True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-09-01

q laugh we snail nave J! > ggsl J, ~ a
Squire Markham did not consider that 1t
might make little difference with the
bride expectant. He considered it cap
ital joke on his son but looked no farther.
He accordingly drew his writing materials
toward him, and indicted the following
epistle =
DEAREST FLORENCE I'll find the day
fixed for our elopement on some accounts
Objectionable, and would like, with your
permission, to substitute tomorrow even
ing. II hear nothing from you, shall
infer that you assent to this arrangement.
l shall have carriage in readiness under
the old oak tree, at half past eight o'clock.
You can walk there without attracting
suspicion, and as there will be no moon,
we shall be able to carry out our plan with
out fear of discovery. / am happy to say
that the governordon't suspect in the least
that a daughter-in-law is in store for him.
Won't he be ashamed?
Your devoted CHARLEY"
"Egad !" said Squire Markham, laugh
ing heartily, :" that isn't 80 bad. especially
about humbugging me. Charley couldn't
have done any better himself"
So saying, he sealed it up and sent 1t
over by little Irish boy in his employ,
having first marked private" on the'cor-
ner. t
:" Be careful Mike to give 1t to Miss
Benson, and don't let any one else see it,
was the parting injunction.
Mrs. Benson was sitting in her quie
parlor, casting her eyes over q late mum
Der of Harper's Magazine. Florence be.
ing absent on shopping excursion, she
was LETT alone. The ringing of the bell
brought her to the door. With surprise
she saw that the person who rang the bell
was Mike, Squire Markham's boy Of al
work. bn r.
please ma'am," said he, holding ou
the missive, ga letter for Miss Benson
an it's very particular that no one else
should see it," n.
The air of mystery conveyed In this
characteristic address aroused Mrs. Ben.
sons curiosity, especially, when she obser.
we'd that it was addressed to her daughter
4 and not to herself, Us she supposed. She
had returned to the parlor-not to read
Hdrper's Magazine that had lost Its at.
fractions.
"What in the world can 1t be-" sht
thought, that they should be 80 secre
about it! Can Florence be carrying on
clandestine correspondence 1t may b.
something that ought to know"
Stimulated by her feminine curiosity
Mrs. Benson speedily concluded that she
would be false to the responsibilities Of Q
parent if she did not unravel the mystery
Here's pretty DOING" she exclaimed,
as soon Us she could recover breath. $50
Florence was going to ran away and gel
married to that Charles Markham, without
90 much as even hin.ing word to me-"
She leaned 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 wed.
ded life, and she could not help heaving o
sigh at the recollection.
"Am always to remain thus solitary!'
she thought. "I've half mind not Il
show the letter to Florence, but to rur
away tomorrow night with Charles on my
own occount. It's odd if can't pursuad,
him that the mother is as good as tht
daughter" and she glanced complacentl,
at the still attractive face and furm reflect
ed from the mirror.
| Just then she heard the door open, ant
Florence entered. She quickly crumple,
up the letter and thrust 1t into her pocket
Florence and Charles did not meet during
the succeeding day, chiefly in pursuance 0
the plan they had agreed to, in order Il
avoid suspicion. M
Squire Markham acted In an exceeding
| ly strange manner, to his sons thinking
Occasionally he would burst into heart
laugh, which he would endeavor TO suppress
and pace up and down the room, as if I