The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1858-03-17


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 the bell brought her mother to
the door. With surprise she saw the person
who rung the bell was Nike, Squire Mark
hams .bny Of all work.
Please, maam.' said he, holding out the
missise.'a "a letter for Miss Benson, an its
very particular that nobody else should see
| it,
The air Of mystery conveyed in this charac-
ierstlc address, aroused Mrs. Benson's curl
osity, especially when she observed that it
was addressed TO her daughter and not to
herself As she first supposed. She returned
toher parlor, not to read Harper's Magazine;
that bad lost its attractions.
What in the world can il be. she thought,
that they should be so secret about! Can
Florence be carrying on Q clandestine cor
respondrnce? II may be something that
o ght to know
Stimulated BY her feminine curiosity, Mrs.
b. speedily concluded that she would be false
to the responsibilities Of a parent il she did
not unravel this mystery.
think. said she, . | will open it, and if
il shouldn't be anything particular. can ca
silly re-sral il. aud Florence will still be none
the wiser
This she accordingly did. What was her
as,onishment when the plan Of elopement was
discovered to her,
Here's pretty doings" she exclaimed, as
soon as she recovered breath. so Florence
was going to run away and get married to
that Charles Markham, without SO much as
limiting word to me-
She leaned her head upou her hand and be-
gan to consider. She was naturally led TO
think Of her own marriage with the late Mr..
Benson. and the happiness ol her welded life,
and she could nothelp heaving a sigh at the
recollection.
Am always to remain thus solitsry she
thought. I've half mind not to show this
letter to Florence, but TO run away with
Charles tomorrow night on my own account.
Its odd if can't persuade him that the mo-
tier is as good as the daughter and she glanc-
ed compIacently at the still attractive face
and form reflected from the mirror.
Just then she heard the door open and
Florence entered. She crumpled up the let.
4 ter and thrust It into her pocket.
Florence and Charles did not meet during
the succeeding day, chiefly in pursuance Of
the plan they had agreed to, in order to
avoid suspicion.
] Squire Markham acted in an exceedingly
strange manner. to his sons thinking. Uc-
casionally be would endeavor to repress. and
pace up and dawn the room, as il to walk of
some Of his superabundant hlarity.
What's in the wind" thought Charles TO
himself. Itcan't be the governors getting
crazy Something was the matter beyond
doubt. But whatit was, he had not the faint.
est conjecture.
/ At The hour specified, the Squire had his
carriage drawn up at the appointed rendez-
yous. lie began TO peer anxiously in the
dark fnr Florence. At length female form
well mufiled up, made lis appearance. Thank
ing her in a very low whlspersle il might
he suspected that he was the wrong person,
he helped her into the carriage and drove oft.
Their destination was The house 0f the Justice
Of the Peace, residing at the distance Of
some eight miles.
4 During the first part of the journey nothing
was said. Both parties were desiruus Of con-
cealing their identity. Atlength SquireMark.
ham, considering that after all he could not
marry the lady without her consent, aud that
the discovery must be made before the mar
rage, decided TO reveal himself, aud thea urge
his own suit - well as he might.
NV dear Miss Florence he continued, in
his natural yoice.
\ Why" sbrieked the laly, N usht il
was Charles
Aud I. sad Squire Markham, recognising
Mrs. Bens0n's voice with astunishpent.
j thought il was Florence.
Was il you. sir, who was arranging to
} elope with nv daugbters'
Nv; ;bal conclude il was you, ma am, who
was meaning t, elnpe with my son.
!, Indeed. Squire Markham, you are wrong;
the affair coning incidentally 10 NV knnw-
! ledcge, concluded 10 take her place secretly,
10 nriler to lrusrite her plan
; Egad, the very idea | hal myself Said
the Squire, laughing, but the iact is, we've
both ol us been coniaundedly sold. and the
/ mischief Of il is, lett a letter for Charles,
, letting him know il; 80 undoubtedly he will
. take the opportunity t. run off with Florenre
: during our absence, anl plume himself, the
rascal, on the way 10 which was taken in
Il cUuiess that left note for Florence to
the same purport. flnw she will laugh at
me; what an embarrassmente
III tell you what said the Squire after
all. We each came out with the intention
of getting married. Why not marry each
other, and then you know, we can make
them believe we had il in view all along, and
!, o ,ly intended to frglten them
! Mrs. Benson asseuted with little urging,
and in the course Of an hour the twain were
made one. they Immediately returned, but
/ found. as they anticipated. that Florence aud
Charles. on discovering their departure. had
: themselves stepped of ~ a different direction.
with similar intent.
I They made their appearance the next
!. morning prepared to laugh heartily at the
I frustrated plans Of their parents. bat learned
with no little astonishment that they had
e struck up bargain Tor themselves. Squire
/. Markham and his new wife had the address
70 convince then that Il was al prsmsdits.