St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1858-10-07

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TO this arrangement I shall have a
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
plans without fear of discovery.
am happy to say that the Governor
doesn't suspect in the least that u
daughter-Ielaw is in store for him.
Won't he be ashamed?
Your devoted CHARLEY"
"Egad !" said Squire Markham,
laughing heartily, THAT isn't bad,
especially about humbugging me.
Charley couldn't have done any better
HIMSELF
So saying, he scaled it up and sent
it over by a little Irish boy in his en-
ploymcnt, having first marked pri-
vatc in the corner.
BE careful, Mike, to give it to Miss
Benson, and don't let any one else see
it," was the parting injunction.
Mrs. Benson was sitting in her rquiet
parlor, casting her eyes over a late
number Of Harpcr's Magazine. Flor
cncc being absent on a shopping ex-
cursion, she was left 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 all work"
" Please, ma'am,' said he, holding
out the missive, "a letter for Miss
Benson, an it's very particular that
nobody else should see it,"
The air Of mystery conveyed in this
characteristic address~ aroused Mrs.
Benson's curja~rE, especially when
she obselye0 that it was addressed to
her 4Nhghtcr, and not to herself, as
Tsupposed. She returned to the
Parior not TO read Harpcr's Magazine ;
that had lost its attractions.
What in the world can it be-" she
thought that they should be so St.
cret about it? Can Florence be car,
rying ona clandestinc correspondence!
1t may be something that | ought to
know"
Stimulated by her feminine curiosi
| ~, Mrs. Benson speedily concluded
that she would be false to the RESPONSE
hiIitjcs Of parent if she did not I'm
ravci the mystery.
. Here's pretty doinG!r she ex
| claimed. rs soon as she could recover
breath, So Florence was going tc
run away and get married 10 Charles
Markham, without so much as limiting
word to me-"
She leaned her head on her hand, ant
began to consider. She was natural
" led to think of her own marriage
with the late Mr.. Benson, and the
happiness of her welded life, and she
could not help hcavinG sigh at th,
recollection.
" Am | always to remain thus soil
tary?' she thought. I've half a min,
not to show the letter to Florence, bu
to run away with Charles tomorrow
night on my own account. It's odd i
| can't persuade him that the mothc
amt as good as the daughter;' an,
she glanced conplaccntly at the still
attractive face and form reflected from
the mirror.
just then she heard the door open
| and Florence entered. She quickl,
crumpled up the letter, and thrust
into her pocket. Florence and Charlie
did not meet during the succecdin;
day, chiefly in pursuance Of the pla
they had agreed to, in order to avoi
suspicion.
Squire Markham acted in an G,
c edingly strange manner. to his son
thinking. Occasionally he woul
burst into hearty laugh, which h
would endeavor to suppress, an
. pace up and down the room, as if t
walk off some of his supcr-abundar
: hlarity.
What's in the wind ?" though
Charles to himself. 1T can't be til
Governors getting crazy" Som
t thing was the matter beyond doub
But what it really was, he had not IL
f faintest conjecture.
: At the hour specified, the Squi
1 had his carriage drawn up at the q
{ pointed rendezvous. He began
t peer anxiously in the dark for Florcnc
At length female form, well muille
t up, made its appearance. Thankin
S her in very low whisper, least
] might be suspected that he was Il
a wrong person, he helped her into t!
D carriage, and drove off
h During the first part of the iournc
e nothing was said. Both parties we
; desirous of concealing their identit
. At length, Squire Markham, cousid,
II ing that after all he could Il
o marry the lady without her consci
aud that the discovery must be ma
t before the marriage, decided to reve
himself, and then urge his own suit
well as he might.
e MY dear Miss Florence,' he &C
IS tinued, in his natural voice.
e Why !" shrickcd the lady,
thought it was Charles"
And l." said Squire Markha
J., recognizing Mrs. Benson's voice wi
II aStonishmcnt, thought it was Fl
cnce"
he Was it you, sir, who was arran
G, ing to elope with my daughter 2"
. No, but | conclude it was yC
IL maam, who was msaning to clio
u with my SON.
y Indeed, Squire Markham, you 6
O. wrong the affair coming incidenta
is to my knowledge, l concluded to ia
e her place secretly, i'll order to fir
id trate her plans"
It. Egad the very idea l had I
ne SELF" said the Squire, laughing 81
81 the fact is, ma'am, we've both Of
been confoundedly sold, and the Il
er chief of it is, | have left letter
ce Charles, letting him know it so
m doubtedly he will take the opportl
N, ty to run off with Florence during
e. absence, and plume himself, the
DIS cal, on the way in which was ta
e: in"
ay ~ confess that left note for F