Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1858-12-01
SQUIRE MARKHAM;
OR
HOW TWO HOUSEHOLDS BECAME ONE.


circumstances, was called from his life-task
of contributing to the general publication of
mankind, Mrs. Benson took refnge from her
grief IN pretty cottage situated on the prin-
cipal street in g..
At first she was inconsoable; and she
used to say with solemn emphasis, which car
ried conviction to the hearts of her hearers,
that nothing but the thoughts Of her daughter
Florence would have prevented her from
terminating her existence by the interyen-
ton of poison. <.ss
Mrs Benson was in no small degree in
debted to her daughter-since in less than
three months she threw aside her mourning
and became as lively she always had
been.
Touching Florence, she had now reached
the mature age of nineteen, and began to
think herself marriageable. She was quite
pretty, and tolerably we'll accomplished so
that her wishes in that respect were very
likely to be fulfilled.
Just over the way lived Squire Markham,
the village lawyer, just vergi1g upon fifty,
! with his son Charles, who was about half his
/ age. Being q young man of agreeable ex-
! terror, the latter was quite a favoSite among
| the ladies in the neigh borhood, and consid-
cred, in common parlance, quite catch" p"
AS yet however, his affections had never
been seriously entangled, and might have
remained so, had it not been for the sudden
apparition, one morning, Of Florence Benson
on horseback.
1t struck him at once that she was remark
ably graceful, and really quite pretty. There
upon he cultivated her acquaintance with in
creased assiduity, and after awhile asked the
fatal question.
Florence answered in the affirmative, and
|. IL
mother, hinted-being a romantic young
lady-how charming it would be to steal
away to the next town and get married
without anybody being any the wiser
Charles Markham caught at the hint.
which chinod with his own temperament,
and they adopted it.
In order that it might be carried out with
perfect success, it was resolved to seem indif-
fercnt to each other until the day fixed, in
order to ward of any suspicion which might
otherwise be aroused.
So we'll were these arrangements carried
out, that even Mrs Benson had no suspicion
of what was going on.
Not so with Sqire Markham. He had OBJ
tanned clue to the affair in some manner, SO
that he not only discovered the fact of the
elopcment, but even the 7ery day on which
it was to occur.
himself, as he sat down before the fire in his
dressing gown and smoking cap, leisurely
putting away choice Havana '.but don't
wonder at it-he only takes after me. Bu
still l owe him something for keeping it q
secret from me- 1t would be good joke, il
[ were little younger, to cut him out, AMI
marry her in spite Of him"
Squire Markham being one Of those iowa
widowers who take life as it comes, museC
more and more on this idea, struck out by
chance, as it were, till he really began tC
think it was worth something.
After all,'' said he, Il am not so old
either, or at least, the ladies say so-anC
they ought to be good judges in such mat,
ters ought to have staid single longer
and ougLt 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 the table, and to help me keep tina
+ rascally Charles in order. Egad Eve hal
: a mind to do it,
2 Squire Markham took two more whiffs anC
q exclaimed
,, Il VOW I'll do it."
o What this mysterious IT was we will leave
tie reader to infer from his very next move
ments. Ringing tie bell, he inquired Of tn
r servant:
5. ''Is Charles at home 2"
Of ''No, sir; he went out this morning, an,
It will be gone all dag"
/ ''Hurrah , that's all. So much the bette
re for my purpose" thought he, when alone.
= ''Now | shall have the ground left to my
k self. Let me see; the rascal intends runnipj
away next Thursday evening, and to-day
Monday. Nothing like striking while th
iron is hot. Pll write TO her in his name
c telling her that have altered my mind, an
, will go Jast at dark tomorrow night. Sh
D., won't suspect anything till the knot is tied
3 and then what laugh we shall have.
n Squire Mark ham did not consider that
/ might make little difference with the bride
n expectant. He considered it capital iok
on his son, but looked no further. u
= accordingly drew his writing materials to
;, wards him and lnditea the following epistle
If "DEAREsT FLORENCE: I find the day fixed fc
If our elopement on some accounts Objectionable
n and would like, with your consent, to substitut
n tomorrow evening. If hear nothing in retur
:, from you, shall infer that you assent to thi
4 arran cement. | shall have carriage IN Tead
: ness under the cid oak tree at half-past elgE
: O'Clock You can walk there without attractin
o suspicion, and as there will be no moon, we sha
d be able to carry out our plans without fear {
discovery. / am happy to say that the governc
does not suspect in the least that daughter-iI
law is in store for him. Won't he be ashamed
sT e5s Your devoted
':lIgad ' said Squire Markham, laughin
heartily, 'tthat isn't bad, especially abou
: humbugging me Charley could net hav
.. done any better himself"
$50 saying, he sealed it up and sent
over oy little Irish boy in his employmen.