Hurrah that's all So much the bet
ter for my purposes thought he, when
alone.
Now | shall have the ground left to my
self Let me see; the rascal intends to run
away next Thursday evening, and to day is
Monday. Nothing like striking while the
iron is hot I'll write to her in his name,
telling her that | have altered my mind,
and will go just at dark tomorrow night.
She won't suspect anything till the knot is
tied, and then what a laugh we shall have
Squire Markham did not consider that it
might make little difference to the bride
expectant. He considered it capital joke
on his son, but looked no further. He ac-
cordingly drew his writing materials to-
wards him and indited the following epis-
tie:
DEAREST FLORENCE i find the day
fixed for our clopement on some accounts
Objectionable, and would like, with your
consent, to substitute tomorrow evening
If | hear nothing in return from you,
: shall infer that you assent to this arrange
ment. | shall have a carriage in read
mess under the old oak tree at half past
- o'clock. You can walk there without at
tracing suspicion, and as there will be NJ
moon, we shall be able to carry out ou
I'd plans without fear of discovery. | an
er happv to say that the Governor does no
ed suspect in the least that daughter-in-laV
he is in store for him. Won't he be aston
n ished? From your devoted
tv CHARLEY.
in sEgad = said Squire Markham, laughin!
heartily, Ethat isn't bad, especially abou
he humbugging me- Charley could not hav
ch done any better himself
ar So saying he sealed it up and sent
Ter over by little Irish boy in his employ
ed ment, having first marked private in the COZ
he uer
BE careful Mike, and give it to Mis-
in Benson, and let no one else see 1t; was tn
an parting injunction.
ne Mrs. Benson was sitting in her quit
parlor casting her eyes over late numb(
ed of the Home Magazine. Florence bein
to absent on shopping excursion, she WI
lite left alone. The ringing Of the bell brougl
so her to the door With surprise she sa
cry Mike, Squire Markham's boy of all wor
please ma am said he, holding out Il
I'm, missive, letter for Miss Benson, an
fly, very particular that no one else should S
lalf it.
BILE The air of mystery conveyed in this cha
rite acteristic address aroused Mrs Benson's c
and riositv, especially when she observed tn
e it was addressed to her daughter and +
to herself, as she supposed. She return
.ver to the parlor-not to read the Magazin
ave that had lost its attractions.
den What in the world can it be- S
ison thought, that they can be so secret abo
can Florence be carrying on a clandestl
re- correspondence? 1t may be somethi
,tty. that ought to know
lnce Stimulated by her feminine curlosl
lille Mrs. Benson speedily concluded that s
would be false to her responsibilities a
and parent, if she did not unravel this mys
her ry.
,ung Here's pretty doing! she exclaim
steal as soon as She could recover breath.
ried, Florence was going to run away and
married to that Charles Markham With
hint as much as limiting word to me 2
lent, She leaned her head upon her hand
began to consider. She was naturally
with to think of her own marriage with the
n in Mr.. Benson, and the happiness OF her Ii
ixed, ried life, and she could not help heav
hich sigh at the recollection.
EAm | always to remain thus solItar
rried she thought. I've half notion no
lspic- show it to Florence, but, to run a
with Charles tomorrow night on my
, had count. It's odd if | cant persuade
man that the mother amt as good as the dat
e fact ter she glanced complaeently at the
ay on attractive face and form reflected IN