Smyrna times., 1858-09-16
A n V E f. Il Il T. .
MATRIMONIAL STRATAGEM;
HOW TWO HOUSEHOLDS BECAME ONE

Mrs. BenOn Benson was fat, fair, and forty
four, when her husband, soap boiler in very
good circumstances, was called sfrOm his life
task of contributing to the general purlhcatior
OF mankind Mrs Benson took refuge from
her grief in a pretty cottage, situated on the
principal street in C.
At first she was inconsolable; and she used
to say, with solemn emphasis, which carried
conviction to the hearts of her hearers, that
nothing but the thoughts of her daughter Flor
ence would have prevented her from termina-
ting her existence by the Intervention of poison
Mrs. Benson was in no small degree, indebt
ed 10 her daughter-since in less than three
months she threw aside her mourning, and be-
came as lively as ever.
Touching Florence, she had now reached the
mature age of nineteen, and began to think
herself maria ageable. She quite pretty
aud 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 verging upon fifty, with his
son Charles, who was about half his age. Be-
ing young man of agreeable exterior, the lat
ter quite favorite with the young ladies
an the nei9hborhoOd, and considered in common
parlance quite a catch
AS yet however, his affections had never been
seriously entangled, and might have remained
so, had it not been for the sudden appOrltion,
morning, Of Florence Benson, riding by on
horseback.
1t struck him at snce that she was remarka-
bly, graceful, and really quite pretty. There
upon, he cultivated her acquaintance with ln-
creased assiduity, and after while asked the
fatal question.
Florence answered in the affirmative, and in
stead of referring him dutiiully to her mother,
hintcd (being a romantic young LADY, how
charming it would be 10 steal away to the next
town and get married, without anybody being
the wiser.
Charles Markham caught at the hint, which
chimed with his own Temperament, and he re-
solved to adopt it.
la order that it might be carried out with per-
feet success, it was re olyed to seem indifferent
to each other until the day fixed, in order to
ward off any suspicion which might otherwise
be reused.
So we'll were these arrangements carried out,
that Mrs Benson had no suspicion of what was
going on.
Not so with Squire Markham. He had OBJ
tanned clue to the affair in some manner, so
that he not only discovered the fact of the elope-
nent, but even the very day on which 1t was 10
occur
"Sly dog, that Charles" thought he to him
SELF as be sat down before the fire 10 his dress
ing gown and smoking cap leisurely putting
away at a choice Havana. " But don't won
der at it; he only takes after me. Still owe
him something for keeping it SO secretly from
Inc. 1t would be good joke, if were little
Younger, to cut him out, and marry her In spite
OF him."
Souire Markham, who was one of those joval
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 10 think 1t worth
something. :,
i" After ALL" shouted he. 81 am not so old
eithar. or at least the ladies say so-and they
ought TO be good judges in such matters. l
have been bachelor good while, aud ought
IN have found out before this how much more
comfortable it would be to have pretty wife
10 welcome me home, and do the hoDors OF my
tahle and to help me keep that rascal Charles
in order. Egad I've half u mind 10 do 1t"
Sanire Markham took two more Willis, aud
exclaimed:
81 VOW I'll do 1t.
What this mysterious 1T was, we will leave
the readers to infer from his very next move
ment. Ringing the bell, he inquired OF the
servant: -,
us Charles at home!'
"No SIR was the reply, " he went out this
morning, and will be gone all day."
m Humoh! that'll do. So much the better
,rmv purooses," thought he, when alone.
g Nov shall have the ground left TO myself.
Iot me see: the rascal intends running away
next Thursday evening, and to-day Is MONDAY
Mo,hing like striking while the iron is hot. III
.,s;,o ,o her in his name, telling her that have
aItcred nv mind, and will go just at DARK TO-
morrow night. She won't suspect anything
until the knot is tied, and then what Iaugn we
shall have. .;1a. H., A
tt. - little difference with the bride
ax6ec,ant. He considered it capital Joke OF
S;l con bnt looked no further. He accordingly
d.o,y his writing materials towards MIN, ah'
indited the following oPlstie'
:. noo-os, Florence IL find the day fixed TO
,,. a,ooa,nent on some accounts Objectionable
ooL would like, with your PermlSsioh' " suos'l
.."'a ,o4morrow evening. If l hear nothing
c., von- I shall infer that you assent TO I'M
arranSement. | shall have carriage IN reaG
nos wuder the old oak tree at hail'paSt elg y
o,cIock You can walk there wl'ho1' altr~c'
inc suspicion, and as here "lIi oe w u'o co
shs,I he able 10 carry out our plans without Iea
90 l;.oovorv am happy to say that the Oov
-. doesn,t suspect in the least that daugh
sa.N;n.Iav is in store for him. Won't ne
sLa'radi Your devoted CHARLIE.
.Eoadr,' said Squire Markham, laughln
to..,;1, !. that isn't bad, especially about hu"
bugging me. Charley couldn't have done al
better himself" am, !, ovor h
,;,,,a v Ir;sh how in his employment havln
first marked private IN ine ), ~, 80 Miss Benso
Be careful Nike 10 give = - ;, ,vas ,he mar
and don't let any one else seo -
iag injunction. ...:. :, her ouiet parlo
Mrs. Benson was sittins :" - ,f the A
Sas.;aS SMna,biy. Florence being absent on On
e;a- Ilnuo n. axcnrsion, she was left alone, III
snoPp'ns sof ,he he'll broa hit her to the door,
We VIZ ssn,se she saw that the person who ra'
the bell was Mike, squire
all work.