Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-04-15

Not so with Squire Markham. He had
obtained clue to the affair in some manner,
so that he had not only discovered the fact
of the elopement, but even the very day on
which it was to occur.
"Sly dog, that Charles" thought he to
himself, as he sat before the fire in his dress
ing gown and smoking cap, leisurely putting
away at choice Havana "But I don't
wonder at it; he only takes after me. Still
I owe him something forkeeping it so secret
ly from me. 1t wowId be good joke if I
were little younger, to cut him out and
marry her in spite of him."
Squire Markham, who was one of those
jovial widowers who take life as it comes,
unused more and more on this idea, struck
out by chance as it were till he really began
to think it worth something.
"After ALL" shouted he, 81 am not so old
either, or at least tie ladies say so, and they
ought to be good judges in such matters. I
have been a bachelor 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 rascal Charles in order. Egad, I've
half a mind to do it."
Squire Markham took two more whifs and
exclaimed:
81 VOW I, I'll do itw
What this mysterious it was, We will leave
the reader to infer from his very next move
ment Ringing the bell he inquiree of the
servant:
els Charles at home"
"No sir" was the reply, "he went out
this morning and will be gone all day."
"Hump! That'll Go. So much the bet
ter for my purpose" thought he when left
alone. "Now I shall have the ground left
to myself Let me see. The rascal in
tends running away next Thursday evening;
and to-day is Monday. Nothing like strik-
ing while the iron is hot. I'll write to her
in his name, telling her that I have altered
my mind and will 60 just at dark tomorrow
night. She won't suspect any thing until
the knot is tied, and then what laugh We
shall have"
Squire Markham did not consider that it
might make a little difference with the bride
expectant. He considered it capital joke
on his son, and looked no further. He ac-
cordingly drew his writing materials towards
him, and indited the following epistle.
Dearest Florence: I find the day fixed
for our elopement, on some accounts, object
ionable, and would like, with your rermis.
sion, to substitute tomorrow evening. If
hear nothing from you, shall infer that you
assent to this arrangement shall have a
carriage in readiness undei the old oak tree,
at half past eight o'5iock. You can walk
there without attracting suspicion, and, as
there will be no moon, we shall be able to
carry out our plans without fear of discov-
cry. I am happy to say that the governor
doesn't suspect in the least, that daughter
in-law is in store for him. Won't he be
slammed? Your devoted
CHARLEY.
sEgadv said Squire Markham, laughing
heartily, shat isn't bad, especially about
humbugging me. Charley couldn't have
done it better himself
So saying, he sealed it up and sent it over
by little Irish boy in his employment, hav-
ing first marked, 'private<in the corner.
BE careful, Mike, to give it to Miss Ben
son, and don't let any one else see it, was the
parting injunction.
Mrs. Benson was sitting in her quiet par
lor, casting her eyes over late number Of
Harper's Magazine. Florence being absent
on shopping excursion she was left alone.
The ringing of the bell brought her to the
door, With surprise she saw that the per-
son who rung 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 its
very particular that nobody else should see
it,
The air of mystery conveyed in this char
acteristic address aroused Mrs. Benson's Gu
riosity, especially when she observed that it
was addressed to her daughter and not to
herself as she first supposed. She returned
to the parlor not to read Harper's Magazine;
that had lost its attractions.
what in the world can it be- she thought
'that they should be so secret about! Can
Florence be carrying on clandestine cores.
pondence? 1t may be something that |
ought to know
Stimulated by her feminine curiosity, Mrs
B. speedily concluded that she would be
false to the responsibilities of parent if she
did not unravel the mystery.
4 Think said she, Il will open it, and if
it shouldn't be anything particular, I can
easily resealit, and Florence will still be none
the wiser
This she accordingly did. What was her
astonishment when the plan of elopement
was discovered to her
Here's pretty doings ! she exclaimed, as
soon as she could recover breath. so Flo
renee was going to run away and get mar
ried to that Charles Markham, without so
much as limiting word to me-
She leaped her head upon her hand and
began to consider. She was naturally led to
think of her own marriage with the late Mr..
Benson, and the happiness of her welded
L. ok ho1y hoo, rxb